Thursday 16th September 2021
Do you have a fussy puppy? We are almost conditioned to
expect all dogs and puppies to be very food focussed and relish every meal, but
this isn’t always the case. It can be tempting to automatically attribute
‘fussiness’ to your puppy’s lack of interest in food, trying many different brands
in order to entice them.
Believe it or not this is not uncommon, especially in young
dogs, so should you be concerned and what can you do? The first port of call should always be a
visit to the vet to ensure there is no underlying health reason for your puppy’s
depleted appetite. The vet can properly assess your puppy’s growth, health and
advise you of their specific needs.
If there are no medical reasons for your puppy’s inappetence,
here are some things to consider:
Has your puppy just joined the family?
If
you’ve not had your puppy very long, he or she may still be getting used to the
new environment and the routine may be rather different. Some pups just need a
little more reassurance and will soon eat more enthusiastically once they have
gained confidence.
Are
you feeding little and often?
The
stomach capacity of a puppy is tiny! If your pup is under 12 weeks of age and
you’ve already dropped from 4 meals per day to 3, reverting back to 4 can
sometimes help.
Is growth slowing down?
As puppies get older their growth rate slows down, and this
means that their demand for those extra calories needed for healthy development
starts to reduce. A natural decline in appetite often accompanies this.
Sometimes a small reduction in food is the solution. This is why our feed
guides show some reductions for the later age groups, and adult rations are
lower too. A small breed puppy may be ready for adult portions as early as 6
months.
Calorie
requirement
Don’t forget that additions to the main diet supply calories
too. If your puppy has a good appetite for treats and extras, and the main diet
hasn’t been reduced to accommodate them, it could be that your pup’s needs are
being more than adequately met and he or she is just not that hungry at mealtimes
as a result.
Behavioural
and environmental influences
Some dogs naturally have lower appetites than others, and
it’s important to remember that although you may be used to hungry dogs, not
all dogs will have the same interest in food. There may also be outside
influences causing a temporary interruption to your pet’s hunger such as teething
pain, attention seeking behaviour or other distractions such as a bitch in heat
arriving on the scene.
What
to do if your puppy’s inappetence becomes a problem
If your puppy is struggling to take in the calories and
nutrients required for steady, healthy growth and condition, there are several
things you can do to tackle the problem.
1. Firstly, don’t be tempted to chop and change! Too much
variety can make this problem worse by encouraging ‘fussiness’ and upsetting
your puppy’s tummy. During early growth, the digestive system is at its most
sensitive. It is important to choose a very highly digestible food that will
ensure balanced intestinal flora, and a regular intestinal transit with nice
firm stools. Changes to your pet’s diet should always happen gradually. If you think you have a sensitive puppy,
contact us for advice or try our sensitive puppy/junior.
2. Never make an issue out of mealtimes. Put fresh food down
for each meal and pretend to occupy yourself with something else in the
vicinity. If the food is not eaten in your allotted time frame, then take up
the dish calmly without showing you are disturbed. Dogs can quickly pick up on
our own emotions and stressful mealtimes are not usually happy mealtimes.
3. Including complete wet foods like our Partners range (which
is safe to feed to puppies as a topper in conjunction with one of our dry
growth diets) can be particularly beneficial for the more discerning dog as
they have a stronger aroma. Contact us for advice on how to incorporate this
into your puppy’s diet.
4. Try soaking dry food by pouring hot water onto the kibble.
This will melt some of the high-quality fats, which then give off an enticing
aroma (allow to cool before feeding!) Exceptionally inappetent dogs may be
enticed by a little of our Tasty Liver Treat squeezed on top of the meal. A
small quantity can also be dissolved in hot water to make a delicious broth to
cover the kibble.
4. Weigh your puppy regularly and weigh out your puppy’s food
allowance too. Guessing on both counts can mean you may be offering a little
more than needed. Every recipe in the Arden Grange growth range has been
specially formulated to meet the increased nutritional demands of the
developing dog and recommended feeding amounts calculated accordingly. If your
puppy simply cannot consume the recommended amount and you are concerned about
their growth or condition, we have more energy dense recipes in our range such
as our Weaning Puppy or Prestige, providing slightly more calories and high-quality
fats than our standard diets in a smaller feed volume. Speak to your vet or
contact us for a nutrition consultation and feeding plan to help you safely
provide extra nutrition to your puppy.
Excerpts from fact sheet ‘Inappetence in dogs’ and ‘Puppy
Nutrition’ by Ness Bird - Nutrition Adviser and RVN CertCFVHNut ©
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