shih tzu holistic healthshihtzuweb.com/natural-remedies/pdfs/the picky eater solution.pdf · a...

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© Furry Joy 2015. All rights reserved.

Digestive Health & the Picky Eater

Good digestive health is at the center of your dog’s well-being. The digestion of food, particularly good quality food, fuels your dog’s body and all areas within it with the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and elements that it needs to be healthy and stay healthy.

Good digestion will ensure a strong immune system and a strong

body.

It all sounds so simple doesn’t it? Buy good quality food and feed it to your dog to ensure that your dog is healthy. Let’s be honest though, not all of our dogs are happy to eat what we give them are they? They sniff and walk away, turn their noses up and often show more interest in the sad leftovers from our almost empty plates than their

own lovingly prepared dinner.

So in this short book, an accompaniment to our Shih Tzu Holistic health package, we will talk about your own dog’s digestion. We will cover reasons why your dog is not eating his meals with vigor, common digestion problems and take a look at some of the reasons

why the dog bowl is left full regardless of the food within.

In the next few pages we will help you to understand your dog’s eating habits and also how you how to ensure he eats his food, happily, at every meal.


Contents

Digestive Health & the Picky Eater .............................................................................................. 2

Picky with Food? ......................................................................................................................... 4

Is the Food Worth Eating? ........................................................................................................... 5

Health ......................................................................................................................................... 6

Dental Problems ......................................................................................................................... 9

Behavior ................................................................................................................................... 11

Anxiety.................................................................................................................................. 11

True Fussy, Picky Eating ............................................................................................................ 12

Making Positive Changes........................................................................................................... 14

Index......................................................................................................................................... 16

Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................. 17


Picky with Food?

Living with a dog that is picky with food is a real worry. When the Shih Tzu picks at small bits of his food we can never be sure whether he is still hungry, whether his nutritional needs are being met or even whether he is healthy or ill.

There are a few different reasons for picky eating. The most important thing that you can do when you live with a picky eater is

work out exactly why your dog does not want his, or her, own dinner.

If you have not already looked at the Food as Natural Fuel book within this package it is important to do this now. This is because you need to know exactly what your dog’s food is made from, because it

may just explain to you why he does not want to eat it.

Here are some common reasons why the dog’s dinner is left

standing:

Taste or nutrition is uninspiring to the dog.

The dog has a digestive disorder.

The dog finds the food difficult to eat or chew.

The dog has learned certain habits around food.

The dog is worried to eat.

You have somehow reinforced the act of not eating in the dog.

The kindest thing to do, before you begin any kind of remedial training, with a dog that has become picky with food, is be absolutely certain that you have the right reason that he is not eating.

For instance if your dog has a problem with his teeth it is unfair to keep trying to feed him kibble or if your Shih Tzu has become anxious around food it is unfair to stand over him whilst he eats. So let’s

explore the reasons for picky eating, in greater detail.


Is the Food Worth Eating?

One of the main reasons for pickiness with food is not lack of hunger, it is more lack of inspiration by the food. If you have looked at our dog food guide then you will already know some of the nasty secrets from within the dog food industry.

When I first found out about the way dog food is made I couldn’t stop thinking about the advice we are given in training classes and from veterinarians. The dog training advice stating that we should take the food away and then give the same food back the next meal time to show the dog that this is all he is getting.

This tactic is supposed to alleviate picky eating and is actually a very good approach when the dog is given good quality, suitable and

highly nutritious palatable food to eat.

Yet when I added that information to the fact that a lot of commercial dog food is a shocking mix of cheap and sad ingredients I was horrified by how we were gullibly treating our beloved dogs this way.

Imagine I gave you a dark dry biscuit to eat that did nothing for your appetite, then took it away and gave it back a number of times until

you were so hungry that you ate it. How would you feel?

Now imagine if that dry, dark and tasteless biscuit was all you ate for the rest of your life? Wouldn’t you be desperate for some fresh food, something with enzymes and vitamins? Something that woke your

taste buds and made your mouth water?

So if your dog is reluctant to eat his commercial food there may be a very good reason for it which I won’t go into here, there is an entire book based on just that, within this pack.

Now I’m not saying that you should take any food that you have given to your dog and replace it with something tastier, for that is the best way to create a picky dog. I am saying though that if your Shih Tzu doesn’t want a commercial food, no matter how tempting it looks on the pack, then it may be more to do with the food than your dog.


Health

Has fussy eating recently started in your home? Perhaps your Shih Tzu used to eat everything that you have him but now is less

interested in the food on offer?

If this is the case then it is important to look towards the digestive health of your dog.

