Why Does My Dog... Refuse to Eat Her Food?

Picky dog

Most dog owners have canines who'd eat anything in sight, but, believe it or not, there's also a significant percentage of them with the opposite problem: Their dogs just don’t seem to like food.

Some of these dogs will eat a few small bites before losing interest, or they’ll skip meals altogether, leaving concerned owners worried that their persnickety pups may, in fact, be sick.

The reason for this behavior is usually quite simple: Some dogs just aren’t motivated by food in the same way as canines who tend to inhale their kibble. Instead, finicky dogs will opt to wait patiently for that delectable morsel of chicken from the dinner table.

But is it a bad thing?

For the most part, the answer is no. If your veterinarian has determined that no underlying disease is at work, owners of appetite-challenged pets should consider themselves lucky. Since we know well the kind of damage that excess weight can inflict on people and pets, this behavior can be a good thing.

The problem is that many of these owners end up agonizing over their pet's take-it-or-leave-it eating habits and experiment with different diets, which can inevitably lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.

Although it's easier said than done, here's what most vets have to say on the matter: “Leave the food in her bowl. She’ll eat when she’s hungry. I promise.”

Click here to read more of the Why Does My Dog... series.

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