The Best Foods for Picky Eaters

Key Takeaways:

Topic	Summary
Causes	Medical issues, boredom with food, changes in environment/routine
Best Foods	Wet, raw, human-grade, limited ingredients, toppers
Top Brands	The Farmer’s Dog, Nom Nom, Ollie, Raised Right, Merrick, Wellness CORE, Blue Buffalo, Orijen
Transition Tips	Mix foods over 5-7 days, warm food to release aroma, hand feed
Make Meals Appetizing	Rotate proteins, use wet food as topper, add pumpkin/yogurt, vary textures
When to See the Vet	Refusing to eat 2+ days, rapid weight loss, lethargy

Why Dogs Can Be Picky Eaters

It’s dinnertime, but your dog doesn’t seem interested in their bowl of kibble. Many dogs develop finicky appetites or refuse to eat meals at some point. Picky eating habits can be frustrating for pet owners who take time to select a nutritious food they expect their pup to gobble up eagerly. But when your dog turns their nose up at the bowl, it leaves you wondering if they’re just being stubborn or if there’s a more serious underlying cause.

There are a range of reasons a previously enthusiastic eater might go through a picky phase or mealtime boycott:

• Medical conditions – Issues like gastrointestinal problems, dental pain from broken teeth or cavities, food allergies causing discomfort, or other illnesses can all make a dog disinterested in eating. Any disease or condition that leaves them not feeling well may suppress their appetite.
• Boredom – Eating the exact same dry kibble day after day can cause a dog to lose interest in their meals. Dogs crave variety in flavors, textures, and scents. The monotonous nature of the same food causes them to become bored.
• Stress or changes – Transitioning to a new home, major changes in the family’s routine, adding a new pet, or even just rearranging the furniture can disrupt a dog’s routine. All these changes produce stress that may negatively impact their eating habits.
• Location – Some dogs have preferences about where they eat and become finicky if their food bowl location is changed. Eating in a high traffic area with constant distractions may also cause a dog to walk away from meals.

If your normally food-motivated pooch has always wolfed down their meals without hesitation, a picky eating phase is often temporary or situational. Puppies, adolescents, and elderly dogs may go through periods of reduced appetite related to growth or aging. But if a previously voracious eater suddenly becomes finicky for more than a couple days, consult your veterinarian to address potential underlying medical issues.

Best Types of Dog Food for Picky Eaters

While all dogs require balanced nutrition, some types of food may be more enticing than others for finicky eaters. Good options to try include:

• Wet dog foods – The natural juices, sauces, and aroma of canned or pouched foods often enhances palatability compared to dry kibble alone. The canning process also retains more of the food’s natural flavor.
• Dehydrated or freeze-dried raw foods – These maintain the texture and appeal of raw meats but in a convenient shelf-stable form that preserves nutrients.
• Human grade dog food – Fresh dog food companies use more wholesome, restaurant-quality ingredients similar to human meals, not rendered meats and artificial additives.
• Limited ingredient formulas – Containing fewer ingredients reduces the chance of disliking any component, a good choice for dogs with food sensitivities.
• Food toppers and mix-ins – Sprinkling on some aromatic and tasty wet food, bone broth, cottage cheese, yogurt or pumpkin over their bowl makes the meal more exciting.

Rotating between a few of these options adds diversity of textures, scents, and flavors so your dog doesn’t get bored of the same kibble day after day.

Top Brands for Picky Eaters

While you can experiment with any of the food varieties above, these brands come highly recommended by scores of dog owners who struggled to find foods their picky pooches would eat:

The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Human-Grade Dog Food

• Made from fully cooked, fresh whole foods like beef, chicken, turkey.
• Delivered frozen, portioned for your dog’s needs. Just thaw and serve.
• Four recipes tailored for puppy, adult, senior dogs, and weight management.
• No artificial preservatives, rendered meats, processed ingredients or fillers. Only human quality ingredients.

Nom Nom Fresh-Cooked Meals for Dogs

• Customized and portioned fresh dog food meals delivered weekly.
• Each meal cooked in human-grade kitchens from fresh, restaurant-quality ingredients.
• Four whole food recipes available: chicken, beef, turkey, and pork.
• Pre-portioned based on your dog’s unique nutritional needs.

