Tough Love?

[diane silver]

Emma is now 4 years old and has always been a very finicky eater.  I admit that since I make homemade chicken jerky, I think she's relying on that for her hunger.  However, I'm trying to institute "tough love," and she really hasn't eaten for two days!  I know that everyone says that eventually she'll be hungry and eat, but I worry that she'll throw up yellow bile (which she does often when she has an empty stomach).  I think I've tried every food, wet or dry, on the market, added cheese, broth, chicken, etc., etc., and still she will walk over to her bowl, look at the food, and walk away.  Do you think that I should just leave the food down and that she'll finally get hungry enough to eat it?  I'm really at the end of my rope; I've thrown away so much food and I feel horrible that I'm not giving her the jerky or anything else but don't know what to do!!  Help!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think there's any spice or seasonings being added t the homemade chicken jerky, it's just dehydrated chicken.

I have been unable to find a veggie stock (or any commercial broth or stock, sodium free or otherwise) that doesn't contain onion concentrate, and  onions are toxic to dogs. Have you found a salt-free vegetable stock that is also free or onions?

[Bob Johnston]

that is a good point about the onions. i will have to see what i can find out there. I make my own and dont like onions or celery.

[michele, puddy & milo]

Have you tried toppings? I do 1-2tbs Taste of the Wild canned. That did the trick for us. We feed a meal morning and night - they eat it well. Before adding the canned, one of my boys did not always eat - he would sniff and walk away some times. He is a very healthy - trim/athletic weight.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I've used a dried liver powder before, just shook a little over the kibble. It was a long time ago so I don't remember where I bought it or what the brand name was. You could probably grind up some dried liver treats and try that.

[Brenda]

We just hired a dog trainer, and he told us the other day that the way to make a good eater is to feed them as an adult twice a day, or a puppy three times a day, leave the food down for 30 minutes, then take it up. They will supposedly learn to eat it at those times and eat better. Don't know if that's true, but it sounds like putting my kids on a schedule for sleeping when they were babies. It helped them sleep better. Have you tried doing that?