My dog is a picky eater. How can I ensure he gets enough nutrition?

Question

Parker just doesn’t seem to eat much. We’ve tried a couple different brands of food, but that’s not making a difference. He’ll take a bite or two and leave it. We’re following the feeding instructions on the food (1.5 cups twice a day) but he doesn’t eat nearly that much. He doesn’t look overly skinny to me, but I’m worried he’s not getting enough nutrition. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 1 month old | 45 lbs

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

There is a great calculator in the PetCoach library. Find it here: https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/ It can be used to estimate Parker's ideal weight. You can also ask your veterinarian to show you how to assess Parker's body condition score (BCS). A BCS and body weight paint a more accurate picture than one or the other. In the meantime, continue to feed as you have been. Dogs thrive on routine, so try to keep a consistent schedule for feeding. Prepare his meal then leave it down for 15-20 minutes before picking it up whether he has eaten or not. Repeat this at the next mealtime. Do not offer any food or large treats between meals. Tiny rewards for training or good behavior are allowed. These treats should take no more than 1-2 seconds to eat. Do not despair, he will not starve. Parker will eat when he is hungry. Try to avoid switching diets as this may cause gastrointestinal upset or create a finicky eater.

My dog is a picky eater. How can I ensure he gets enough nutrition?

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