Our pets can have the most bizarre eating habits. Some prefer certain textures and flavours over others, and some choose to ingest things you rather they wouldn’t. We’ve listed tips from Dr Jo Righetti from Pet Problems Solved to help you work out how best to address your pet’s interesting eating habits.
Fussy eaters – Just like humans, our pets can have a preference for one food over another. However, it can become problematic if they aren’t having a balanced, diverse diet to suit their age, size, and health requirements. It’s best to speak with your vet about your pet’s diet. Some smaller dogs can be pickier eaters, and so too can some cats. If your dog or kitty is noticeably eating only certain textures and flavours, try mixing their preferred food with one that you would like them to eat. Then gradually increase the portions until they become accustomed to the taste and texture.
Overeaters – Most dogs will love any food you give them, but that’s when you have to carefully manage their diet to ensure they don’t eat too much. Speak to a vet about the best food management plan for your pet, but some tips can be to feed your pet less to make them move more. Add ‘bulking agents’ such as carrots into their diet to ensure they are filling up on healthier options. If you’re concerned about your pet’s weight, get a general check-up with your vet to ensure there aren’t any underlying reasons for weight gain.
Unusual eating habits – We’ve all seen them do it and it’s not very pleasant. Some dogs choose to eat poo. Sometimes it’s just a puppy phase that they grow out of, but other times there can be other reasons for this odd eating behaviour. Dogs may eat faeces due to boredom, for attention, to remove the scent to prevent enemies, or perhaps because it looks like food. Whatever the reason, it’s an eating habit best avoided. Dr Jo’s tips to prevent poo eating include cleaning up as often as possible. While good in theory, cleaning up straight after our pet toilets isn’t always possible, so another strategy Dr Jo suggests is training. Train your dog to come to you every time they poo with a very enticing treat. Take them near the poo and then call them to come to you and sit. Over time, they will see more reward in staying away from their poo.
If your pet has an unusual eating habit, remember to advise the pet sitter before they care for your pet pal.
For more detailed advice, visit Pet Problems Solved