Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog won't eat her food. Can she have chicken, rice, apples, yogurt?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 5 months old | 7 lbs

Hello, out of nowhere my dog stopped eating dog food .. so I’ve started giving her chicken and rice , I want to give her yogurt and apples which she likes but what brand should I give her

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on October 7th, 2017

Poor Chichi! It's fine to give her some small amounts of apple a couple of times a week, but make sure to remove the seeds and core. I do not recommend giving her yogurt. Dairy causes GI upset in dogs, and should not be given to them. It is concerning that she has stopped eating her dog food, and that can be caused by a medical illness such as GI upset. It's fine to give her chicken and rice for a couple of days, but I would start trying to transition her back to her dog food after that time period. Chicken and rice isn't a nutritionally complete meal for a dog, and it's not recommended to feed a dog that for long periods of time. If she still refuses to eat her dog food when you try to transition her back, I recommend a visit to the vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi , my 13 months old pekingese female is a healthy puppy, she is eating twice a day chicken breast and sometime with white rice...her docor had told me that she needs in her diet another things but when we try to offer her like “ puppy dried food” o
Your vet is correct that this is not a balanced diet for Chachi. Chicken and rice is fine as a short term diet when dogs have GI upset, but should not be given it as a daily diet. Your vet is also correct that you may have to starve her in order to get her to eat her dog food. I recommend offering her only a dog food. Put the food down in the morning and leave it from 15-20 minutes. It should be dog food only. Then after the 15-20 minutes, take the food away, and she gets no other food until dinner that night. This is extremely important! She needs to learn to eat what is offered to her, and giving her additional food during this time ruins that lesson. At dinner time, again put down dog food for 15-20 minutes, taking it away after that time even if she hasn't eaten it. Again, no food until breakfast the next morning. You have to be strict on this, and not give in. No more chicken and rice, dog food only. She will learn that the only food she gets is the dog food, and she
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my 7 year old chihuahua is experiencing bad stomach problems, she hasn't eaten properly in about 3 days, she has really loud borborygmi and diarrhoea. She doesn't seem to be in pain though she still walks around and acts herself . I have booked h
Poor Princess! The diarrhea and upset stomach could be due to many conditions including eating something she shouldn’t have, bacterial over growth, parasites or even organ disease. With continued diarrhea, there are often bacterial shifts in the gut that will make matters worse regardless of the initial cause. Make sure to bring in a sample of fresh stool. The doctor will check her for parasites and bacterial over growth. Many times a bland diet can help and then a slow, gradual introduction to the normal food can be done. A bland diet can consist of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% boiled white rice. This should all be plain. A good diet in general is Royal Canin. It is low residue and highly digestible. I think it's a good idea to keep your appointment tomorrow. I hope Princess starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a chihuahua and he is a VERY picky eater. My chihuahua doesn't really eat his soft dog food unless he's really hungry. Last week he had diarrhea for about 4 days, I gave him bland chicken and rice, and he absolutely loved it. Can I feed my dog
Unfortunately, chicken and rice is not a balanced diet for the rest of his life! There is something you can do about him being a picky eater, and it does involve tough love. As you say, he won't eat his soft dog food unless he's really hungry. If that's the only food he is offered, then he will start eating it consistently. Put down his food for 15-20 minutes, and once that time is up, pick it up and put it away even if he didn't eat it. Offer him no other food (human food, treats) for the day. At his next mealtime, put his food down for 15-20 minutes, and take it away after that time period. Again, give him no other food between meals. If you keep doing that, he will learn to eat his food at mealtime and he will start eating consistently. It's extremely important for this to work that you give him no other food other than his soft dog food at mealtimes. I hope this helps :-)
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My old Chihuahua very skinny.has one visible tooth she doesn't eat with.Sunday we got new canned food.Normally she gums dry food.We gave her a lot and nearly ate whole serving.Later we gave her cooked turkey in smaller portion than the canned food bu
Sounds like there is something going on causing Lacy severe GI distress. Suddenly switching foods, feeding people food, and withholding food in an odd schedule can definitely lead to GI distress, illness, or even issues such as bloat or pancreatitis. Since she is vomiting everything up and won't eat, and is also having diarrhea, it is best to seek out veterinary care ASAP for her.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Yesterday we adopted a shelter dog. 2 years old. Some type of long hair Chihuahua mix. She was fixed yesterday morning. She did not eat yesterday, but we were not concerned since she had surgery. Today she is drinking but not eating. Bought same food
I would try low fat yogurt or boiled chicken and rice with chicken broth. If she takes to that then try mixing dog food in to encourage her to get back to the regular food. If she is not eating after after 3 days from this I would be concerned. If you ntiice any vomiting or diarrhea then I would get her checked right away
