How To Get a Puppy to Eat Dry Food
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For many pet parents, it looks like their pooches are bottomless pits forever hungry and ready to eat more food. But some puppies are not too passionate about food, especially when it comes to dry food. Measuring out kibble and pouring it into your sweetheart pet’s bowl does not involve a lot of effort, but it is annoying and distressing if he simply sniffs the food and walks away without eating it.
You have chosen high-quality and nutritious food, but why your pup left it to spoil in his dish? When this happens, they might be considered a picky eater or just don’t have much of an appetite, but it could also be a sign of a serious health problem. They will deny eating their food for several reasons, so you should try to understand them. If you want to know why he is not eating dry food and how to get a puppy to eat dry food, here is a checklist of important things you need to investigate:
- Did he stop eating food suddenly or gradually?
- Is he doing something new or different?
- Is he eating wet, raw, and other types of foods happily but not his kibble?
- Has he stopped eating or drinking completely?
- Is he acting normal or sick?
Make notes about all these things because if he is not eating his food for more than two days, it’s time for you to take him to the vet.
5 Reasons Why Your Dog Does Not Eat His Dry Food
Kibble Size
Companies make dog food for newborn, adult, and senior dogs for various reasons, but kibble size is a significant factor. If your pup doesn’t eat dry food, it might be too difficult for him to chew large pieces of kibble.
Picky Eater
Yes, dogs are picky eaters. Some canines are happy to chow down everything you give them, while others have a shortlist of what they like to consume. They might turn their back at the dry food you have poured into their bowl because it is not their favorite flavor.
Dental Problems
Dental problems can also make your four-legged friend stop eating his dry food. If his teeth are sore, chewing the kibble is going to be painful, even if he loves the flavor. In this case, you should get in touch with your vet because maybe one or two teeth need to be eradicated.
Remember, just like humans, the dental health of dogs is also very imperative. You must brush his teeth regularly with dog toothpaste to make sure he has good dental health for a lifetime. You can also give him dental sticks.
Health Problems
Your dog won’t touch his dry food if he is sick. Therefore, it is vital to consult with your vet before doing anything to encourage your puppy to eat. Just feeding him the nourishing food won’t cure his ailment. If he is unwell, he needs proper treatment.
Overfeeding
If he is eating other things, he might not be hungry enough to consume his dry food. The majority of them fill up with treats. If you let your kid eat ice cream, pizza, and fries in the evening, you won’t be surprised if they don’t eat their dinner. In such a situation, the only thing you can do is to stop giving them treats or extra meals.
How To Get Puppy To Eat Dry Food?
In the 4th week, you can feed your mutt a small amount of dry food, but you must give him his mother’s milk as well. We would not recommend you to give them anything but solid food until they are 6 to 8 weeks old. Depending on his breed, puppy food will fulfill all their dietary requirements until they are one to two years old.
Now, let’s talk about how to get him to eat dry food. Well, the easiest way is to begin by giving them small quantities of great quality kibble. In two situations, you would like your pup to eat dry kibble.
Transitioning Him To Dry Food During The Weaning Process From His Mother’s Milk
First, a few pieces of dry food will be sufficient to help get him used to the new flavor and texture of the food. It is better to put it in the puppy bowl to let him eat whenever he wants. As we mentioned earlier, you can start this transition when he is four weeks old.
It means his main diet will be his mother’s milk but will be supported by the highly nutritious kibble. If you start this process later, then there are possibilities that the mother will stop creating milk leaving you with problems if your dog does not eat his dry kibble faster.
Moving Him From Wet To Dry Food
If you are already feeding him wet food, then you have a little more space because you can buy the wet food whenever needed if his mother has stopped producing milk. While making food change, you should use a switching period of up to four weeks. It will help you avoid any digestive problems and gradually get your furry friend used to his new dry food. This is how you should feed him during the transitioning process.
- Day 1 to 3: 25% dry food and 75% wet food
- Day 4 to 6: 50% dry food and 50% wet food
- Day 7 to 9: 75% dry food and 25% wet food
- Day 10: 100% dry food
This process is slow, but you will more likely make your dog eat his new food. Also, make sure to cut down extra food sources to help motivate him to eat his new meal.
What Can You Do To Make Him Eat His Dry Food?
Transit Slowly
The first thing you can do is to give him a small amount of dry food at a time. Don’t switch instantly, but instead, gradually add kibble to his bowl and reduce the quantity of wet food. Initially, he might not like the new food, so you should stay patient and stick with it.
Microwave It
Another thing you can do is to microwave your puppy’s dry food for a few seconds before feeding him. It will enhance the smell and helps bring fat particles of the kibble to the bowl’s surface. Warm yet dry food will be much better for your pooch than cold, wet food.
Give High-Quality Food
Several dog food manufacturing companies are working in the market. Not all of them produce high-quality food. Therefore, before buying the food, make sure it is high-quality. If you are currently feeding him medium-quality dry food, try to upgrade to a superior quality company and do experiment with the flavors until you find the one that is suitable for your pet.
Add It To Wet
It is not compulsory to serve kibble dry. If you want your pup to eat dry food daily, then you can add it to wet food such as hot water. The water will make the dried food easy to eat and increase its smell at the same time.
Conclusion
In the end, the best advice we can give you is to be patient and don’t be upset. There are numerous different ways to how to get a puppy to eat dry food. After making sure there are no medical issues, you can add some water or microwave the kibble to encourage him to eat his food.
