What to add to dry dog food for picky eaters (5 Healthy Options)
If you have a dog that is a picky eater, you should spice up his meal time with some steak garnishing, yogurt, or even fruit supplements. And when he hears the sound of the kibble hitting the bowl, which is a sound he is used to, he will come running.
Some dogs are pickier eaters than others, which is a problem. Some dogs look in the bowl, sniff the kibble, and then turn away.
The question is how can you remedy this sort of situation? Should you try something different?
No, not always. You might want to feed your dog dry food for a lot of good reasons. By definition, kibble is usually cooked or steamed, which kills bacteria that may be present in raw foods.
Dry dog food is also easy to store and use, which makes it a good choice for people who are too busy.
Also, kibble may be good for your dog’s teeth and gums.
If your dog is tired of how plain kibble tastes, there are some things you can do. In this article, we will discuss five healthy options to make dry dog food more appealing to even the pickiest eaters, but first…
Is fresh dog food better for picky eaters?
Well, Yes and No. because when it comes to what to feed your picky eater dog, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. First, on the list is, how fresh is the food?
Many dog owners think that fresh food is better for their dog’s health and can help them get their dogs to eat more.
But a lot of people think that frozen or canned dog food is just as good or even better. It really depends on what you think is best for your dog and what they need.
The second thing to keep in mind about fresh food is the source. Fresh dog food is made by a lot of different companies, but not all of them are the same.
Make sure you do your homework and pick a company you can trust.
The third thing to keep in mind is the cost of fresh food, fresh food might cost more than other kinds of dog food. Keep this in mind when making a budget for your dog’s food.
Fourth on our list is the type of storage, fresh food needs to be stored in good condition and used within a certain amount of time. This is important to remember when deciding if your dog should eat fresh food or not.
Finally, there are both pros and cons to giving your dog that is picky about food fresh food. Do what you think is best for your pet and its individual needs.
If you decide that fresh food is the way to go, make sure to find a reliable source and keep a reasonable budget for your expense.
How do I know if my dog is picky about what it eats?
If your dog is a picky eater, you may notice that he doesn’t want to try new foods or that he only eats certain kinds of food. Some dogs enjoy eating only wet food, while others enjoy dry food.
More so, Dogs who are picky about food may also be picky about treats.
Here are a few reasons why your dog could be a picky eater:
Your Dog might be born with a delicate taste bud
Some dogs are just born with taste buds that are more sensitive than others. Some dogs become picky eaters because they are stressed or anxious.
This can be caused by a lot of different things, like moving to a new home, getting a new pet or baby, or even just a change in their routine.
Never Taught to Try New Foods
This is probably one of the most common reasons why dogs are picky eaters. For their whole lives, they have been fed the same food and are used to how it tastes and smells.
Why will my dog eat treats but not his food?
People who have pets can testify to this act, there are times your dog turns his nose up at his food but gobbles up a treat, this very act can be frustrating.
Nonetheless, there are a few things that could cause this somewhat erratic behavior.
One is that your dog might not be hungry, secondly, he might not like the food you give him, and thirdly, He might also be used to getting treats and not want to eat his regular food as much.
If you are so worried about how your dog eats, you should talk to your vet. They can help you figure out if the reason your dog isn’t eating is anything healthy related and they will tell you what to do next.
Five Healthy Options for Picky Eaters:
A shred of tasty Meat
Technically, dogs are omnivores, however, their most recent ancestors and all of their cousins living today eat only meat.
When it comes to fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers, don’t write them off they will eat them with all pleasure if it is being served, however, meat is where most of their calories come from.
Most dog owners would argue that there is nothing better than a juicy piece of meat to get a dog’s attention. Even if you served Cheese, ice cream, and pizza they aren’t as good as meat.
They may like these things, but meat is their favorite. And most dogs can eat any animal-based protein, even if they prefer chicken, fish, or red meat.
Given all of this, picky dogs tend to like foods that have a lot of high-quality meat protein sources more than foods that rely on lower-quality meat meals and meats.
Add sweet potato purée or a dollop of pumpkin
If your dog’s stomach has ever been upset, your vet may have suggested pureed squash or sweet potato because it is easy for the dog to digest.
Even if your dog is healthy, squash and sweet potatoes are good for them in many ways. Pumpkin and many other kinds of squash are high in Vitamins A, C, and E, while sweet potatoes are high in Vitamins C and B5.