It may be a case that he has had a food allergy for a long time and the effects of this are just starting to really manifest. It could be because his digestive system cannot cope with this particular type of food, or any food, because of another reason related to his

health.

So if your dog is disinterested in food and you can’t work out why take a really good and objective look at his overall health. Do his eyes shine, what does his poop look like, does his coat lack luster or has your dog’s energy dropped? Perhaps you are looking at a bigger health issue than the

dog that dislikes his food.

A good idea with a dog that seems fed up of his food, or seems to want to eat it but can’t seem to bring himself to, is to try the allergy diet as his food option. The idea of allergy testing with food is to literally restrict your dog’s diet as much as you possibly can.

You need to make sure that your Shih Tzu gets all the nutrition that is

needed from the smallest amount of food types possible.


By doing this you can then add in foods, carefully and gradually, then observe your dog for changes in his well-being.

A typical allergy testing diet should contain a protein source. White fish and boiled sweet potato with added fish oil and a natural digestive vitamin substitute is a good meal to begin allergy testing your dog with. It is important to ensure that the vitamin substitute is complete, containing calcium and potassium.

The fish and fish oil will support and soothe itchy skin and by choosing a natural and organic vitamin supplement you can keep

your dog on this food, and this food alone for up to twelve weeks.

You can mix up the carbohydrate source by swapping rice with the potatoes during the trial and after your dog’s itching settles down add in other foods gradually then watch for digestive problems to reoccur.

If digestion problems seem to be causing your dog’s concerns about

food then it is a good idea to add in some digestive enzymes.

What are digestive enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are in every type of food (food enzymes) unless it is processed or heated to above 118 degrees. Enzymes are also created by the body of your dog (digestive enzymes). The enzyme exists to aid the absorption of vitamins and minerals from the food

into your dog’s body.

If your dog eats only cooked or highly processed foods then his body will have to create a lot more of his own enzymes in order for the goodness from the food to be absorbed by his body. This is simply because food enzymes are not available to him in his diet.

When the body cannot create enough enzymes, which happens when it is tired or the dog ages, then enzyme depletion occurs. Enzyme depletion can cause many problems within the body of your dog and also lead to serious illness. Here are some symptoms of enzyme

depletion within the body of your dog.

Bloating

Loose bowel movements

Gas


Bad breath

Body odor

Lethargy

The above effects are simply because the dog is not receiving

enough nutrients from his diet.

Yet ask yourself, how many times have you visited a vet with these symptoms and actually been asked, in any depth, about how and

what he eats?

Long term depletion of digestive enzymes can lead to the following

serious illnesses;

Cancer

Immune system diseases

Arthritis

Skin problems

Allergies

So if your dog seems uninspired by his food, or unwilling to eat at all,

then perhaps his digestive system is simply off kilter?

Maybe he is needing a digestive helping hand by the means of

digestive enzymes.

Certain dogs are more vulnerable to enzyme depletion than others. This is because their bodies are often less capable of producing

digestive enzymes or they have not received enough food enzymes.

Ask yourself if you own dog is in this group:

Elderly

Suffering from thyroid problems

Stressed

Eating only highly processed foods

On antibiotic treatment or has been on it for recurring

periods

Adding more food enzyme is actually quite easy. Start by adding in

fresh and raw foods.


And, if he won’t eat carrots and broccoli or other raw veggies do not despair because digestive enzymes also come in powder form, from

most pet stores and online, to be sprinkled on something nice.

You could even try both in order to give his system a kick start.

Dental Problems

There are certain physical problems that can easily stop a dog

enjoying his food. The main one, of course, is dental problems.

If your dog has toothache, dental pain or even the start of an agonizing abscess then he will really not want to eat. So if your dog’s fussy eating seemed to have started suddenly or gradually over a set

period of time then it is vital to check in his mouth.

Dental problems can occur for a number of reasons, your dog may have broken a tooth, he may have a build-up of tartar which is leading to painful gum disease or he could need a dental examination or even

an extraction.

So don’t just assume that you live with a fussy Shih Tzu, his teeth

may hurt. Other signs of dental problems are;

Bad breath

Discolored teeth

Drooling

Swelling of the gums

Dental pain may need a course of antibiotics or even an extraction, both of which need veterinary attention. However there are preventative methods and remedies that you can use at home to slow

tartar build-up and aid healing after treatment.


Prevention of dental pain and treatment can involve:

Brushing your dog’s teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste

Feeding an organic carefully chosen kibble that will remove tartar as your dog chews.

Carrots as treats – they have a wonderful abrasive effect on the teeth.

Tartar removal at home, a descaling tool is great if your dog is happy to be handled. I can often pull tartar off one of my dog’s teeth whilst he sits and waits for his post dental treat.

