My picky toy puppy won't eat. How do I get him to eat safely?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Spitz | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 28 days old | 7 lbs
Hello, my dog is a very picky eater. I am feeding him with Ziwipeak air dry dog food, and from what I heard from reviews dogs usually love this food. Some owners even use it as a treat, this is how good it is. However after a few days of eating this food my puppy refuses to eat it again. What should i do, should i blend it and mix with baby food, meat based. Or maybe with cottage cheese or yogurt? I heard it's not ok for toy breed puppies to skip a meal since they are prone to hyperglycemia.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 5th, 2017
You're definitely on the right track with thinking that puppies as tiny as Norik need a reliable and regular feeding schedule in order to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so it is important to find a food that he likes. I think it's important to be sure that medical problems that could potentially be affecting his appetite should be ruled out, especially if there are other symptoms (occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or other) that may indicate a parasite infestation or other problem. It's fine to try mixing in a bit of baby food (avoid recipes prepared with onion and garlic) or even a high quality canned puppy food (Royal Canin makes some good foods for puppies) to see if this stimulates his appetite. I have 2 small breed dogs and I have always had to feed a mixture of dry and canned to get them to eat. Also, I would consider maybe looking for a food that is specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of puppies. Ziwipeak might be a great adult dog food, and it's likely formulated with all life stages in mind, but as puppies have unique requirements because they are growing I would recommend a food made for puppies, at least until 10 - 12 months of age. Also, I would not recommend cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products, as dogs can be lactose intolerant.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 1st, 2017
It is ok to mix in a little cottage cheese and yogurt daily if this is the only thing that will work. There are also dog gravies that can be mixed in with his food daily that may work as well. Visit your local petstore to see what is available in your area. You can also try more palatable high quality foods (not sure which brands you have tried so far) such as Royal Canin, Hills Science diet or Evo (Innova). Also it is ok to leave the food out for a little while and then take it up if Norik doesn't eat it readily. This will train him that food will be offered on a schedule and if he does not eat, it will be taken away. Try to also stick with one type of food for at least 1-2 weeks before giving up on it and switching to another. Any switch in food should also occur gradually over the course of a week, to prevent any stomach upset issues. And finally don't feed him table scraps from the table, because this will surely make him a picky eater who will constantly refuse his regular dog kibble. I hope that this is helpful. Best wishes with your puppy Norik and getting him to consistently eat his dog food. Take care.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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