Are you facing a situation where your dog snubs her meals, and your cat acts overly selective during feeding times? Let’s tackle this together!

Initially, it’s vital to recognize that abrupt shifts in appetite might indicate a health issue, so consulting your veterinarian is crucial, particularly if this selective eating behavior has just started. However, if your pet has always been meticulous about their food, it might simply be part of their personality.

Stressful events, such as the loss of a companion (be it another pet or a human), separation anxiety, alterations in their daily routine, or bullying by another pet, can lead to picky eating stemming from anxiety or depression. Our pets, much like us, can manifest their emotions through their eating habits. Ensuring your selective dog or cat feels secure and at ease during meal times might help alleviate their anxiety, encouraging them to start eating properly again.

When there’s no medical or emotional cause, your pet’s reluctance to eat could be due to boredom with their current diet. In these scenarios, switching to a homemade, fresh food diet might not only resolve the pickiness issue but also offer an opportunity to foster healthier eating habits in your pet.

Occasionally, finicky eating habits coincide with a sensitive stomach, potentially signaling an adverse food reaction or allergy.

Food allergies in pets can lead to discomfort for hours post-meal, manifesting as itchy skin, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and reluctance to eat. Much like humans avoid foods that trigger allergic reactions, your selective pet might be steering clear of foods that cause them discomfort. If a food allergy is suspected, your veterinarian might recommend an allergy test and a switch to a hypoallergenic diet.

The definitive method to diagnose a food allergy in pets is through a food elimination trial under veterinary guidance, pinpointing the allergenic ingredients. Due to concerns about mislabeling in commercial pet foods, many veterinarians prefer home-cooked diets for such trials.

For pets with delicate stomachs, a balanced, veterinarian-approved, home-cooked diet can offer a comforting and nutritious solution.

If the thought “my dog just won’t eat” keeps crossing your mind, consider introducing fresh, home-cooked meals as complete dishes, meal enhancers, or dry food toppings to entice their taste buds and motivate them to eat. It’s important to consult with your vet first in case there’s an underlying health issue. Pawsibly Delicous’s homemade dog food recipes are specifically designed with picky eaters in mind, offering:

• Irresistibly good flavors (crafted with slow-simmered bone broth)
• Nutritionally balanced recipes reviewed by picky eaters themselves
• Fresh ingredients for added palatability
• Ingredient substitution for variety (e.g., swapping vegetables and proteins to keep meals exciting)
• Compatibility with food puzzles to alleviate boredom, such as stuffing Pawsibly fresh food into a Kong toy or using it with slow feeders

There are several flexible feeding options:

• As a complete meal
• Mixed into meals
• As a tasty topper

Particularly, homemade dog food toppers can be a game-changer for picky dogs reluctant to eat their dry kibble. Preparing meals for your pet and serving them healthy, home-cooked dishes is a demonstration of love and care. Instead of offering table scraps, you can provide a nutritious, well-balanced meal. When prepared correctly, our pets will savor the delicious food we make for them right in our kitchens.