WHY DOGS ARE FUSSY
Fussy dogs can be a complex issue and the dogs can be fussy for a number of reasons so first we need get the background story. Refusing quality raw produce is unnatural. Think of a wild canine or feline walking away from a meal?
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All puppies undergo imprinting in the first weeks of their life. During this imprinting phase they start eating solid foodsfrom 5 weeks of age. If the puppy has only been feed kibble or commercial foodthen this is what it recognises as safe and familiar food. That's the natural basis of imprinting. Further more if the mother has been kibble fed the the imprinting has startedinthe mothers womb before even being born into the world. Therefore your puppy may not recognise raw as a food source.
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The "trained by owner unknowingly". When dogs avoid or refuse food and when owners offer another option the dog learns it's behaviour is rewarded. Refusing food results in another option or an owner coaxing the dog to eat with its favourite food is a common factor that makes a dog fussy.
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In general, cooked meat flavour develops as a result of interactions of amino acids, peptides, reducing sugars, vitamins and nucleotides from the lean component, or their breakdown products, during cooking.
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Some dogs just don’t like raw or couldn't be bothered. There are dogs who think a bone is just too much work. Naturally dogs are scavengers and maybe their co urban existence has taken the effort factor down a few notches more.
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If a dog has eaten kibble it's whole life, that's what "knows" as food and being creatures of routine the change in food may also add to the disruption. Sometimes you have to help your dog understand the new stuff in their bowl is actually food.
GETTING YOUR DOG TO EAT
There are many techniques that suggest how to get your dog to eat. When it comes to our quality food , the best and most effective way is tough love. After all, if your dog is being fed quality food that most humans aren't even getting, why should they refuse? Some raw food is made using poor quality ingredients, chemical preservatives and non-edible non human grade produce even diseased produce. Dogs would be within their rights to refuse such food. Our raw food is human grade, with quality unlike any other raw food hence our confidence.
Tough Love
Serve a small portion of raw food, put the food down and walk away. Wait about 10-20 minutes if it's not eaten pick it up and put it back in the fridge. Offer it again for the next meal repeat until your dog eats. Your dog wont starve. Even if its days no dog will starve itself. Don’t forget the organs! Find out why they’re an important part of the raw diet.
Your Dog Won’t Starve
Most dogs won’t let themselves starve. The vast majority usually eat after refusing a meal or two.
Dogs can skip meals for a number of reasons:
- Some dogs self-regulate their food intake. If your dog skips a meal it's fine, fasting is healthy for adult dogs.
- Your dog may miss a meal because they're not hungry.
- Maybe they're full from the meal before. Or it’s too hot.
- Don’t stress about your dog not eating. Remember dogs pick up on our states and stressing will make your dog stressed too and less likely to eat.
WHY CATS ARE "FUSSY"?
Cats are not fussy eaters however they may appear to be so because they are "imprinted eaters." This means they remember the smell, the texture and the taste of the food they are currently eating. On "imprinted" eaters new food may not even register as food or as a meal and cats may just walk away. It's important to ensure that being "fussy" is not actually a loss of appetite. Appetite loss can occur due to illnesses that cause health issues that may put them off cat food. If your cat is showing other signs along with a reduced interest in food, or if their 'fussy' behaviour is out of character, a vet check is recommended to rule out any medical causes. In most cases appetite improves when the underlying condition is treated or appropriately managed.
GETTING YOUR CAT TO EAT.
You can try to serve new food gradually mixing it in with their existing food and over time your cat will eventually become habituated to the new raw diet. Unlike dogs, when your cat refuses food, we cannot excercise "tough love" as we may to a dog. If your cat is still refusing to eat by the second day, you can try adding a small amount to their existing food
MEAL TOPPERS
Made to be highly palatable so are a great option for fussy eaters. A small amount of the topper can be mixed in with your raw food to improve its taste and texture for your cat. Our Shark jerky treats or Goat Organ Treats are excellent meal toppers.
ADDING WARM WATER
Add to raw food or heating up raw food up in the microwave to enhance smell and taste - just make sure it's not too hot when fed to your cat. If you're feeding kibble mix raw and dry food together at first, then gradually increase the amount of raw food over time.
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Specialists in original natural health by replicating the ancestral diets of cats and dogs.
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