Both are good sources of potassium and dietary fiber. As with bone broth, it’s best to make your own puree instead of buying it in a can, which might have additives and seasonings.
Add crunchy toppings to their dry food
Cucumbers, carrots, and bananas are just some of the fruits and vegetables that dogs like and that are good for them. And they have their own lists of nutritional benefits, like vitamins that help your eyesight and minerals that are good for your heart.
Dog-friendly vegetables can also help freshen your dog’s breath and keep its teeth healthy. They can also add more flavors and textures to their kibble to make it more appealing to them.
Adding Raw Eggs cannot be overemphasized
Eggs have a lot of good things for your dog. Eggs are a good source of all of the amino acids that make up protein.
By giving them to your dog, you can help them get more protein and good nutrients. Eggs are also a good source of vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, selenium, iron, fatty acids, and more.
Some owners are afraid to feed eggs because the egg whites contain chemicals that stop enzymes from working. These things can make it hard for animals to digest, especially when they are young.
If you should feed your dog a lot of eggs, the enzyme inhibitors in the egg whites can hurt their health. But doing it once or twice a week won’t hurt the dog at all.
It’s fine to give your dog a few raw eggs a week, as long as that’s not their main source of food.
Add tasty toppers to their dry kibble
Toppers for dog food are meant to make their regular food taste better and, ideally, provide more nutrients at the same time.
You can also use dry toppers as treats. Topping possibilities for dog food are endless. Bone broths, gravies, wet food, semi-moist meat treats, crunch single-source air-dried meats, and freeze-dried meat nuggets are all things that you can buy.
They may have probiotics, antioxidants, freeze-dried fruit, and other nutritional supplements, and they come in every flavor of protein you can think of.
Toppers aren’t meant to be served in large amounts; they’re meant to get your dog to eat its dinner.
Most of the time, the package will say something like “This is only meant to be fed occasionally or as a supplement.” Toppers shouldn’t be more than 10% of a dog’s daily food intake.
If your dog is trying to lose weight, adding calories isn’t a good idea. Instead, try adding veggies, flax, probiotics, or even the liquid from a can of tuna to dinner to make their food appealing and lower in calories.
How to Get a Picky Dog to Eat: Tricks to Make Food Taste Good
Even though we try to keep our dogs from eating things they don’t like and teach them the right way to eat, sometimes you’ll have a dog who refuses to eat their dry food.
Here are tried and tested methods that actually work in convincing a picky eaters to lick their bowls:
Warm his food up a little
By warming up your dog’s food, you can make even the most boring kibble more appealing.
Be careful not to make your pet’s food too hot (you should be able to hold your hand in the warmed food indefinitely), but you can just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so (as long as you are using a dish that can go in the microwave) before giving it to your dog.
Add something that you eat to their food
Wet food isn’t the only thing that can make your dog take a second look at her food. You can tempt your terrier with a handful of different healthy “human foods.”
Your dog might eat just about anything, like shredded carrots, bits of cheddar cheese, a handful of blueberries, or a few sunflower seeds. You can also add things to your dog’s food that will make him drool.
Feed your dog by hand.
Picky dogs will sometimes eat more when they are fed by hand instead of from a bowl. Even though it can be hard to do, this is often the best way to feed big dogs when nothing else will work.
Hand-feeding is also a great way to spend time together, so it’s a win-win way to eat dinner.
Make dinner-time fun
Even picky dogs are often excited, so when you can, use their desire to have fun and play. For example, you could try making dinner time a training session or a time to practice tricks.
Don’t feed for free.
Free-feeding dogs often make them eat too much, but it can also make them eat less. When you feed your dog all the time, he won’t feel as excited about it as he should. So, if you want to get a picky dog to eat, start feeding it on a fairly regular schedule (once or twice per day).
Make them a little hungry.
Let’s get something straight: I’m not saying you should starve your dog. When you skip lunch, you make your dog just as hungry as you are. Just give your dog his food a little later than usual.
If you feed your dog every night at 6, wait until 8 or 9 instead.
This might be enough to get your picky friend to like the food you make. This may not be a good long-term plan, but it often works to solve short-term problems.
What to add to dry dog food for picky eaters Conclusion
There are many ways to improve your dog’s kibble if he is a picky eater.
The most important thing to do is to keep looking into things and find out what works best for your dog. No amount of fresh food is better than any.
This is true whether you use high-quality kibble, always try to maintain a feeding balance of fresh food and kibble, or add kibble boosters.
