How can I get my puppy to eat?

Question
I have a 5 month old dachshund puppy, who was a very good eater until a few days ago.  He was eating 3/4 to 1 cup of kibble twice a day without any problems.  About 3 days ago he started turning his nose up at his dog food and would only eat with lots of coaxing.  However, he will eat treats without any problem.  We've stopped offering him any food except for his kibble twice a day, but he is not eating it.  We would prefer not to give him "people food" with his meals.  Do you have any suggestions?  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Amanda!

If I were a dog or cat and my owner got on his hands and knees and begged me to eat,I would realize the great entertainment value of the scene.Why would I risk it by eating immediately?So instead of pleading,put down the food and walk away.Your pet will eventually learn to eat without the show.

If your pet isn't finished eating in an hour,pick up his foodand put it away.Later,bring it back out-but again,give him only one hour to eat.We've found that the most finicky pets usually have food available all the time.When they learn it's either eat or go hungry for a while,they tend to eat.

While your pet undoubtedly appreciates leftovers and mealtime handouts,those rich goodies may be spoiling his appetite,raising his expectations and contributing to a variety of potentially serious diseases.Would you want to eat dog food if you knew you could get steak every night?

If your pet normally walks away from dry kibble,try adding a little warm water.This will soften the food and make it as appetizing as homemade stew.Who doesn't enjoy a warm meal once in a while?If your pet normally eats canned food,scoop some into a bowl and heat it in the microwave until it's just warm.

A sprinkle of something out of the ordinary could be all it takes for pet to take interest in food again.Just don't overdo the succulent add-ons-scraps from last night's pot roast,for example-or you could end up with another problem:an unusually plump pet.

When you shop for pet foods,look for one that really smells.The smellier it is,the tastier dogs and cats-particularly cats-will fid it.Cats often favor fish-flavored vittles,while dogs tend to prefer liver and beef.

When To See A Vet
You know there's a problem when you whip up your pet's favorite tuna-and-chicken casserole and he doesn't even lick his chops.Obviously,fussy eationg isn't the problem.What is?
Most of the time,it's nothing you need to worry about,experts say.It's common for even the heasrtiest eaters to skip a meal or two-because of an upset tummy,for example,or because they're bothered by a recent commotion such as moving to a new house or having strangers in the house.
Generally,a healthy dog can go three to four days without eating before you need to worry.

If your dog doesn't get better after trying all of these steps,be sure to take him to the vet for help!

I hope this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck!Please keep me posted and give that Dachshund millions of kisses for me!Sending wagging tails your way!
Nicole