Five ways to get your dog to eat dry food: pick quality kibble, set a feeding schedule, mix it gradually with wet food, soften it with water or broth, or crush it for picky eaters.
Although there are different options for feeding our dog, the truth is that dry food, kibble or pellets are the most common. However, not all dogs accept this type of food well, especially if they are used to another diet. That is why in this video by an animal expert, we will give you five tips to get your dog to eat dry food. Let's get started. First, offer him quality dry food. Look for a quality dry food and choose the range adapted to your dog. For example, for puppies, for senior dogs, or for adults. Take some time to read the labels with the ingredients. Since dogs are carnivorous or omnivorous animals, the first ingredient contained in the dry food should be meat. In addition, it is better for it to be dehydrated to ensure that its percentage is maintained after the dry food production process, since fresh meat will lose water, which will reduce the final percentage. Second, respect quantities and schedules. Once you have selected the dry food, follow the ration recommended by the manufacturer for your dog's weight. It is important to keep in mind that if we overdo it with the quantities, the dog is likely not to eat at all. For this reason, it may seem to us that he is not eating properly, when in reality we are overfeeding him. On the other hand, dogs are creatures of habit, so it benefits them if we always feed them at the same time. Keeping a schedule is a good trick to get him to eat his pellets. We can also use it as an educational tool, for example by asking him to sit before eating. Finally, it also allows us to give obedience classes with edible treats when we need know that his belly is not full. Find out more about the amount and times a day a dog should eat according to his age in the video above. 3. Mix the feed. It is recommended that the adaptation to the new food be done gradually. Sudden changes in diet often cause digestive upset, especially soft or liquid stools. We recommend that you imagine dividing the feeder into four parts and starting with three of the old food and one of the new. In a couple of days, it will be two of the new food. In another couple of days, three until we completely change the menu. If their old food is homemade, the change will have to be made gradually, but without mixing the two foods, since they are not digested in the same way. There will be dogs that refuse to eat the kibble and will only eat the portion of their old food that corresponds to them. Even so, we must not make the mistake of giving them more of this out of shame. No healthy dog is going to let themselves starve to death. Stick to the guidelines set and they will eventually get used to it. Fourth, soften it. We can also mix the kibble with liquids such as water to soften it. Serve it cold or warm, never hot. Another option is to soak it in broth such as chicken or fish, but it should not contain salt or any other ingredient other than the piece of meat, rice or cooked potato. We will only use the liquid, which we can even freeze a few minutes before mealtime. Add enough to cover the feed more or less, depending on the texture you want. The pellets will absorb the liquid and then you can give them to the dog by crushing them or as is. If your idea is for the dog to eat hard feed, you just have to gradually leave more and more lumps. 5. Crush it finally, although it is less common, another trick to get the dog to eat feed is to give it crushed. This is an option that is usually reserved for convalescent dogs as it allows you to offer it with a syringe. You should soften the feed with warm water or broth. If the vet advises it, then instead of offering it directly or crushing it with a fork, you will put it through the blender. You can add more liquid to achieve the desired texture. Since it is a paste, it can ingest it by licking it, or you can help it by introducing small amounts into the mouth with a syringe through the side in the gap behind the canine. Did you know that you can also offer your dog some fruits as a treat? Discover their benefits and the recommended doses in the video we've included in the card. Tell us which of these tricks works best for your furry friend. Until next time, experts.
