🐾 6 Tips to Solve Your Pet’s Picky Eaters

— The editor personally collected information + observed the experience of friends around him, and fully disassembled it for you slaves—

Many pets in Hong Kong face the same headache: picky eaters, partial to particular foods, or even those who simply "take a sniff and walk away" all day long. 😅 Some owners, assuming the food tastes bad, constantly switch brands, only to find it increasingly troublesome, and the pets themselves feel they're "getting worse and worse." There are many possible reasons for picky eating: habits, health issues, environmental factors, or even bad habits unintentionally picked up by the owner. We've compiled six key solutions, explaining them point by point, so your pet can gradually improve their situation. 👇

1️⃣ Establish a stable feeding schedule⏰

Subtitle: Sense of time is very important for pets <br>Many owners always “feed their pets whenever they remember” or “feed their pets whenever they are naughty”. As a result, pets don’t think that eating is a regular thing.
👉 Editor's suggestion:

• Fixed feeding times 2-3 times a day
• Keep food low for 15-20 minutes each time, and put it away if you don’t eat it.
• In the long run, the owner will know that "no food means nothing" and gradually establish a regular eating routine.

2️⃣ Moderately reduce the amount of snacks 🍪

Subtitle: Too many snacks will affect the appetite for regular meals <br>Hong Kong owners love to treat their pets, especially dogs, with snacks, which results in them having no appetite for regular meals.
👉 Editor's Tip:

• Strictly control the proportion of snacks, do not exceed 10% of the total daily calories
• You can use staple food instead of snacks during training
• If you really want to snack, choose low-calorie, healthy ones

3️⃣ Try changing the form of food 🍲

Subtitle: The same type of food can be presented in different ways <br>Sometimes it’s not that your pet doesn’t like the taste, but that they are not interested in the appearance of the food.
👉 Editor's thoughts:

• Soak dry food slightly in water to soften it, or add a little warm water to enhance the flavor.
• A small amount of wet food can be mixed in to increase the taste and aroma
• Make eating fun with educational eating utensils or slow-food bowls

4️⃣ Pay attention to your physical health 🩺

Subtitle: Being picky about food doesn’t necessarily mean being a “trick”
If your pet suddenly refuses to eat, there may be health problems.
👉 Editor's reminder:

• Dental disease and oral pain can affect appetite
• Gastrointestinal discomfort, parasitic infection, and chronic diseases are all possible
• If the picky eating behavior persists, it is best to take the dog to a veterinarian for a checkup.

5️⃣ Create a comfortable dining environment🏠

Subtitle: Be willing to concentrate on eating first before you feel comfortable in the environment <br>Some little kids are very sensitive to their environment and will not eat if they are disturbed.
👉 Editor's suggestion:

• Keep the feeding area quiet and avoid loud noises such as televisions and vacuum cleaners.
• For multi-cat/multi-dog households, ensure each cat/dog has its own food bowl.
• Keep the food bowl clean and avoid any residual odor

6️⃣ The owner must be firm in his attitude💪

Subtitle: Don't be fooled by their "acting skills." <br>Many slaves try to soften their masters' hearts by acting pitiful, only to have them constantly change their food and add more cans. In fact, this only makes their masters more picky.
👉 Editor's thoughts:

• Don't change the food immediately because it doesn't eat.
• Maintain a consistent attitude and wait until the master understands, "If you don't eat this meal, then it's okay."
• Be patient, they will usually accept it after a few days.

🐶 Editor's summary

Picky eating is actually quite common, but that doesn't mean it's unsolvable. The most important thing is for owners to be patient and address the three key aspects of their pet's diet, environment, and health checks. Remember, raising your pet isn't about "who pampers you more," but about ensuring they eat healthily and stay healthy .