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My dog only eats chicken and rice. How to get her to eat dog food?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pekingese | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 6.5 lbs

Hi , my 13 months old pekingese female is a healthy puppy, she is eating twice a day chicken breast and sometime with white rice...her docor had told me that she needs in her diet another things but when we try to offer her like “ puppy dried food” or regular dog food she don’t eat..... even the treats she don’t like it..... the doctor advised to let her starve for some days and only offer her the dog food..... please advice! any ideas..... thank you in advnace

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 10th, 2018

Your vet is correct that this is not a balanced diet for Chachi. Chicken and rice is fine as a short term diet when dogs have GI upset, but should not be given it as a daily diet. Your vet is also correct that you may have to starve her in order to get her to eat her dog food. I recommend offering her only a dog food. Put the food down in the morning and leave it from 15-20 minutes. It should be dog food only. Then after the 15-20 minutes, take the food away, and she gets no other food until dinner that night. This is extremely important! She needs to learn to eat what is offered to her, and giving her additional food during this time ruins that lesson. At dinner time, again put down dog food for 15-20 minutes, taking it away after that time even if she hasn't eaten it. Again, no food until breakfast the next morning. You have to be strict on this, and not give in. No more chicken and rice, dog food only. She will learn that the only food she gets is the dog food, and she will start eating it. Good luck, I hope this help!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 7th, 2017

    Poor Chichi! It's fine to give her some small amounts of apple a couple of times a week, but make sure to remove the seeds and core. I do not recommend giving her yogurt. Dairy causes GI upset in dogs, and should not be given to them. It is concerning that she has stopped eating her dog food, and that can be caused by a medical illness such as GI upset. It's fine to give her chicken and rice for a couple of days, but I would start trying to transition her back to her dog food after that time period. Chicken and rice isn't a nutritionally complete meal for a dog, and it's not recommended to feed a dog that for long periods of time. If she still refuses to eat her dog food when you try to transition her back, I recommend a visit to the vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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As you probably realize this is not a balanced diet for a growing puppy. If you haven't already I would recommend trying various canned puppy foods with a little chicken and rice mixed in. If he absolutely won't eat you can talk to your veterinarian about whether or not it is safe for you to leave food out and wait for him to eat when he's hungry - this could take a day or even longer. If you don't mind cooking for him you could also ask your veterinarian for a referral to a nutritionist to help create a recipe for a balanced home cooked diet.
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My puppy only eats chicken and is getting skinny. What can I do?
Your dog has decided what her diet will be, but that's not her job . . . it's yours. Stop feeding her the chicken. Put regular dog food in a bowl on the floor without fuss and leave it for 15 minutes. After that time, pick it up whether she has eaten or not. Do not give her anything--no treats, snacks or human food--until her next scheduled mealtime. Then repeat the process. It may take several times for her to realize that there will be no more chicken, and that she must eat her food. Remember that you are not starving her–she is choosing not to eat. When she is hungry enough, she will. Do not give in or "feel sorry" for her. It will only make it harder to correct. She must have a nutritionally complete diet, and chicken is not sufficient.
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That's not healthy! Not only does it not provide the nutrients California needs, that much fat can lead to pancreatitis. She should be eating dog food only. You are going to have to get touch with her. Put her dog food down in the morning, and leave it for 15-20 minutes. After that, pick up the food even if she hasn't eaten. This next part is very important: do NOT give her any other food. No human food, treats, nothing until her dinner time. At dinner time, put down her bowl of dog food, leave it for 15-20 minutes, then pick it up. Again, no more food until breakfast. This will teach her she has to eat when given dog food, and that she will only be given dog food. She will get hungry enough to eat it.
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My dog only eats chicken and rice. How do I get him to eat kibble?
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My new dog won't eat her food, only human food. How can I help?
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Is feeding my picky dog only chicken and rice bad for his health?
Yes, it is bad for his health because boiled chicken and rice is not a nutritionally complete food for dogs. He has decided what his diet will be, but that is not his job . . . it's yours. Stop feeding him the chicken and rice. Put regular dog food in a bowl on the floor without fuss and leave it for 15 minutes. After that time, pick it up whether he has eaten or not. Do not give him anything--no treats, snacks or human food--until his next scheduled mealtime. Then repeat the process. It may take several times for him to realize that there will be no more chicken and rice, and that he must eat his food. Remember that you are not starving him–he is choosing not to eat. When he is hungry enough, he will. Do not give in or "feel sorry" for him. It will only make it harder to correct. He must have a nutritionally complete diet, and chicken and rice is not sufficient.
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