Do you use Senior dog food or have you in the past for your older dogs?
Silver turned nine years old last year and about 4 months ago she quit diving into her food. Now she can be a picky eater, but I'm wondering if her hesitation is trying to tell me something more. She does eat all her food, but I've been wondering if I might supplement or dare I say change to senior dog food. (no, no, she can't be that old!)
It's made me wonder if there is something lacking in regular food that has caused her to pause before eating, even after a food change. She just not that thrilled about eating her kibble unless something else is in it. I want to stay on kibble and have thought about adding a cook diet to supplement or adding veggies (which she likes), but this doesn't solve the problem of the dog food itself.
How do you know if your dog is just being fussy or is having a problem with their food? All of the other dogs are fine with the same food. They can't get enough of it. How much have her nutritional needs change in the last year or so? Have any of you notice a difference in your older dogs diet preferences or behaviors?Did you notice a difference using a senior diet for your dog or not?
Any insight would be great. Oh, and by the way she doesn't have any problems eating anything else and is finishing her food. So what should I do?
5 comments:
Our Pip who is 15 has wet food in the morning and kibble for old dogs in the afternoon which she eats slowly as the days goes on. She doesn't like it but it helps keep her teeth as healthy as can be for an old dog. She is too old to have them cleaned and we are sure they may give her a few problems but the dry food does help with her breath. Not fun getting old.
Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
At nine, she should be on a senior diet. Senior foods have joint supplements in them. What brand of food are you currently feeding?
I've never fed a senior food but I do use supplements.
Leroy is a picky eater, he gets bored very fast with his food so I have to change it up every few days or he will just stare at it. I change it up by just adding a small spoonful of a different canned food and then he's good. I also can't put any pills in his food or he won't eat it, he can be so stubborn!
Just brainstorming, but could the kibble be too hard for her? Would moistening it to soften it up a bit help at all?
I think the question about the kibble being too hard is a good question, but it could also be that she is losing some of her sense of smell or the food just doesn't have the taste to used to have for her.
Supplements are a good idea. Fish oil is a good one to try. It also has a strong smell and may appeal to her more.
Most senior dog food really doesn't do as much for a senior dog as people think. It's more a marketing technique. But, before that. You may want to check her teeth to see if she has some dental decay and maybe even a visit to a vet.
Hope you figure out what's going on! BTW - Daisy is 9 now too. :)
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