One of my major focuses as I do my consults at Sunvet Animal Wellness clinic is nutrition and addressing the pros and cons of conventional “dog food” and “cat food.”
- Sunvet patients like these count on Dr. Laurel to advise on the best dog and cat food.
One issue comes up often: how to get a finicky eater to eat the foods that have been chosen for him? Has he been eating “dog food” with its fillers and dryness, and turns his nose up at healthy whole foods that have been introduced? Today, I’ll go over some of the reasons your healthy four-legged friend may be a picky eater. It’s time to really scrutinize your concept of foods and snacks in the process. Many times we, the caregivers, get to make the brilliant changes that will re-engage our companions in yummy, healthy meals.
Once again, this post is considering the ‘healthy’ individual. See upcoming posts about variations on the theme, including your sick or recovering buddies. If your pal is generally a good eater and suddenly has a loss of appetite, has lost weight recently, is vomiting or has diarrhea, then a visit to your local holistic veterinarian may be an excellent idea. On the flip side, most generally healthy adult dogs or cats can go a day or two without eating. This may be their way of detoxifying after some dietary indiscretion or their way of allowing for their body to focus on a minor dis-ease such as a viral infection.
In general, there are three main reasons that your robust felines and canines will boycott their food.
The first is that they are getting too many small morsels throughout the day. What are the sources of these troublesome snacks? Licking human plates after a meal, stealing the other cat’s/dog’s food, treats for a good deed, goodies that are given just because they are solicited and, finally, the overt overfeeding of your dog or cat at their mealtime. Are you guilty of overfeeding your friend? Many of our cute and sassy critters are overweight if we, their caretakers, will make a good and honest assessment.
My recommendation for this first reason is to fast your friend for a day, offering plenty of water. Of course, your whole humanoid family must be on board with the dietary change you are implementing. Determine where he is sourcing any extra goodies and cut them off until you are seeing a change in appetite for the regular meals. I advocate fasting them once every two weeks.
The second reason healthy dogs and cats can be fussy about their supper is that their food truly doesn’t appeal to them.
They may not like a change that has been made. The dinner may make their GI tract uncomfortable. There may be a certain smell, flavor, texture or look that is off-putting to them.
When the food is not appealing, I utilize my Clinical Kinesiology techniques to figure out what protein sources, ratios, hydration and supplements can be used to support a happy gut. Many times, at Sunvet, we will reach for probiotics and enzymes along with other nutriceuticals to add to the new diet. I take into consideration that there is not one single nutritional answer for every dog or cat. This journey to a healthy appetite can be delightful, especially when the right combination results in a happy, strong dog or cat!
The third reason I find for a diminished appetite is stress.
Has there been a recent move? A change in one of their caretaker’s schedules? A new two- or four-legged addition to the family? A trip to the boarding kennel? A family vacation with all the multifaceted changes? Loss of a loved one? Stress in your life that they’re picking up on? Only when stressors are identified can they be addressed.
During such trying times, your basic TLC will usually fill in the gaps, along with offering high-value foods that tempt your little buddy. Other variations might help, like varying the temperatures of their food from refrigerator temperature to body temperature, mixing food with a yummy broth or water to change consistencies, feeding in different containers or by hand, talking to them in a soothing voice, feeding them with the other animals or, if preferred, by themselves.
I love the feeding and the nutrition challenges. It’s always such a delight to see a fuzzy individual in love with the food they eat. It is their birthright to relish their repast!
Shine on,
