PET OF THE WEEK: Mister is a mature gent who loves to go on walks. An 11-year-old Chihuahua, he takes some time to warm up to new people, but once you are friends he will bend over backward for your attention. Adoption fees on all senior animals (age 7+) are waived until the end of February! Ask for Mister, ID# A599666. Adoptable pets are available at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion, 1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame. For more information, call 650-340-7022 or visit www.phs-spca.org. (PHS/SPCA photo)
Dear Miss Behavin’: My dog is a finicky eater. He turns his nose up to kibble and won’t touch his bowl unless I cook him up something I would eat myself, like ground beef or roasted chicken. Is there a way to lower his standards?
Reply: It’s quite common for dogs to get picky once they’ve had a taste of the good stuff. Typically it’s not an issue for a dog to have human food in moderation, but when they start to expect it for their meals, it can become a hassle.
Without question, you should have clearance from your veterinarian before feeding human foods to your dog. Boiled chicken breast, carrots, and green beans are fine for most dogs, but other items like grapes, onion, and excess seasoning can actually be detrimental to your dog’s health.
If Fido expects filet or scrambled eggs in his dish each meal, you’ve got a problem. My recommendation is to quit cold turkey. No pun intended! Stick to kibble, and as long as you are offering your dog food, he won’t starve. That said, make sure the kibble is good quality, and if you need to, mix in some warm water to make it more appealing.
Don’t be surprised if Fido turns his nose up and refuses to eat a few meals. This is normal. Eventually, he’ll be hungry enough that the kibble will have to suffice. Like I said, you’re still offering him food, so he can’t actually go hungry.
If the cold-turkey method isn’t working, you can try just adding the juices or a broth of the protein you were feeding him previously. For example, if you gave your dog rotisserie chicken, add only the juice or broth to the kibble. That way, it still smells yummy, but you’re a step closer to breaking the habit.
At the end of the day, moderation is key. If you want to treat your dog, make sure there is minimal sodium or seasoning, an appropriate ratio of kibble to human food, and that whatever you’re giving your dog is approved by a vet.
Read more from Miss Behavin’ in the Mercury News.