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My rescued dog won't eat her dog food. How can I get her to eat?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 5 lbs

I rescued my dig from a shelter. She is aproximatelt 2 years old. My problem is that she won't eat dog food. I have tried several brands, both wet and dry. My pet store associate gave her some samples. She ate them at the store but not when I got home. What do you reccomend?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 11th, 2019

I'm wondering if you are giving Cassie any additional food. If so, do not do that. It will make her not eat her dog food. She needs to learn she has to eat her dog food or she won't get anything. Put her food down in the morning and leave it for 15-20 minutes. After that time, pick it up even if she hasn't eaten anything. This next part is very important, do NOT give her any other food. No treats or human food. Nothing until her dinner. Then again put her food down for 15-20 minutes, picking it back up after that time. As before, no more food until breakfast the next morning. This shows her she has to eat when she is given food or she will get nothing else. She will get hungry enough to eat. I hope this helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on September 23rd, 2018
I would put food out for Roxie in the morning at breakfast time, and leave it for 15-20 minutes. When that time is up, pick it up even if she hasn't eaten and put it away. This next part is very important. NO MORE FOOD until dinner time. No treats or human food. She needs to learn she has to eaten when her food is down, or she gets no other food. At dinner time, again put the food down for 15-20 minutes, picking it up after that time. No more food until breakfast the next morning. She will get hungry enough to eat when the food is placed down. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Debi Matlack
Veterinary Technician
Published on April 25th, 2020
The good thing about dogs is that a healthy dog won't suffer any detrimental effects from going without food for a few days. If you still have some of the food she was eating before you got her or can get some, try that to get her eating. You can dd a bit of wet food, moisten it with low-sodium chicken broth, and/or warm the food to make it more appealing. Determine how much food she should have per day, divide that up into however many meals you want to feed her daily (most people do morning and evening), and put the food down at her mealtime. Give her 20-30 minutes to eat then take the food up and put it away. Don't give treats except as training rewards. When mealtime comes again, give her her meal and another 20-30 minutes to eat. It usually takes a day or two for dogs to figure out that they need to eat their food when it is available.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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