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Why Do Dogs Become Picky Eaters

Even dogs that have had hearty appetites can become picky eaters, sometimes overnight. Changes in eating habits can be temporary or permanent, caused by illness, injury, aging, or other factors.

Causes Of Dogs Becoming Picky Eaters

Why is my dog a picky eater? Some of the top causes of a dog becoming a picky eater are:

  1. Too much variety in their food

  2. Sensitive stomachs

  3. Allergies

  4. Dental issues

  5. Loss of smell or taste

Try Our Meal Variety Pack Made for Your Picky Dog

Why has my dog become a picky eater?

Let’s look at what might make a dog become a picky eater.

1. Dogs That Have Too Much Variety In Their Food

If dogs are fed table too many table scraps, dog treats, and/or a variety of flavors and brands of dog food, it can spoil them. By becoming picky eaters, in essence, the dogs are holding out for the “good stuff.”

2. Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

Dogs, particularly senior dogs, can develop sensitive stomachs. Foods that they once enjoyed can start causing digestive problems, which makes dogs not want to eat the food.

3. Dogs With Allergies

Dogs that are allergic to specific proteins or grains that are found in dog food and dog treats can resist eating those foods. Common signs of allergies include rashes and persistent scratching. They might have stopped eating to avoid the discomfort. 

4. Dogs With Dental Issues

Dental problems, with teeth or gums, can cause dogs to eat less and/or become picky eaters. Dogs that have loose teeth or missing teeth are likely to have more trouble chewing. Dogs with toothaches, fractured teeth, or infections also are going to be less inclined to eat, particularly dry dog food. A sudden change in appetite could be a sign that dental problems have cropped up.

5. Loss Of Taste Or Smell In Dogs

Dogs are well known to have a sense of smell that’s thousands of times stronger than that of humans. Just like humans, however, dogs can develop nasal and sinus problems that diminish their ability to smell. As they age, dogs can experience a decline in their ability to smell and taste, just as their vision and hearing might become diminished.

Our Dog Food Toppers Are Great For Picky Eaters

Why has my dog become a picky eater? Hear from other dog owners.

Whatever has caused your dog to become a picky eater – something listed above or something else entirely – we might just have the solution because our fresh dog food toppers are made with real, human-grade ingredients. You can see the difference, and your dog will love the switch! Check out what our Wally's Salmon N' Rice looks like.Best dog food for picky eaters with salmon

At Portland Pet Food Company, Katie McCarron started the company because her senior dog, Rosie, had become a picky eater and was losing weight. In 2014, Katie set about to create healthy, natural, fresh dog food toppers that even the most finnicky dog would love. Today, we have 5 flavors of dog food toppers, including grain-free options. Made from fresh, human-grade, whole food ingredients that are all sourced in the U.S. (most from the Pacific Northwest), our fresh dog food toppers (which can also be used as rotational meals and mixers), and dog treats are loved by picky dog eaters the world over.

Read the labels on our dog food toppings and dog treats, and you’ll recognize the names of all of the ingredients, because there are no byproducts, additives, preservatives, or rendered food in any of the products we make.

Try All 5 Flavors Of Our Dog Food Toppers – 20% Off with code MVP20
Perfect for picky eater dogs, we’ve created a meal variety pack of all five flavors of our toppers:

We’re offering 20% off your purchase of one trial pack, so you can find out which flavor(s) your dog loves the most! Add the Meal Variety Pack to your cart and enter code MVP20 to unlock your savings. Please note that we also have dog treats that are perfect for picky eaters.

Flexible Dog Food Toppers Subscription Delivery Service

We also offer a flexible fresh dog food toppers subscription delivery service. When you sign up for a subscription, you save 25% off your first order and 10% off all subsequent orders. The flexibility allows you to change your order, reschedule deliveries and cancel your subscription!

 Subscribe & Save 25% Off Your First Order


Still trying to answer: Why is my dog a picky eater?

Read more about picky eater dogs: "What To Feed A Picky Dog"

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