My Dog Won't Eat His Food

I have a 1 year old male working cocker spaniel who will not eat his food. I give him a complete meal with water and sometimes gravy.

I have changed his food twice to a more expensive one, but still no joy.

I do not want to put him on a meat diet because I don't think it will be good for his tummy.

Can you help please?

Reply from Pauline (Web Owner)

If your cocker spaniel is otherwise healthy, I recommend you try feeding him a little chopped, poached chicken breast and cooked white rice for a few days. It's a very bland meal and won't upset his little stomach.

Feed him this for a couple of days before sprinkling a small handful of his kibble into his bowl. He'll probably eat it along with the chicken and rice without realizing it!

If he finishes all of the food you offer him (kibble included), gradually reduce the amount of chicken and rice and increase the amount of kibble until his meals consist only of dry dog food.

Please bear in mind that if you're changing from one type or brand of dog food to another, it's very important to do it gradually so as not to upset your dog's stomach.

If you'd like more information you might like to read this article on Feeding Your Puppy.

You're probably already aware of this, but as your dog reaches around 12 months his dietary needs will change. Dog food manufacturers produce kibble specially formulated for puppies and a different preparation for dogs of 12 months and older.

It's very important to ensure your cocker spaniel gets plenty of fresh drinking water when he's on a dry dog food diet as there's not much liquid in kibble.

If your dog continues to refuse food, I would take him to see his vet as it may be a sign of an underlying illness.

Good luck!