Fussy GSD eater - help!!

SpottyTB

SpottyTB

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Hi all, as some of you may have seen on a recent post - we've just acquired (1 month ago) a lovely GSD bitch, she's about 18months we think and was rescued from what they thought was a puppy farm...

She came to us about a month ago and has settled fabulously but is such a fussy eater! We've put her on Field and Trial Duck and rice - as it's what our sprocker and JRT are on.. however she'll eat it but very rarely... she might choose to eat it twice a week and then she'll eat a mouthful of each meal and leave it...

We've tried mixing this is with chicken mince, lamb mince, rabbit mince, beef and tripe mince.. we've also tried canned meat..we've tried liver/heart etc - none of which she's overly fussed about.. might eat a mouth ful or two and then leave it...

We've tried giving her puppy mixer but she's not keen on that either - just picks it up and drops it!

Also tried her on a bone tonight and she showed absolutely NO interest - much to our sprockers delight.

She's missing 1 back tooth but it's been checked out completely and is fine.. and she will chew a raw hide bone no problem.. (will take her a day or so..)

Has anyone got any idea's? She's been wormed and flea treated so nothing going on inside her and she's pretty solid ish when she does toilet - which is about once/twice a day.

Help appreciated!!
 
I'd remove it and offer it later, she won't starve herself! Try not to put undue pressure on her or coax her to eat - she will just associate mealtimes with hassle and be less likely to eat. Can she eat in peace or are your other dogs there at the same time?
 
CaveCanem said:
I'd remove it and offer it later, she won't starve herself! Try not to put undue pressure on her or coax her to eat - she will just associate mealtimes with hassle and be less likely to eat. Can she eat in peace or are your other dogs there at the same time?
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We've tried the taking it away and it doesn't really seem to work - however i might try and do that myself as i have a feeling MIL had left down dry biscuits for her and she may have grazed - which would have filled her tummy.

She was starved before we got her and apparently was a hat rack when the fosteres got her.

We've tried feeding her with and without the other two.. doesn't make any difference - she's slightly better in company. :confused:

tricky eh :o
 
As CC said, just take it away and offer it later :) unless she starts to drop weight it won't be too much of an issue :) she won't starve, even if she waits until the next days meal - in fact the hungrier she is, the more likely she is to eat :) if she is slightly better with company, just do that :)
when we first got Roxy she wolfed her food down (wasn't regularly fed in her previous home) but then started getting a bit fussier! We did try different food and found one she eventually likes.
I personally wouldn't leave food available all day, but thats just preference for me :)
If she does start dropping weight, try and get her to eat anything she will - meat, biscuits, little and often.
K x

Just to add....Roxy had absolutely no clue what to do with a bone when we first got her! ;) loves her rawhide though!
 
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KellysHeroes said:
As CC said, just take it away and offer it later :) unless she starts to drop weight it won't be too much of an issue :) she won't starve, even if she waits until the next days meal - in fact the hungrier she is, the more likely she is to eat :) if she is slightly better with company, just do that :)
when we first got Roxy she wolfed her food down (wasn't regularly fed in her previous home) but then started getting a bit fussier! We did try different food and found one she eventually likes.
I personally wouldn't leave food available all day, but thats just preference for me :)
If she does start dropping weight, try and get her to eat anything she will - meat, biscuits, little and often.
K x

Just to add....Roxy had absolutely no clue what to do with a bone when we first got her! ;) loves her rawhide though!
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Nope i wouldn't leave biscuit down either as i think it ruins the main meal times.. but sadly i cannot take control of the situation. I also think she ought to be going on more walks to make her hungry (oh's brothers job as his dog) but they said they don't want to walk her as she'll drop the weight - imo that's an excuse.

I'm going to get her some pure tripe this tuesday and hopefully she'll like that. Oak just took the bone (half chewed) to her and dropped it and she ate the whole bloody thing. She was knawing away bless her.. think she needs someone just to start it off for her.


:D thanks for your reply!!!
 
She's probably not used to eating 'normally' yet if she has been starved. I would not be worried about her dropping weight through exercise as long as it is structured...she is more likely to be hungry if she is tired/exercised.

Is she not being walked at all? Sorry if I took you up wrong but a bored GSD will eventually turn into a destructive one, skinny or not!!
 
She's walked about 3/4 times a week for 2 hOurs and then on the other days she's let out in the front garden with my sprocker for "play".

She's my OH's familys dog.. IMO she needs more walking - every day. :)
 
She needs regular daily walking, steady on lead walking won't use up too many calories but it will keep her interested and more likely to want to eat. If she has been starved she may just need time to develop a decent appetite, but in the meantime as above do not leave food down with her, offer and take away if she turns her nose up. Green tripe is a good idea, its not often a dog will refuse that , as long as the owner can stand the smell!:eek:
 
Haha getting some tomorrow hopefully.. Have Pre warned about the smell! Outside job I think! :) walking her tonight with oak so that should do the trick! :-) will update later!
 
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