Senior dog suddenly refuses dry food, only eats wet. Normal?

It would be a good idea to have her checked by the vet, just in case. Most likely, though, she is being stubborn. Your dog has decided what her diet will be, but that's not her job . . . it's yours. Stop feeding her the wet food Put her dry 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 wet food, and that she must eat her dry 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.

It is very normal for a dog to refuse dry food, as the wet food has more flavor. My advise would be to mix both wet and dry food together for each meal. This way Willis will get the benefits of each, and should eat them both well. There are only three pet food brands which are approved by veterinarians. These are science diet, royal canin and purina pro plan. Only these three Have undergone research to ensure they provide an adequate and nutritious diet for pets. This research is approved by veterinarians. Any other food brands may not be regulated or researched as thoroughly. For this reason I would only advise feeding one of those three.

I don't know if I would be necessarily worried but maybe a bit concerned. She may have a dental problem that is causing the issue. I suggest you get her to the vet for an exam to check her mouth thoroughly to be on the safe side.

Yes, it's totally fine to just feed wet food. Wet food is essentially the same as dry food...just has more water content. Wet food may have potential to build up on the teeth more leading to dental disease (common in small breed dogs), but if you give him something else to chew on, or brush the teeth regularly, then it's not a big issue. A lack of appetite is a bit concerning if Russell normally ate his food well. Since he is older, it would be good to have him evaluated by a vet to ensure there is not a medical condition causing him to have a lack of appetite. I hope that helps and all is well with Russell.

If Kayla won't eat her normal dry food but will eat canned food, I'd be concerned that she has a dental problem causing this change in eating. Dental problems can be common in senior dogs, and can include a tooth root abscess, broken tooth, or severe periodontal disease. I see as well that she isn't spayed, and a pyometra (a life threatening infection of the uterus) can also be a cause of a deceased appetite and a reduction in energy. Given the risk of a pyometra in an older dog, the best thing to do for her is take her into a vet today to get the cause of her symptoms diagnosed so she can be treated. Should she have a pyometra, spaying her is part of the recommend treatment. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I'm not sure if you meant that Kiinley doesn't like her food mixed, but does like it separated, or if she only likes it together, but feeding it in whatever configuration works for her to eat is fine. If she is having trouble eating at all, or keeping food down, a wellness/senior check with your vet is a good idea to rule out any health issues that may be causing her poor appetite. You can also try to sneak in a few "extras" such as a little piece of boiled chicken or carrot.

I would not be concerned about this change from wet to dry food as long as she is eating and is not too thin. You will need to refer to the bag of dog food you are feeding to see how much you should be feeding her. Every food has a different amount of calories per cup of food so it is very hard to make a blanket statement that a dog 10# should be eating X amount of food. It depends on the food. So check the bag and feed her according to their recommendations for her weight.