Ollie Human Grade Dog Food Delivery

• Portioned, fresh cooked meals tailored for your dog’s needs.
• No artificial preservatives or rendered meats, just whole foods.
• Four healthy recipes to choose from: beef, chicken, lamb, or turkey.
• Delivered frozen, simply thaw overnight before feeding.

Raised Right Humanely Raised Dog Food

• Five recipes featuring cage-free chicken, turkey, beef, or sustainably caught yellowfin tuna and salmon.
• Meats are gently cooked at low temperatures to preserve maximum nutrients.
• Delivered frozen or freeze-dried for convenience.
• Free of corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, and artificial additives.

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Wet Dog Food

• High quality canned wet food packaged in convenient smaller 3.2 oz cans.
• Grain-free recipes with leading proteins like chicken, salmon, beef, turkey.
• Thick, chunky stew-like texture unlike watery canned foods.
• No artificial preservatives, colors, or fillers.

Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Wet Canned Dog Food

• Made with premium natural ingredients ideal for picky dogs.
• Nutrient-rich, protein-packed grain-free recipes full of meat.
• Chunky, hearty texture with visible pieces of real meat.
• Never contains meat by-products, fillers, preservatives or additives.

Blue Buffalo BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet Wet Dog Food

• Formulated with veterinary supervision for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
• Contains real meat, pumpkin, cranberries and prebiotics to aid digestion.
• Moist, meaty chunks and shreds in savory gravy.
• Available for puppy, adult and mature dogs.

Orijen Regional Red Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

• Biologically appropriate raw dog food made from free-run animal ingredients.
• Ingredients are lightly flash-frozen preserving their natural nutritional value.
• Grain-free with locally sourced meat, fish, and wild produce.
• Provide the benefits of raw food without the hassle.

Transitioning Your Dog to a New Food

You found the perfect food you think your picky dog will love! But switching foods suddenly can upset your dog’s stomach and cause diarrhea or vomiting. Here are some tips to transition gradually over 5-7 days:

• Slowly mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old food. For example, mix 75% old food with 25% new food on days 1-2, then 50% old with 50% new for days 3-4, finally 25% old with 75% new on days 5-6 before transitioning completely on day 7.
• Try warming the food to slightly above room temperature or adding a bit of warm water to bring out the aroma and make it more tempting.
• Hand feed your dog part of the meal as you establish the new food. This makes it a bonding experience while ensuring they eat.
• Pay attention to when your individual dog normally eats the most and offer the new food at their optimal feeding times when hungry.
• Stick to the recommended feeding amounts and avoid giving extra hoping they’ll eat more. This prevents overfeeding.
• Ensure fresh water is always available, especially during transitions when increased thirst may occur.

Making Meals Appealing for Picky Eaters

Beyond finding foods your individual dog likes, you can also enhance the appeal of any meal with a few simple tricks:

• Rotate through a selection of limited ingredient formulas with different novel protein sources to provide diversity.
• Use wet dog food, bone broth, or meat juices as a topper on dry kibble to increase palatability.
• Sprinkle on enticing mix-ins like shredded cheese, cottage cheese, plain Greek yogurt, canned pumpkin, or diced fruits and veggies.
• Incorporate a mix of crunchy and soft textures – for example kibble combined with a wet food gravy or soft topping.
• Use puzzle toys or snuffle mats to stimulate your dog’s natural foraging instincts and make them “work” for their meals.
• Hand feed them part of the meal for personal attention and to ensure they eat.
• Warm it slightly to bring out appetizing aromas.
• Try separate dishes for food and water to prevent smell contamination.

When to See the Vet About a Picky Eater

While short picky phases are usually not concerning, contact your veterinarian promptly if your normally food-motivated dog refuses to eat their meals for over 2 consecutive days. Rapid weight loss despite eating the same amount can also indicate an illness requiring medical intervention.

Significant appetite loss or lack of interest in food may signal underlying health issues such as:

• Severe dental disease causing mouth pain
• Gastrointestinal obstruction or chronic vomiting/diarrhea
• Kidney, liver, or pancreas dysfunction
• Cancerous tumors
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Food allergies or intolerances
• Metabolic disorders like diabetes or hyperthyroidism

Your vet will do a physical exam and use diagnostic tests as needed to pinpoint whether there is a medical reason your dog is refusing food. They may prescribe medications, therapeutic veterinary diet foods, or other interventions based on the diagnosis. With their guidance and trying creative solutions, most selective eaters can get back on track to regular, enthusiastic eating.