What To Feed a Dog Who’s a Picky Eater

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Having a dog who is a picky eater can be a real challenge. You’re worried that your pup won’t eat—and to make matters worse, dogs can’t tell us exactly what they do and don’t like in their bowls.

If your dog is newly or suddenly picky, or if they haven’t eaten in 48 hours, it’s important to find out why they’re not interested in their bowl. Your first stop is your vet, who can help you investigate behavioral or medical concerns that might be causing their reluctance to eat.

If your dog has a clean bill of health, then it’s time to strategize around your pup’s particular palate. Different types of food can appeal to different types of picky eater. We review how to diagnose your finicky pup, plus a range of food and meal topper solutions to help you find a good food fit.

For Dogs Sensitive to Taste, Reduce the Ingredients

For some dogs, pickiness comes from sensitivity to certain tastes. That might be the result of food aversion caused by negative associations, or it might just be how your picky pup is built. If your dog is relatively consistent in their dislike of particular foods, they might be avoiding a specific flavor or experience. Dogs can associate indigestion, for example, with food they’ve had.

For these dogs, the best approach is similar to an allergy trial: reduce the ingredient count. Once you have a stable foundation, you can start slowly introducing one new variable at a time to find the ingredient—or ingredients—that they don’t like.

Here’s what to try:

• Look for formulas with limited ingredients and proteins you know your dog has liked before
• Switch to single-ingredient treats
• Consider asking your vet about an allergy trial, since aversion and food allergies can go hand in hand

Other good limited-ingredient foods for picky dogs:

• ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Duck & Pear
• Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
• ZIWI Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Honest Kitchen Whole-Grain Turkey Recipe

For Treat Lovers, Try Human Snacks and Meal Toppers

Some dogs don’t want anything to do with their kibble, but they’ll still show interest in treats—especially human food. If your vet has ruled out medical and behavioral causes (anxiety is an especially common culprit for these pups), consider adjusting your dog’s food to make it higher value.

The challenge is that high-value foods alone typically won’t meet a dog’s nutritional needs—even if they’re relatively healthy. That’s why making your dog’s food “high value” usually means investing in some good meal toppers. Those might be popular commercial options, or they be might favorite dog-safe foods from your fridge or pantry.

Here’s what to try:

• Add gently warmed dog-safe bone broth or gravy as a topper
• If your vet approves, try a commercial raw option like Stella and Chewy’s freeze-dried raw toppers in your dog’s favorite flavor
• Add coveted dog-safe human foods like sardines
• Pour a little goat’s milk over the top, which is appealing to cheese-loving dogs and a powerful aid to dog digestion

Other good bone broths and meal toppers for picky dogs:

• Blue Wilderness’s Trail Toppers
• Brutus Bone Broth for Dogs
• Stella and Chewy’s Magical Dinner Dust

For Bored Dogs, Rotate Diets and Add Toys

Got a pup who loves their food one day and won’t touch it the next? In some dogs, this is boredom and the best solution is diet rotation. Diet rotation can mean changing up your pet’s food every month, or it can mean switching things up more often—it depends on what works best for your picky eater.

Diet rotation isn’t for every dog. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, constantly switching proteins can be rough on their digestion. If you’re noticing diarrhea or loose stools, ask your vet about incorporating a probiotic or fiber supplement in your dog’s diet. And if you see food allergy symptoms, stop rotating and enlist your vet to help you find the culprit.

Here’s what to try:

• Look for a wet or fresh food brand that offers variety packs with different proteins
• Consider switching brands and even food textures and types with sampler kits
• Add a puzzle toy or a food dispenser to add interest to meals, like the Toppl
• For dogs with sensitive stomachs, transition gradually from one type of food to the next

Other good variety packs for picky dogs:

• Ollie Fresh Dog Food
• JustFoodforDogs
• NomNom
• Raised Right

For Picky Senior Dogs, Try Soft and Stinky Food

Older dogs might be picky about senior dog food for a range of reasons, such as the loss of smell that often comes with age. For these dogs, foods with strong odors can be the best way to wake up their appetite.

Another reason may be dental pain. Senior dogs, especially in smaller breeds with more crowded mouths, are also the most likely to experience advanced dental disease. Softer foods can be gentler on sensitive mouths and easier to eat for dogs missing teeth.

Here’s what to try:

• Choose canned wet foods, which tend to be smellier than dry options
• Pick fish-based flavors, like tuna or whitefish, which usually have the most powerful smell
• Consider microwaving your dog’s food to increase the odor
• Keep to soft options that are gentle on older mouths with missing teeth

Other good wet foods for picky dogs:

• Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef Dinner
• Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Recipe with Salmon
• ACANA Classics Fish Recipe

The Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters Is One Your Veterinarian Approves

We said it before, but we’ll say it again: a veterinarian is your absolute best resource for finding the right diet for a picky pup. A vet can help you spot underlying health issues that might be contributing to your pup’s fickle behavior—especially if it’s new—and make sure your dog gets the right foods to support their nutritional needs.

As you introduce new foods to your pup, be sure to do so slowly. Gradually swapping your dog’s current food for the new meal helps to ward off any digestive upset due to new foods and gives them time to adjust. Many pet parents with picky eaters will start with a small bag or even a sample of the food they want to try. This helps ensure that they don’t sink a lot of money into a bag of food their pup won’t touch (or have to lug a big bag back for a return).

Further Reading

• An Expert Guide on How To Read a Dog Food Label
• Is a Raw Diet Good for Dogs? Experts Explain
• What To Feed Your Dog When You’re Out of Dog Food
• Is Homemade Dog Food Safe? What To Know