Plaque off is a natural, seaweed based remedy that you can add to your dog’s dinner in granule form and is great for oral health. www.plaqueoff.com/for-animals is available in most pet stores and online.

Chew toys will help to keep the chewing dog’s teeth clean and tartar free.

If your dog is at the point where he needs treatment, has pain or problems then there are some remedies that you can use to aid

natural healing:

Homeopathic remedies Hepar sulph and Hypericum can fight infection and kill dental pain.

Arnica is a good homeopathic remedy for acute pain. Be aware though that arnica should not be used for the dog on heart medications.

Antioxidant supplements that include vitamins A, B, C and E can make gum tissue stronger and able to cope with dental problems.

Calendua lotion, available from health stores, can be applied to

ulcers and to aid healing.

http://www.plaqueoff.com/for-animals


Many Homeopathic vets see dental problems as one of the first signs that there is something wrong deeper within the dog’s body.

So as a holistic approach it is important to keep the entire dog and his immune system strong and naturally this will keep the dog’s teeth

strong and healthy too.

Behavior

When all other options are exhausted and your dog has a completely clean bill of health, plus suitable food in his bowl, it is time to start

looking towards his behavior as a reason for pickiness at mealtimes.

There are a number of reasons that picky eating can be a

psychological problem for dogs.

Anxiety

If a dog is sensitive or has had bad experiences around food in his past then he may be anxious around food. One of my small dogs would not approach the bowl when anyone else was near it, because she was worried about getting hurt near food. Sadly this was indicative of her past. Does your dog wear a collar with tag and eat from a metal bowl? If so the problem of approaching his bowl could be something as simple as the tag touched the bowl once, presenting a sound that the dog didn’t like. The dog may be associating something completely separate with his food bowl, dogs do this, if a firework or gunshot occurred when he began to eat even once the dog can remember that for the rest of his

life.

Signs of anxiety are licking lips, looking away and yawning. So if your dog does this at mealtimes and when you hand over his dinner you

may be looking at a worried dog rather than a fussy eater.


If this is the only time your dog shows anxiety then there is no need for a remedy, however it is important to change routines, food bowls and adapt feeding times to alleviate your dog’s fear or worry around

food.

True Fussy, Picky Eating

I would first like to point out that this area of the book relates purely to the dog that has developed picky eating habits, even when his health is completely checked and his food is tasty and highly nutritious.

Before you move onto dealing with true picky eating I want you to rule out every other reason in this book that your dog may walk away from

his food bowl, this is the only fair approach towards your dog.

That said there are dogs that learn to be picky with their food quite quickly. They learn specifically from our response towards them at feeding time. It’s so easy to reinforce the dog into picky behavior around food, without even knowing it. A dog learns very quickly from the environment around him. This is a form of conditioning that is very

natural behavior to any dog.

As you are a big part of your Shih Tzu’s life, probably the biggest part in fact, he will learn more from you than from anything else. So the moment you give him a bowl of food and he walks away from it is crucial learning time for him. You only need to add something new to that bowl at this point and your Shih Tzu will probably learn, as a one time learning event, that if he ignores his first choice you will come

along with a second one.

Here are some easy ways to create the behavior of picky eating

in your dog;

Changing his food if he ignores it.

Leaving a food source available all day.


Adding something tasty to his food bowl when you have already given the bowl to your dog.

Giving your dog food from your own plate when you eat.

Feeding too many ‘free’ treats – handing treats over throughout the day not including training sessions.

Giving a lot of attention to your dog if he doesn’t eat his food.

Raising the taste and value (in your dog’s eyes) of his food if he refuses to eat it.

Giving your dog too much food.

Providing a wide range of rich, calorific foods that fill your dog up quickly.

Not walking your dog enough to use up his energy.

Even writing this I know immediately that I am guilty of some of these

acts.

I am a canine behaviorist and do indeed live with a fussy dog, so don’t feel bad if you do some of these things too.

The big brown eyes, a feeling of wanting to share with our furry friends and guilt all lead us to handing our own food over to the

fussy eater in question.

These acts can cause problems though because when a dog is fussy

he will not benefit physically from the range of foods that he should.


He will miss out on vitamins and minerals that a varied diet would ensure that he gets. So read on and learn some positive steps to

changing the habits of that fussy eater once and for all.

Making Positive Changes

If your dog is a fussy eater the first step towards real positive change is to work out why. If you have realized that his eating, or not eating, became a habit based on one of the earlier reasons I described such

as poor food or medical problems it is important to sort this out first.

When you are certain that the dog is healthy and happy there are some things you can do to get him back into the habit of eating all of his dinner, when you give it to him.

