There are a few simple things to remember when giving your pet table scraps and/or people food.
Receiving table scraps or people food encourages unhealthy and rude food behaviors. It can cause food aggression and it encourages begging at the table. Begging may not bother you but is very annoying to guests and problematic for children.
Giving pets table scraps supplements their diets with many unnecessary calories. Animals depend on the nutrients found in food specially formulated for them. If they eat people food, they will eat less of their own food and miss out on adequate nutrition.
Dogs who eat their normal amount of pet food in addition to the extra calories in table scraps can easily gain weight. Obesity puts animals at risk for numerous health problems.
Some foods are toxic to dogs, such as chocolate in large quantities, and dairy products. Onions and garlic can also be poisonous to dogs so pet owners should be aware of the ingredients in anything they feed to animals (even onion powder can have adverse effects on pets.) Fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis, and excessive levels of sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes. Trust me, I am a former owner of a precious Schnauzer who developed diabetes and pancreatitis. He was never fed table scraps so i believe that it is safe to assume that if they can develop these conditions without the aid of table scraps, imagine what the addition of people food to their diets will do. His battle lasted only 2 years. Think about the consequences.
Dogs cannot digest all foods. Haven't you heard your veterinarian tell you that a constant change in dog food is not healthy for your pet? What do you think is happening when we give our pet people food.
I believe that if you have visited your veterinarian and have ruled out all medical reasons that could be associated with a picky eater then you have a picky eater that was MADE, not BORN.
Unfortunately the dog does not always know or agree as to what the best food is. Just like children, dogs often like “junk food” better than healthy food. Dogs can be picky eaters, however that is not true, unless you allow it to happen.
It is important to remember that a healthy dog will not starve itself. Sometimes a dog may become bored with the same food day in and day out. Or maybe the dog has learned that if he holds out, you will add something better to his food to entice him. Owners often feel bad if the dog does not want to eat, so try to add extras mixed in to make it more appealing. While there is nothing wrong with adding extra healthy foods to the dog’s meal, but doing this to entice him will simply create a picky eater.
A healthy dog will eat when he is hungry enough. The dog is probably holding out and wanting you to give him something “better” (in his little mind). If you cave in and give him something “better”, you are just making the situation worse and he will continue with his picky eating habits.
The solution is simple. Research pet foods and find one of good quality. Please steer clear of canned food as this will lead to future dental problems. Lay down the food as feeding time. If he/she wont eat, pick it up and put it away until the next feeding time. Repeat this process until your pet eats. Don't cave to guilt. I promise, your pet will eat!
