Seeing your dog’s diet become unstable is never a good sign as a dog owner.
This is not for the dog’s health and it’s going to start impacting all aspects of their life. This includes their energy levels, how reactive they are to you, and just being able to live a long time.
With this in mind, it’s important to pay attention to what the dog is eating and how it responds to different types of food. This includes a dog that won’t eat his food but will eat treats.
If a dog won’t eat food but will eat treats, it’s best to cut back on the treats, change the dog food, create a strict feeding schedule, and consider an underlying medical issue (i.e. indigestion, dental concerns).
It’s possible the dog does not like the food it is receiving and/or it has a medical problem that makes it difficult to eat regular dog food.
This is common and it is something you do not want to ignore.
Your best option is to take a look at what will work to get the dog to eat his food the right way. Here are the best tips on how to help a dog that won’t eat its food.
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How To Help Dog That Won’t Eat His Food
1. Create A Firm Schedule
Your first option is to create a firm schedule.
This is a mistake people make and it’s not good for the dog’s health when things are all over the place.
If you are going by “feel”, this is not going to work out for the dog. They already don’t have control over what they are eating and a sporadic feeding schedule is going to make them antsy.
They will want to eat and that can include junk food such as dog treats.
Create a firm schedule and stick to it. This is how you are going to keep the dog happy for a long time to come.
2. Change The Dog Food
If a dog is not eating food but eats treats, it’s time to look at potential issues with what is being put in the food bowl.
Is it possible the dog does not like the food you are giving it?
Each dog has preferences. This is like humans. Just because dogs can eat a specific type of food does not mean they are going to enjoy it. This can cause them to look at other options including dog treats.
You will want to look at changing the dog food to see if that helps. Look for a different type of dog food and see how the dog responds to it.
3. Cut Back On The Treats
It is now time to look at the crux of the problem.
If the dog is only eating treats, this means you are exposing it to this option. This is something you are not going to want to overlook as it is not good for the dog’s health.
It’s essential to see what can be done to get the dog back on its regular dog food. This is how you will know the dog will remain healthy.
Cut back on the dog treats right away.
4. Consider Potential Medical Issues
This is a detail you will not want to overrule.
The dog may be dealing with a medical problem. This could be anything including a digestive issue or possibly a dental problem where it is difficult to eat the food without feeling pain.
With this in mind, you will want a vet to take a look at the dog. A complete checkup can help pinpoint an underlying issue.
It is not always going to be a medical issue but it is still something you are going to want to dive into as best as possible.
Focus on this to learn more about what can be done to help the dog lead a healthier life and start eating the right way.
Final Thoughts
Look into these tips if a dog won’t eat his food but will eat treats.
If a dog won’t eat its food but will eat treats, this means the dog food should be changed and a firm feeding schedule is required. It’s also recommended to cut back on the dog treats and also go to a vet for potential medical issues (i.e. dental problems, digestive concerns).
Each situation is different but you will want to work your way through these solutions to get the dog back on track.
There is always a reason for this change. If a dog was eating food in the past but doesn’t now, you can often pinpoint it to a health issue or the type of dog food you are giving to it.
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