Take a look at the steps shown here to improve the appetite of your fussy Shih Tzu. You will be surprised how quickly small changes will

create big improvement.

Steps towards a happy eater:

Ensure your dog has a healthy and tasty food source.

Feed your dog twice a day, ten hours apart if possible.

Cut your dog’s meal portion size down for the first day and gradually increase it over a few days to his recommended portion. It is fine just to give him a spoonful of food per meal for the first day and even the second if he is medically fit and healthy. The idea is to get his plate empty and still leave him wanting a little bit more. This will get him into the good habit of eating everything that you give to him.

Give your dog as much exercise as possible, he will eat more if he has burned more energy.


No treats, human foods or feeding from your plate at all. Even if he is used to it and makes you feel really guilty do not give in to those big brown eyes, you will see a vast improvement in your dog’s appetite by just following this and the previous step.

Give your pet the chance to eat his food for only ten minutes, then take it away and give him nothing else until the next mealtime. Always leave him with fresh water.

If you use training treats that them into your training from part of

your dog’s daily food ration not extra. If his treats are tastier than his dinner your dog will soon stop with his meals whilst he hopes for a treat.

Do not panic if he doesn’t eat and certainly do not give him a higher value tastier meal in place of one that he rejects. By this point you should be already feeding a good quality diet that does not need improving. Any changing from this and your dog will see food rejection as something that brings forth another option – this is a progressive slippery slope for you.

Do not give your dog any attention when he does not eat. Simply pick up the food and walk away with it. On the next meal reduce the food amount and see if you can take him for an extra walk in between to build his hunger.

All of these steps are great ways to reform the habits of a fussy eater that is otherwise healthy and happy. They may seem simple but you will be surprised by the results that they bring forth.


Index

allergy ................................................... 6, 7 antibiotics ................................................. 9 Antioxidant ............................................. 10 anxious ............................................... 4, 11 arnica ...................................................... 10 behavior ........................................... 11, 12 biscuit ....................................................... 5 Bloating .................................................... 7 Body odor ................................................. 8 breath ................................................... 8, 9 calcium ..................................................... 7 Calendua ................................................ 11 carbohydrate ............................................ 7 coat ........................................................... 6 commercial............................................... 5 dental ............................................ 9, 10, 11 depletion............................................... 7, 8 diet ......................................... 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 digestive health.................................... 2, 6 effects ................................................... 6, 8 energy .......................................... 6, 13, 15 enzymes ........................................... 5, 7, 8 extraction.................................................. 9 feeding from your plate ......................... 15 food ........ 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Food as Natural Fuel .............................. 4 food enzymes ...................................... 7, 8 fussy eating .......................................... 6, 9 Gas ........................................................... 8 gum disease ............................................ 9 habit .................................................. 14, 15

health .................................. 2, 6, 10, 11, 12 Hepar sulph ........................................... 10 Homeopathic ................................... 10, 11 hunger ................................................ 5, 15 hungry .................................................. 4, 5 Hypericum.............................................. 10 learning .................................................. 12 Lethargy ................................................... 8 Loose bowel ............................................ 7 minerals ..........................................2, 7, 14 mouth ................................................... 5, 9 nutrition ................................................ 4, 6 pain..................................................... 9, 10 pickiness ............................................ 5, 11 picky .......................................... 4, 5, 11, 12 portion size ............................................ 14 potassium ................................................ 7 processed foods .................................. 7, 8 Signs of anxiety ..................................... 12 supplement .............................................. 7 symptoms ............................................ 7, 8 tartar ................................................... 9, 10 Taste ........................................................ 4 teeth .......................................... 4, 9, 10, 11 testing................................................... 6, 7 tooth ......................................................... 9 toothache ................................................. 9 training ...................................... 4, 5, 13, 15 training advice ......................................... 5 treatment .........................................8, 9, 10 vitamins ................................. 2, 5, 7, 10, 14


Disclaimer

This product is not legal or medical advice and should not be interpreted in that manner. You

need to do your own due-diligence to determine if the content of this product is right for you.

The author or affiliates of this product are not liable for any damages or losses associated with

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the author nor the affiliates assume any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary

interpretation of the subject matter herein.

Any perceived slights to any specific person(s) or organisation(s) are purely unintentional. We

have no control over the nature, content and availability of the web sites listed in this book. The

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contained herein may not be suitable for every individual. The author shall not be liable for any

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information presented in this work.

This publication is designed to provide information in regard to the subject matter covered. The

information included in this book has been compiled to give an overview of the subject and

detail some of the symptoms, treatments, etc. that are available for specific conditions.

It is not intended to give medical advice. For a firm diagnosis of your dog’s condition, and for a

suitable treatment plan, you should consult your veterinarian or consultant.

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