cant believe i just gave in again

hippychickuk · #1 12-01-12, 05:21 PM

pappy has always been a fussy so and so with his food. he will eat a certain brand for a couple of weeks and then he gets bored. and he wont eat for days.when i do give in and change to a different food, he will eat that brand for a couple of weeks without any problems, till he gets bored. his stools are ok, so the food change doesnt affect him like that.
i even started trying raw on christmas day, i cut of a turkey wing, and in true pappy style, it scared him. refused to go in kitchen till i removed it. iv tried mince mixed with his normal food, but he wouldnt touch it.
i know i shouldnt give in to him and change his food when he gets bored, and im probably making things worse by doing this. but i hate seeing him not eat.
when hes eating normally, i leave his food down all the time, and he just eats when he wants it.. but iv read that this can sometimes makes the fussy.
today will be his third day without eating, and i was washing up, and he started gagging like he was going to be sick, and i let him outside, and it was that yellow stuff, i think it can mean hes hungry.. i really hate seeing that, so i gave in not long ago, and gave him some of the left over stew we had for tea. he had the beef, carrots, and the gravy. i didnt know if he could have any of the other bits of the stew.
but he lapped it up, and he loved it. and i know iv made a mistake by doing this. but i was desperate to get him to eat.
i know im going to have to get tough with him, and not give in so much to him. as im probably making him worse.

LindaM · #2 12-01-12, 05:42 PM

Sorry pappy isn't eating, such a worry when they don't eat. Has he been to the vets? I'm just thinking about the combination of the yellow sick which I assume might be bile and him not wanting to eat.

LOVEGSD · #3 13-01-12, 11:27 AM

Sadly he knows that you will give him other food so he's playing you

If you're concerned then just get him checked over by the vet to make sure he's not not eating for a medical reason.

If he gets the all clear then you need to put his food done for 20 mins and take it up regardless of whether he's eaten it or not and you need to find a food and stick with it. Have you tried soaking his kibble instead of just giving it dry, maybe he needs to have something which smells more to excite him.

claire_88 · #4 13-01-12, 11:45 AM

Will another dog around encourage him to eat?
Sometimes we re-inforce naughty habits without intention and it sounds like he is testing the water to see how quickly you will cave in.... I think lovegsd's comment of leaving food down for a certain time is a good idea, make dinner time exciting for pappy

I don't know whether you ask for any commands from pappy before dinner, but a simply sit and wait is what i ask of mine, as such i make them work for it...

Whilst i'm preparing it i will sound a complete idiot to any non-dog owner as i'm there stirring it round saying ''ooooo mmmmm dindins! Who wants dinner?!'' and i'm sure many people experience their dog's wanting what the owner has got, but it get's them excited and interested in what i'v got for them...

Perhaps incorrect i don't know, but when i fed kibble i used to mix a little gravy in with it warm for a change or corned beef went down a treat! It's got to be boring having the same stuff each night so simply additions make it different for them. I hope you get pappy eating soon, i think a vet's trip wouldn't go a miss though xx

Poly · #5 13-01-12, 12:50 PM

I had the same with my dogs - they got sooooo bored of kibble -and I cant blame them.
So I swapped to raw.
Instead of offering a bone product straight off why dont you try him on raw mince and built it up from there....you might find he likes it

Fi1805 · #6 13-01-12, 02:36 PM

It's so hard when they go off their food - you want to try anything to get them to eat. How is Pappy today? Is he eating anything?

Stuart · #7 13-01-12, 04:35 PM

Its a bit like someone forcing us to eat beans every day, we would soon get fed up,.. the best way in my opinion is to never to feed just one food,.. always feed a variety diet,..if the normal diet has lots of different tastes then the dog is happy.

I know that many dogs will stick with one type, but many crave for something different,..and who can blame them,..think of their food in our terms not as dog food, if you can do that then you will soon realise that many of us give our beloved companions a very boring diet

hippychickuk · #8 13-01-12, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOVEGSD

Sadly he knows that you will give him other food so he's playing you

If you're concerned then just get him checked over by the vet to make sure he's not not eating for a medical reason.

If he gets the all clear then you need to put his food done for 20 mins and take it up regardless of whether he's eaten it or not and you need to find a food and stick with it. Have you tried soaking his kibble instead of just giving it dry, maybe he needs to have something which smells more to excite him.

hes not on dry, hes on tinned food.

hippychickuk · #9 13-01-12, 08:32 PM

thanks for advice everyone

hes eaten all his food today. it had tripe in it..and it smells foul!! but he loved it

LindaM · #10 14-01-12, 07:28 AM

That's good Vicky, glad Pappy enjoyed his smelly tripe

- hope you've got some more in for tomorrow

you must be feeling happier