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Casper is not so fond of food.. He simply ignores all the healthy stuff... Only he likes is chicken and rice.. We tried to give him everything milk curd fruits everything that is healthy and suitable for a dog... After he refused it I tried some vita
Dogs can be picky eaters, especially if they are given a choice of what to be picky about. I would not feed dairy products such as curd or too many fruits as this can cause digestive upset and diarrhea. If he likes chicken and rice, you can add the vitamin (or a liquid vitamin supplement to it) or even some veggies such as carrots or broccoli, however trying to get him on a balanced commercial diet is best. You'll want to put down the food for 15 m to give him a chance to eat, and then pick up whatever doesn't get eaten. While transitioning, you should not give any people foods, snacks, treats, other items, etc save for his regular meals. It may take some time, but a dog won't starve and they'll eventually try out the food. Sneaking in a little chicken or even low-sodium broth in with the food may also encourage eating in those 15 m windows.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
sashas not eating dog food she will eat regular people food i stoped giving her people food iv put yogurt in her dog food she likes yogurt (no artafical sweetners) iv tried allot of diffrent dog foods cheap and expensive shes supper skinny idk what t
Have you tried to mix it with canned dog food? Also you could give her boiled or canned chicken (no bones) over her food to help her gain weight. Both of these are ok and safe. Finally, if you want to make her on food I would check out some of the recipes on www.balanceit.com to ensure she is getting all the nutrients she needs. Unfortunately chihuahuas are known for not wanting to eat regular dog food often!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My pet won't eat his food. We've been feeding him boiled chicken breast and now he wont eat it. Though he eats his treats and other biscuits.
Boiled chicken breast can be fed during times of gastrointestinal upset but it is not a balanced diet for long term use. If Akki is behaving normally, choose a good quality dog food for feeding. Quality brands include Royal Canin, Orijen, Canidae or Acana just to name a few. Discontinue feeding treats and biscuits. Feed him on a schedule. Dogs his age can be fed twice daily. Prepare his food at the scheduled time and leave it down for 15-20 minutes. You can add warm water or a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate his appetite. Pick it up after the time is up whether he has eaten or not. Repeat at the next mealtime. Do not offer any other food or treats between meals. Do not switch diets frequently. Doing so may lead to gastrointestinal upset or can create a finicky eater. Be firm and be consistent. Do not allow him to train you to feed him what he wants, when he wants. If he is exhibiting other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain) then have him ex
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 month old puppy doesn't wanna eat. I tried to give her some of her treats but she didn't also eat it. But she seems playful all the time.
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! If Chuchi is acting normally and isn't vomiting for having diarrhea I would try to add warm water to her food or 1 tablespoon of canned food mixed with water on her food. Sometimes dogs hold out for something better or tastier to come along, but most healthy dogs won't choose starvation. Try a few things then set a schedule for eating. Feed her in a quiet room, give her an hour of quiet time to eat then remove the food until the next meal. You didn't indicate how long she hasn't been eating. If it has been more than 2 days I would have her seen by a Vet to be sure nothing medical is going on. I hope this helps and I wish you and Chuchi the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
How do I get Bella my chihuahua to eat dog food.. I want her to get all the nutrients she needs to live a healthy life.. she only wants rotisserie chicken and now she will not eat the meat she wants only the bones and I know that can’t be healthy for
You are right that is important to get Bella eating some dog food. Her diet is very unbalanced and dangerous. Unfortunately, you have spoiled her a little too much by allowing her to tell you what she will eat. You can't withhold food too long from a little pup, but you need to give her what you want her to eat and practice some tough love! Try a little chicken broth on the food or start with a food like Merrick canned food or Spot's Stew, as these look a lot like "human" food and dogs like them. Be tough but patient! Start even with mixing the chicken with the kibble and broth and keep cutting back on the chicken and increasing kibble Put it down and walk away... don't give her anything else. After 20 min, pick up, put in fridge and try again in a few hours. (Warm if needed). Give her 24 hours of this before you give in and offer her a bit of what she wants. Also, chicken bones are dangerous... they can lodge in her intestines or cut her... this has to stop immediately.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Treats & Chews Dog Food With Grain Dog Health & Wellness Wet Dog Food Dry Dog Food Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food Premium Dog Food Dry Dog Food with Grain Tiki Dog Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Yummers Sensitive Stomach Dog Food JustFoodForDogs Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Yoghund Wet Dog Food Royal Canin Sensitive Stomach Dog Food PetAlive Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Rachael Ray Nutrish Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Yoghund Dog Food CORE Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Pumpkin Patch Up! Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored