So, you have a fussy or reluctant eater

If your pet has only recently become a fussy eater or you have noticed behavioral changes in your pet, the PFIAA recommends you visit your vet as there may be an underlying reason why they have changed their eating habits.

Many pet owners have experienced concern when their pet just won’t eat, even though you have served their favorite food. 

There are many reasons why pets walk away from their food and we would like to share some tips to help you to encourage them to eat.

1. Make sure that the diet is complete and balanced, and suitable for their age and stage of development.
2. The diet should be highly digestible.
3. The diet should have a high nutrient density, minimising the amount that the animal needs to eat.
4. Feed a little frequently over the day. Divide the total daily intake into 3-4 meals.
5. The temperature has a marked effect on palatability so warming the food can help to tempt our pets to eat. Where necessary warm the food to 38C, but no more.
6. Include a little animal fat in the diet providing there is no contraindication from your vet. In addition, it is a rich source of energy and helps to increase palatability.
7. Remove food that has not been eaten after 10-15 minutes; fresh food offered later is likely to prove more acceptable.
8. Small pieces of some commercial dog treats mixed with the food will often encourage dogs to eat.
9. Small amounts of dry cat food sprinkled on or mixed with the food often helps.