Dr. Trudy Wade and her staff provide full service veterinary care for your pets. We always provide special care focusing on your whole pet - from birth through the senior years - including preventive medicine, medical treatments, surgery, diagnosis of disease, emergencies and nutritional counseling. |
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Why is My Dog a Picky Eater?
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At first blush, you might expect that no dog would be a picky eater. Your stereotypical canine readily wolfs down food (even that phrase implies that canines have a ferocious appetite). Some dogs will go after anything even vaguely resembling food and, much to our frequent chagrin, plenty of things that do not– shoes, socks, branches and rocks. So seriously how picky could they be? Well you might be surprised to learn that not all dogs are so quick to eat whatever is put in front of them.
How have ancestral eating habits changed?
First, regarding the ‘wolfing down’ aspect of how some dogs approach eating, proposed by the Journal of Nutrition’s website, their preference, as a species, for larger, infrequent meals likely goes back to the competitive feeding behavior of early of wolves that were their ancestors. It certainly doesn’t take a PhD in animal behavior to appreciate how eating as much as you could get, as quickly as possible, would be essential in that situation. You only have to have had a few brothers and sisters at your own dinner table to understand.
In spite of that, however, modern dogs apparently do have some innate taste preferences. As far back as the 1981, research indicated that dogs showed a strong taste preference for meats and sugar1. They preferred a diet containing sugar to one that does not, and they actually preferred water with sugar added to water without1. The same research, authored by Katherine Houpt and Sharon Smith, also showed that dogs preferred canned meat to fresh meat, cooked meet to raw meat and have a preference for canned or semi-moist diets over dry kibble. Furthermore, the sense of smell is very important to dogs in determining their food preferences – though apparently not so much when choosing between meat and non-meat options, but more so when discriminating between different meat choices1.
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Does your dog only want people food?
Knowing that dogs do have specific taste preferences, it probably comes as little surprise that your dog often begs for people food. How can you curb this behavior? Well, some of that is training. If you’ve shared with him in the past, then he knows human food is an option. But there could be even more to it, too. More recent research (2006) has determined that “dogs acquire food preferences from interacting with recently fed conspecifics2.” What does this mean? Basically dogs prefer food they have smelled on other dog’s breath prior to being fed themselves. Knowing this, I think your dog may develop food preferences based on what you eat— making him even more inclined to want what you are eating.
So what do you do if your dog is a picky eater?
First and foremost, don’t feed your dog whatever he asks for, this will lead to obesity and any number of associated issues. When you get a puppy, raise him to eat his food, not yours, on his own schedule, not when you are eating, and certainly not off of your dinner table. Pick up his food in between feedings, even if he doesn’t finish it in a reasonable (say 15-20 minute) period of time. And be firm about the rules, provided that he appears happy, healthy and at a good weight. Remember that we should be feeding our dogs high quality, readily digestible diets that rarely require the volume intake that we might think they must need to be eating. Use your veterinarian, not a measuring cup as your guide to what is an appropriate amount.
When could picky eating be a medical problem?
If your dog has been eating well and then becomes picky, especially if he is losing weight or looking unkempt, do not brush it off. Visit your veterinarian immediately to look for a reason. Anything from a bad/spoiled bag of food, to dental disease, to neck pain to other serious medical problems could be the cause. Before you decide to stubbornly stand firm and wait for him to start eating right again, consult your veterinarian.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
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Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment. |
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Does your feline companion lick you, and are you wondering why? Particularly since a cat’s tongue can feel a bit rough, it’s a behavior that’s hard to ignore! In general, there are two major reasons a cat will lick human family members:
Some cats lick for social affiliation and affection
If you have more than one cat, or have observed cats together, you’ll notice that cats will lick other cats in their social group. Known as “allogrooming,” many species of animals will lick and groom each other to strengthen their social bonds. It also helps to reduce conflict within the group1. Since cats live with you, as part of your social group, it’s natural for them to engage in allogrooming to demonstrate affiliative behavior. If your cats are generally healthy and behaving normally, licking is a positive indicator that they like you and want to be closer.
Cats will also lick people if they find the taste enjoyable. The natural ingredients found in human perspiration can be appetizing for some cats. Cats can also be attracted to items you put on your skin, such as medical ointments and skin lotion. This can actually be a concern if you use certain topical hormone-treatments which lead to negative hormonal changes in cats and dogs2. According to the pet poison helpline, topical medications that are toxic to cats include corticosteroids, Calcipotriene for the treatment of psoriasis and creams containing zinc (i.e diaper rash creams). If you regularly use a topical medication, consult with your veterinarian to make sure there is no risk to your pets.
Some cats lick to alleviate anxiety
Some cats will lick humans because they feel anxious and/or fearful. Licking their humans is a way to calm themselves3, somewhat like how humans will chew their nails when they feel anxious. This behavior is also observed in cats that were too young to be taken away from their mothers. These cats develop an oral fixation, which is a condition that can also be found in human babies. If you have a cat that is excessively licking you, and is showing fearful or stressed behavior, contact a feline behavior professional. Katenna Jones, Associated Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, says, “Often the behaviors I’m called for are actually symptoms of an underlying issue. In this case, if I determine stress is the issue, licking is the symptom – not the issue. I would focus more on the sources of stress and on implementing a stress reduction program. By observing and measuring the frequency of licking, the consultant and client can determine the success of the program.”
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What if my cat is licking too much?
Many people find their cats licking unpleasant eventually, as a cat’s tongue can feel very rough on skin. There’s actually a biological reason for this. A cat’s tongue effectively serves as a brush to remove loose hair, mats, dirt and fleas. Small spines made of keratin called papillae are spread out on the surface of a cat’s tongue in a backwards direction. These spines act as the equivalent of a hair brush or comb for a person4. It’s no wonder that excessive licking from a friendly cat can become annoying and uncomfortable. If your cat is not stressed and is simply licking you out of affection, you can reduce the behavior with some positive redirection.
To deter a cat from this behavior, find some things that your cat really enjoys and do those instead to distract him from licking. For example:
- Pull out a brush and groom your cat and include some gentle massage. Most cats find this very pleasurable and it’s hard for them to lick and be pampered at the same time.
- Engage your cat with some toys. Keep a toy handy wherever you like to sit, or lie in bed, and when your cat starts to lick, pull the toy out and encourage your cat to play. “Fish pole” type wand toys are great for this as you can swish it around and really get your cat going.
- Make sure your cat has other opportunities for mental and physical enrichment, even when you’re not cuddling. Cat trees, window perches, food-stuffed puzzle toys and small cat toys are all excellent options. If you enjoy training, you can also engage your cat in some clicker training to learn simple tricks.
Hopefully, if you find your cat licking you, it’s a sign of affection and you can take these simple steps to alleviate the behavior and spend enjoyable time with your feline friend. If you find your cat licking you excessively out of the blue, or the licking is combined with nervous, fearful body language and behavior, consult your veterinarian and a qualified behavior professional to help you improve your cat’s quality of life. If you’re looking for a vet, the American Association of Feline Practitioners list veterinarians who specialize in cats with “Cat Friendly Practices®.” For behavior help, visit the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (www.dacvb.org/), the Animal Behavior Society (www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/), and the IAABC (https://iaabc.org) to find a professional near you who specializes in feline behavior.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
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