Fix Your Pet's Fussy Eating Habits

Some pets seem to be just as fussy about what they eat as some humans. My dog is (was) a fussy eater until I found the right dog food for her but I guess I can't blame her since I'm a very picky eater myself. There are a number of ways to fix your pet's fussy eating habits and make eating time much more enjoyable.

Never beg your pet to eat - just put the food down and walk away, your pet will eventually learn to eat without you standing there begging them to eat. Be sure to set a specific time to feed your pet. Allowing a specific time for your pet to eat will fix their fuzzy eating habits since they will only get a certain time of the day to eat. You can also give your pet a certain timeframe to eat like an hour. Put their food out for an hour and pick it back up an hour later. If your pet knows their food is only available for a certain time they will be less likely to have fussy eating habits, in fact their fussy eating habit will disappear altogether.

If you are giving your pet table scraps, you are helping them become a fussy eater. Human food taste much better than that old dry pet food so it shouldn't be a surprise that your pet prefers your food to his. If your pet doesn't care much for dry food, try adding some water or broth to the mixture to soften the dry taste and make it much more tasty. If your pet eats canned food, try heating it up or adding broth to it to make it warm and tasty.

Another trick to fix your pet's fussy eating habits is to add some flavor to their meals. Add some seasoning to the food but don't overdo it. When shopping for pet food, the smellier it is the better your pet likes it. For dogs, try some beef or liver, and for cats, try giving them some strong fishy smelling food. To fix your pet's fussy eating habits you will need to exercise some patience. My dog didn't like fancy, expensive dog food but took right to plain, dry dog food, although she will eat canned food every on occasion. I constantly tried different foods but she didn't seem to care for any of them. It was sort of like trying to find the right formula for your newborn seeing what they take to and what they will spit out.

However, if your pet suddenly stops eating their favorite food there may be another problem. Skipping a couple of meals is no big problem but going without food for more than five days is unusual. If your pet stops eating for more than a week, take them to the vet. Dogs can go longer without eating but if your cat stops eating for more than two days, there may be a problem and you should take them to the vet. Reasons for your pet to temporarily stop eating may range from an upset stomach to worms. Longer days without eating are more likely due to more serious problems.