Fussy chihuahua

mich13x

Can anyone recommend a good quality food for a fussy chihuahua?

She is just a pup at 20 months old and she likes wet foods however she has a very sensitive tum and most give her the runs. The only one I have tried that hasn't upset her is chappie but she went off that very quickly.

My other chi has royal canin dry food and she is thriving on that with a beautiful coat but this wee girl just won't take to it.

I feel she is a little underweight but the vet was reassuring in saying that she's not. He also recommended the chappie brand of food but as I said she won't take it, I tried the usual tricks of microwaving for a couple of minutes and adding a little water.

The situation has made me quite anxious although I know the vet has said she is fine but I want her to have good quality food that she enjoys.

arbrighton

Our fussy poodle with a sensitive tum started life on wainwrights dry- we swopped her onto grain free in error. She got fussier as she got a bit older (6 months plus) so we added in wet to try and tempt her. And lots of switching flavours etc. She liked natures menu cubes but they cost a fortune and still didn't eat enough.

We then had her spayed and she now more or less eats normally- barking heads grain free morning and night and a bit of wainwrights wet at night (also grain free).

Is yours spayed?

sheramber

If tinned Chappie agrees with her then stick to it. It is recommended for dodgy tummies.

have you tried tough love. Put the food down with no fuss and ignoring her. Lift the dish after 10 minutes regardless of whether she has eaten it or not. Again don't say anything about it. Just quietly lift it up and put it out of reach.

if she didn't eat it , put the dish down again after 30 minutes , not saying anything as before. Again lift the dish after ten minutes.

Making a fuss about it will only make her worse

Do not give her anything else to eat- no treats, no biscuits etc.

Do not put down a full meal if you know she isn't going to eat it. Just put down a teaspoonful. That is less waste. If she eats that amount the next mealtime give her two spoonfuls. etc

Only give her what she will eat.

As she is not underweight you may be feeding her more than she needs. Both my dogs weigh the same amount but one gets fed about half what the other get fed. Both are ideal weight.

sangie595

sheramber wrote: »

If tinned Chappie agrees with her then stick to it. It is recommended for dodgy tummies.

have you tried tough love. Put the food down with no fuss and ignoring her. Lift the dish after 10 minutes regardless of whether she has eaten it or not. Again don't say anything about it. Just quietly lift it up and put it out of reach.

if she didn't eat it , put the dish down again after 30 minutes , not saying anything as before. Again lift the dish after ten minutes.

Making a fuss about it will only make her worse

Do not give her anything else to eat- no treats, no biscuits etc.

Do not put down a full meal if you know she isn't going to eat it. Just put down a teaspoonful. That is less waste. If she eats that amount the next mealtime give her two spoonfuls. etc

Only give her what she will eat.

As she is not underweight you may be feeding her more than she needs. Both my dogs weigh the same amount but one gets fed about half what the other get fed. Both are ideal weight.

^^^This^^^

At 20 months she isn't "just a pup" - she's a mature young lady and quite capable of manipulating you! If the vet isn't worried and says she is a good weight and healthy, that is what she is Chihuahua's are renowned for causing "small dog syndrome" in their owners. Their size cons people into thinking that they need more babying, and they go for it with relish because they get fussed over and get their own way. No healthy dog will starve itself, but it will mediate its diet to what it needs to maintain its health. If she knows she can play you and get something that is more fun to eat, and all your attention focussed on her eating, or not eating, she's winning her game.

teddysmum

I used to have a very fussy cavalier, who soon tired of foods and would go for several days on water and a Bonio. Eventually, we discovered Butchers Tripe (original or tripe with chicken) which he rarely refused.


A vet once told me that this and Chappie are some of the best wet foods to use as they have no additives. She added that these to brands' foods are better for puppies than some of the 'special' puppy foods which are too rich for some puppies, causing tummy upsets.

teddysmum

As in post #4, 20 months is not a puppy age for toy breeds, as they mature earlier than large breeds, who are still growing at 2 years.

Rev

teddysmum wrote: »

I used to have a very fussy cavalier, who soon tired of foods and would go for several days on water and a Bonio. Eventually, we discovered Butchers Tripe (original or tripe with chicken) which he rarely refused.


A vet once told me that this and Chappie are some of the best wet foods to use as they have no additives. She added that these to brands' foods are better for puppies than some of the 'special' puppy foods which are too rich for some puppies, causing tummy upsets.

Sorry but your vet lied.

Chappie wet is full of additives and crap. The dry is even worse (I don't even know how the dry gets away with being labelled food it's so bad).

http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/0174/chappie-adult-tins

Butchers tripe load isn't bad, it is at least grain free.

Don't get me wrong, rather a dog ate crap than went without but the ingredients speak for themselves. Chappie is very very far from being one of the 'best' foods.

OP I'd go with tough love. The vet says she's fine. Your dog isn't stupid. She's wrapping your around her tiny paw. If she doesn't eat what you put down you try and find something she will. Meaning she gets new delicious things by simply being awkward. You need to teach her that if she doesn't eat what you put down, she doesn't eat.


It's not easy but if you go say a day or two then give in, you're teaching her persistence wins.


My dog did the same at 6 months. Once I'd checked with the vet that he was absolutely fine It was tough love all the way. I put his food down for 15 minutes twice a day and he got absolutely zero in between (besides water obviously). If he didn't eat what I put down he didn't eat anything. He went three days without eating, then realised that I wasn't going to give in. He's never turned his nose up to a meal since and he's 7 this year.

owlet

My Shih - Tzu is the same as yours op. She will manipulate & can hold out for several days - which, of course gets me worried and I cave in!

My issue started when she was 4 months old and I thought it would be a treat to cook for her. Fantastic, pup thought..... ate the lot in seconds. ..... now won't touch anything that might resemble "dogfood"

This has been fine & actually works out no more expensive than dog food but we are on holiday in france this summer and on the days we are travelling she needs to be able to eat dog food. I know she will hold out & I'm just coming now to the tough love thing. Hubby & I decided the other day to do exactly as the other posters have said.

There is nothing wrong with the food she is being offered & it's flavours she likes - so tough love it is!! Mum has toughened up in the last 6 months!

Dogs (especially the small breeds) WILL manipulate & tug at your heart strings. Your dog won't fade away if she doesn't eat for a few days .... honestly! Just go for it x

sangie595

It isn't just a small dog thing either. My six month old can happily ignore what is in his bowl, holding out for something better. Unfortunately for him, this simply means that nothing better ever arrives Sometimes he can hold out all day. But come supper time it ends up in his tummy or he knows he'll go to bed hungry. And he is a border collie. They all know how to play the violins when it comes to what they want.

SensibleSarah

My dog will never turn down any form of food, but virtually everything but wet Chappie disagrees with her violently. She struggles to keep weight on with Chappie though, so I've had success recently mixing 2/3 Chappie with 1/3 wet nature's menu, which is made of much better stuff. It smells like it would taste better too (if you know what I mean?) and she is putting weight on for the first time in 4 years (which is great as she's a bit under what she should be) nice & gradually.

sangie595

SensibleSarah wrote: »

My dog will never turn down any form of food....

My vet keeps a stock of healthy chew sticks for rewards for dogs. Every one of my dogs has refused point blank to eat them - even my old cross-breed mutt who would eat anything in the world, edible or not!