Why are my energetic Papillons mellow? Should I change their food?

This is a great question, and one which does not have a simple answer, as there is no one pet food that is best for all dogs, even within a specific breed. Certain types of specialty dog foods, including grain free diets may be linked to heart disease in dogs, so I recommend talking to your vet about potential risks for Lilly and her sibling. I recommend a small breed adult food until they reach 7-8 years old, and then switching over to a senior formula slowly over the course of a week. You can mix a small breed adult wet food in with the dry if you think they'd prefer it, and a skin support formula such as the one below with omega 3 fatty acids can help support the skin https://www.royalcanin.ca/products/catalog/Royal-Canin-Veterinary-Diet-Canine-SKIN-CARE-SMALL-DOG-dry-dog-food/223038 See the links below for more information: https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmupdates/ucm613305.htm https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/rightpetfood https://www.hillspet.ca/en-ca/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/how-to-transition-my-dogs-food If your dogs are overweight or have other health issues, I recommend speaking to your vet as there may be other diets they recommend that can both help the skin and help manage their other conditions. I hope that helps!

I would say that they are probably bored with the food, especially if they are not vomiting or having diarrhea. Try switching things up to another brand such as Royal Canin, Eukanuba, or even Viktor. I would recommend doing a slow transition over the course of a week to avoid any stomach upset and then trying on of the foods above or one you've found during your research. I hope that you can find a food that your fur babies like soon! Best of luck and take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Given he has not been showing any other signs of illness, this may just be that he needs a diet change. Sometimes dogs can get bored of their diets periodically. You can try a new diet or possibly mix his current diet with canned food to see if that helps. Best of luck!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some dogs are just less social than others. So it sounds to me like Chaktah just doesn't enjoy playing with other dogs. As long as he's not becoming aggressive around other dogs I would not be concerned.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could absolutely be the food. Food gives the body nutrients and fuel to function and can certainly make a dog feel better when it is the right one. Glad that that is working for you. Have a good night!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From your description, there are no concerning symptoms I am worried about. This could be behavioral. Some dogs are more active than others and this may be normal for Chance. If you want to play it safe, you could consider having his blood tested to make sure that there are no abnormalities that need to be addressed. Otherwise, this is likely his normal behavior. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions and I would be happy to help you further.

Hello. It certainly is possible that this is normal for Chi. If her eating/drinking habits have not changed, she seems well, no coughing or problems eliminating, then I would not be too concerned. But at your next veterinary visit, point out your concerns & your vet may want to do some bloodwork, including thyroid levels. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.