Why won't my 6-month-old puppy eat new food when my other dogs do?

Sometimes puppies can have a slight decrease in appetite when they first come home since it is a big adjustment, however it sounds like you've had her a few days. Given her age and her breed I'd recommend seeing a veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have low blood sugar, parasites, or another medical problem affecting her appetite. If she also seems weak, lethargic or disoriented you should see an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. She is adorable!

You can try mixing the two foods together if you switched abruptly because some dogs do not handle a quick transition well. Mix the old food and new food together in a bowl for a week or two to gradually switch her over. You can also try things like soaking the new food in warm water to soften it or with a low sodium chicken broth to try to make it more appealing initially, then gradually decreasing the amount of liquid added to the food. Some pet stores also have a satisfaction gaurantee if you pet will not eat the food, so you can also call and find out if the store offers this and will let you exchange the product if she still refuses to eat it.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Koala. It may be she does not like the new food, and that's why she isn't eating it. I would slowly transition her back to her normal food and see if her appetite improves. If it does, then you know it's due to the food. If it doesn't, then it may be a medical illness and I would have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

The problem with changing foods too quickly is that dogs can get GI upset (especially diarrhea) with a sudden diet change. If a dog is not eating the old food anymore, sometimes we will use a bland diet (1/2 cooked white rice and 1/2 cooked white meat chicken without any skin or bones) as the other food to mix with the new food to allow for a gradual diet change to the new food to (hopefully) prevent any GI upset, so you might consider that option. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Switching flavors of food, even within the same brand, can cause GI upset in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs do not get bored with the same food, they can eat the same flavor every day and be fine. There may be a medical reasons as to why she appears bored, such as a dental issue. I'd have her checked out with the vet to be safe. Best of luck.

It sounds like you have a couple of picky eaters on your hands! You could still try another flavor of kibble - Purina makes a ProPlan with some softer pieces or you could try Royal Canin or Hills. You may need to ‘wait them out’ and leave the dry kibble out until they eat it without offering anything new. It also won’t hurt to continue to mix a little wet food in if you aren’t opposed to it. Good luck!

I think it is worth a try, yes. If he still doesn't like it, then perhaps a slow transition to another high quality puppy food can be tried. I really like Royal Canin, Hills Science diet, Evo, Merrick And Eukanuba brands if you interested in other brand options. Best of luck with Boovs and getting him interested in his food again.