Dog Food Palatability

[jak2002003]

The dog is 3 years old - mature.
Where did I say that I am changing the feed all of the time? He has been on TOTW for 2 years. I have only tried adding various supplements to spur his appetite.

He will not eat canned dog food
raw meat
cooked meat.

I am presently feeding TOTW - High Prairie formula.
At one time I tried TOTW cat food, and he ate that well for about a week.

That's 5 foods that you changed.

You also go on to say...

He is fed a warm, moistened diet in the winter
Put ANYTHING on/in his feed and his look says, "Now what the H have you just done."

That's another 2 different foods / textures etc

Have you got a photos of him? Is he castrated? Often entire males will not eat well if they can smell females in heat.. even miles away

Perhaps he is the correct weight for his breed? What kind of dog is he? If he has any greyhound type dog in his make up then he is going to be thinner.

Have you de wormed him? Have you taken him to the vet to see if they think he is the correct weight?

In the winter you could put a waterproof dog coat on him to help keep him warm.

 

[sourland]

Hey, jak,

.

 

[donrae]

You are a class act, Sourland

I can't help you except to just empathize. I had a hard keeper horse once. She was born to my mare, so I knew her history. She was just on the smallish side, and lean looking, until 2 years old. Never scary skinny, but underweight. I poured money into vet calls, blood work, etc....all to be told I simply wasn't feeding her enough. I did everything I could think of to increase palatibility of her feed, but grain and sweet feeds, etc would literally mold before she'd eat them. I finally got frustrated and gave her away. I know the new owners privately thought I wasn't feeding her enough, but they later had to put her down just due to a general failure to thrive. Not saying that's where your dog is headed, just saying some animals (and people) aren't the healthiest. It's frustrating as all get out and I hope you find something that works for him.


How about eggs? Will he eat those?

Maybe he needs to stop smoking

 

[sourland]

I have tried every trick that I have learned over the years, but he's just like that kid who will NOT try new stuff. He will turn up his nose at anything but the TOTW; hence, my assertion that he has not had a variety of diets. The only thing that he ate for a short period of time was the TOTW cat food. Everything else he refused to even try. He is in apparent good health, but has no reserves to fight with if he should happen to become ill. I also think that he would perform better if he was carrying more weight. I once had a b*tch that would only eat every other day, but she found her appetite once she matured.

 

[poodlechicks]

I would take him to the vet for blood work: complete kidney panel mostly and liver panel just to be on the safe side.
I understand your dog has no symptoms, but a dog with kidney disease may not show any symptoms until later in life. They start out as dogs that don't gain weight no matter what, but appear healthy otherwise. The only difference I see in your dog is fortunately his lack of appetite. Dogs with kidney disease w/o symptoms will eat a lot, but not gain enough weight. That's why I would go for a liver panel as well. Dogs with liver problems are picky eaters.

I don't mean to say your dog is sick, but it wouldn't hurt to eliminate this possibility.

Good luck!

 

[MrsBachbach]

Does anyone know of a commercially available dog food that has high palatability?

I have a dog that is an extremely poor eater.  He eats just enough to stay alive.  He has a great shine to his coat and is extremely vigorous, but will not eat enough to put on weight.

He will not eat canned dog food, raw meat or cooked meat.

I am presently feeding TOTW - High Prairie formula.  At one time I tried TOTW cat food, and he ate that well for about a week. 

Sometimes it helps to give some variety. I usually feed mine the Diamond Naturals, but do change from chicken, to the beef or lamb once in awhile. Loyal is also a good brand. They recently changed their recipe that is comparable to Diamond. Earthborn Holistic is another I feed my small dogs, and they love it, but it is a bit pricier.

Mine didn't eat hardly at all last week. It was hot and very humid. Something she wasn't used to. I really thing that affected her appetite. I cooled down two days ago and she is back to normal, eating normally.

If your dog is eating but not putting on weight, a trip to the vet may be in order.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

I've only found ONE food that mine will eat without fail (she's harder to get to eat than my kids are!). Woodchuck

I cook it up in the crockpot for 36 hours (literally a day and a half), throw in some brown rice and let it go. She hoofs it.