Why pets become picky eaters

IS your pet a picky eater? Food is one of the strongest stimulus that can effectively elicit a response in animals, so it's not normal for a pet to ditch its food. 

​The Pet Food Institute and the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines, through its Well Fed, Well Nurtured campaign, believe health issues, bad food and bad habits can cause pets to be picky eaters.

UNHEALTHY BODY
A pet's sudden loss of appetite is a cause for concern. Check if your pet's weight has drastically gone up or down. Diarrhea and or vomiting are indications that your pet should be immediately checked by a veterinarian.

Observe if your pet is feeling any discomfort or pain that hinders it from eating its food. Let a veterinarian examine your pet’s mouth for sores, tumors, bad teeth or foreign objects. 

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SPOILED FOOD
Check the quality of food you give your pets and the expiry date. Gradually introduce new flavor to their food to stimulate their appetite. Dry and wet food can be mixed together to boost flavor. 

Also, pets want a clean, safe, calm and regular place to eat. You won't like eating in a noisy place with dirty tableware, so why should your pet do?

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(Photo from buzzfeed.com)

BAD HABITS
Irregular feeding routines and too much treats in between meals that are tastier and more interesting can make pets pick on their regular food. Getting pets accustomed to eating human food may also affect their food preference. Table scraps don’t have the adequate amount of nutrition that should make pets healthy, not obese. Nutritionally sound pet food should not be substituted with treats and human food. 

Like children, pets could also use some positive reinforcements when they eat the right food for them. Praise them or pat them on the head after they finish eating their food. 

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WELL FED, WELL NURTURED
Pet Food Institute encourages pet owners to provide nutritionally balanced pet foods that are also scientifically produced and safe for pets to enjoy. The Well Fed, Well Nurtured campaign of PFI and VPAP aims to bolster awareness on responsible pet ownership through expert guidance and proper nutrition. 

PFI represents the companies that make 98 percent of US pet food.  As the industry's public education and media relations resource, representative before the U.S. Congress and state and federal agencies, PFI is dedicated to promoting the overall care and wellbeing of pets, and supporting initiatives to advance the quality nutrition for dogs and cats. 
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