Eating Issues

[xDeadxStarx]

My puppy (shes about 6 months) isn't eating her food regularly, she pokes around at it and pushes her dish around but doesnt eat the food....sometimes she'll go back and evantually eat it but its like 4-5 hrs later...she's sleeping a lot more then usual as well (from the lack of food I assume). She's still constantly begging for human food though and wouldnt have a problem eating that (she doesn't get it though because we want her to eat her own food).

Any suggestions?  

[xDeadxStarx]

I don't think its the food, we've tried other kinds and she has the same reaction, she's been to the vet too and nothing's wrong medically.
I now think its the lack of smell, we've decided to put just a dab of something that smells really good underneath and then she gobbles up all her food.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Jaybay]

Good advice puppy_boo.  It will not harm a dog to go a day, or even two, with nothing to eat.  If a dog is just being picky, it WILL eat when it gets hungry enough.  

[puppy_boo]

First of all, make sure there is no underlining medical reason for her lack of appetite and increase sleeping.  If there is no medical reason for it, then she could be either bored of her food, or she's being picky or both.

Picky eating habits develop if the food is changed too frequently...every three days, for example.  Stick with one kind of food.  If you're using dry kibble, then finish a 5 pound bag of food, then switch to a different flavor.  Variety helps with the prevention of food boredom and the prevention of food allergies (feeding too much chicken).

She also needs to know that she will have to eat what you put in front of her...not human food.  So, put the food down for 15 minutes.  If she doesn't eat it, remove it...make sure she sees you removing it.  You can try again 10 minutes later.  If she still doesn't eat it, then refrigerate it or toss it.  Wait to feed her again until her next meal time...no treats or snacks inbetween meals.  It is perfectly fine if she skips a meal or two...make sure she has access to clean fresh water, though.    

Also, make sure she actually likes the food.  My dog cannot stand Wellness dry food (doesn't matter what the flavor is), but he'll eat the Wellness can food...must be something about the flavor or scent of the dry kibble.

[Jaybay]

Change foods.  :-)  Are you using a puppy food?  Every last pup I've had couldn't stand eating any kind of puppy food on the market.  I don't know what's in it that makes it so unpalatable, but they all turned their noses up at it.  Ask your vet to recommend a different adult formulation and whatever oral supplements you may need to give her that she'll be missing out on by not eating the puppy food.  

Don't forget to take her for daily walks.  If dogs don't get enough exercise, they don't really feel hungry.  Get her out twice a day for at least 30 minutes and I'll bet she gets hungry enough to eat whatever is put in front of her.  Don't fall for the begging either.  If you're giving in to her demands, of course she'll ignore her own food!  :-)