At 13 Frosty is still a fincky eater, but at least I don't have to feed him with a teaspoon like I did for the first 5 1/2 years! He has never gotten so he'll eat hardly any dry food---mixed with gravy, warm water or whatever. I have made a life time project out of gathering up dry food samples at the pet stores that carry all the good premium foods. I've had vets as well as the food specialist ask me why I keep trying to get him to eat dry food! I guess I feel they need something crunchy for their teeth's sake. However I've been told dry food is only a convenience for the humans and not necessarialy the best nutrition, especially for tiny dogs with tiny teeth that don't like it and have a hard time eating enough of it.
I've also tried to encourage Frosty to eat the high priced natural canned foods, and of all I've tried over the years he will only ocassionally eat a little mixed with something he likes. There's no way he'll eat any of the Hills Special Diets the vets sell. Here's the formula I've ended up with that he'll eat.......(but I do still try to add other things): He will eat any flavor of the canned little flat foil top dinners called "Cesar" chopped up in small bits (he won't eat anything that's in a large hunk). He gets 1/2 a can (2 oz.) twice a day of that mixed on top of Innova Senior dry mixed with Precise Senior dry. The dry totals 1/3 cup a day (and he rarely eats all). He has to be PRIMED to eat even what he likes. The primer is cooked chicken breast, only about 2 teaspoons chopped and on top of everything. The primer is the only thing that keeps him eating every day! He also gets 1/2 teaspoon of "Missing Link Plus" (omega 3-6, with glucosamine) sprinkled on top of the canned food. He likes the Missing Link, and won't eat anything with smelly fish oil in it.
I know that sounds terribly spoiled! but I've many times been through the "when he gets hungry he'll eat it" rut. It just doesn't work with him. He is the most stubborn creature alive. He'll go 3 days and vomit bile from not eating and still not give in. What I am doing works, so that's what we do!
So my advice would be don't force the dry food issue, keep some at the bottom of the bowl, but find a good top of the line canned food she likes and add something she loves that is good for her like the chicken breast on top to prime her. Always keep nutrition in mind, but realize it doesn't have to be kibble. Find chew bones or Greenies she like for her teeth.
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I've also tried to encourage Frosty to eat the high priced natural canned foods, and of all I've tried over the years he will only ocassionally eat a little mixed with something he likes. There's no way he'll eat any of the Hills Special Diets the vets sell. Here's the formula I've ended up with that he'll eat.......(but I do still try to add other things): He will eat any flavor of the canned little flat foil top dinners called "Cesar" chopped up in small bits (he won't eat anything that's in a large hunk). He gets 1/2 a can (2 oz.) twice a day of that mixed on top of Innova Senior dry mixed with Precise Senior dry. The dry totals 1/3 cup a day (and he rarely eats all). He has to be PRIMED to eat even what he likes. The primer is cooked chicken breast, only about 2 teaspoons chopped and on top of everything. The primer is the only thing that keeps him eating every day! He also gets 1/2 teaspoon of "Missing Link Plus" (omega 3-6, with glucosamine) sprinkled on top of the canned food. He likes the Missing Link, and won't eat anything with smelly fish oil in it.
I know that sounds terribly spoiled! but I've many times been through the "when he gets hungry he'll eat it" rut. It just doesn't work with him. He is the most stubborn creature alive. He'll go 3 days and vomit bile from not eating and still not give in. What I am doing works, so that's what we do!
So my advice would be don't force the dry food issue, keep some at the bottom of the bowl, but find a good top of the line canned food she likes and add something she loves that is good for her like the chicken breast on top to prime her. Always keep nutrition in mind, but realize it doesn't have to be kibble. Find chew bones or Greenies she like for her teeth.
