From the desk of Sharda Baker.



Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Hi and welcome everyone!

This is Sharda with a pet health newsletter!

You may start getting bored if I continue talking about healthy pet foods so today, let's change direction a little and talk about how to deal with our four legged picky eaters.

Let’s start shall we?


PET HEALTH - MANAGING THE TEMPERAMENTAL OR PICKY EATER

Dogs are not that much different from people. There are some people who will eat practically anything that is put in front of them. Then, there are some people who are decidedly picky eater.

Dogs are the same way.

Some dogs are very temperamental when it comes to eating pet food. When a dog will not eat, it can be extremely frustrating. You may also find yourself worrying that your pet is not receiving adequate dog nutrition and may become ill if he does not begin eating soon.

The first step, to ensure pet health is to take your pet to his or her vet to rule out any possible medical problems.

Illness can contribute to an animal having little desire to eat. In some cases, with puppies, a lack of appetite could be due to swollen gums. This commonly occurs between four and six months and will pass after awhile.

Once possible medical problems have been ruled out, there are some techniques you can use to help manage a dog that is simply picky eater.

First, it is important to make sure that you are feeding your dog pet foods at the same time every day.

Consistency is critical. Observe your dog and if he does not eat the pet foods you have provided within about fifteen minutes, pick it up and take it away. The pet food should not be left out.

Generally, after doing this a few times your dog will be ready to eat when food is put out. Avoid hovering over your dog when you feed him. Go and occupy yourself with some other task.

This not only gives your dog privacy in which to eat, which may be necessary, but it also lets your dog know that you are not concerned about the matter. If you continually hover over him, you may be unconsciously giving the matter more attention than it needs.


Once the allotted amount of time has passed in which you think the pet food should be left out, about fifteen minutes, take up the pet food. When feeding time comes around again, make sure you provide your dog with fresh food.

It is also important to make sure that your dog has a quiet area in which to eat.

Is your dog shy?

If that is the case, it could be that your dog needs to feel as though he or she has a safe place in which they can eat. This is often the case with animals that have come from shelters.

Good options include a porch or even a kennel. The feeding area should also be free from such distractions as people walking in and out. The goal is to create an area in which your pet can eat in peace and feel safe about it.

You may find that this is all that is needed to encourage your dog to begin eating with no problems.

Additionally, you should make sure that you consistently provide your dog with the same type of pet food. Many pet owners often constantly change the type of pet food that is offered.

This can be a big mistake because it allows your dog to continually change his mind about the type of pet food he likes.

So, there you go!

Routine and consistency really plays a big role to help you overcome the challenges of having a picky eater.

Always remember that helping your dog overcome being a picky eater can do a lot for pet health and dog nutrition.

I hope you’ve learned a lot from this pet health newsletter!

All the best and take care

Warmly,