I have a Shih-Tzu that's really, really frustrating me. There's nothing wrong with him health-wise. (I mean, he's been to the vet multiple times and they've found nothing amiss.) Either way, he's not eating properly. I've tried switching dog foods and getting him treats and everything that I can think of... and well, the only thing that seems to get him to eat properly is to use wet puppy food and mix it with Kibbles 'n Bits.

I was wondering if anybody knew how to ease this issue because it's rather expensive for a 19 year old girl with her partner on her own and an income of only $800/month to cover everything. (No welfare whatsoever)

Any ideas?

Ktanaqui :  Well, my first intuition would be to say that he had some health issue.  However, you say the vet hasn't discovered anything, so unless you want to try another vet, that might not be the route of thought to take.

When I was really young, my dad tried ONCE to get us a puppy (he hated dogs due to a childhood memory in which a dog nearly ripped half his face off).  The puppy was so depressed that it refused to eat.  It would just lay around and mope, and my dad figured it was because he missed his brothers and sisters. After a few days of the dog not eating, he took it back because he felt sorry for the poor thing.  Apparently, once it was back with its siblings, it began to eat again.

I only mention this in the case that the dog might be slightly depressed?  I -highly- doubt this is the issue since you said it will eat wet dog food.

Have you tried just waiting it out?  I mean, I know it sounds mean to let the dog go hungry, but maybe if you don't give it an option, it will eat the dry food out of necessity and hunger... and then it will realize that dry food isn't so bad?

It sounds as though it might not have been completely weaned...

Singelli :

He's nearly four. I personally raised him from the day he was born - I was there when Mommy pooped him out. He only got really bad about it when this other female puppy moved in temporarily. I suppose I could wait it out, but it seems like he thinks there isn't enough food when there is. (She's pregnant.) It's possible that he's depressed. I've been spending more time with him in hopes that that would help but he only seems to take food if I offer it to him from my hand.

Another issue that I see being a possibility is that his front teeth are sore. He had extra teeth and it seems like it's like a wisdom teeth issue. Might that affect it? It would explain why he's fine with wet food versus dry since the wet is easier on his mouth... (This thought just occurred to me.) I know a /lot/ about animals but I'm second guessing myself with Boch because he's my baby. (Having literally raised him from the time he was born.)

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Oldschool41 :

Not long. Just the past few days because he wasn't eating. I was thinking that maybe he doesn't like the flavor. He was on some other dog food that is too expensive for me to get anymore. I weaned him off onto the Kibbles & Bits and he was eating it fine for awhile.

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He's also refusing any hard food that I offer him. He used to love rawhide - and he'll barely touch it now. I got some Ol' Roy chicken stuff and he refused it too. These:

Ah, I wasn't aware that you've had him so long.  There goes a few of my theories!  LOL

I think it's got to be the sore teeth thing.  I mean, if he ate it before, it would certainly explain why he's not eating it now.  I think he'll eat it out of your hand because it's a very affectionate gesture.  Even if my cats hate a certain type of food, if I offer it from my hand, they eat it because they love me that much.  LOL  (Sorry if that wording sounded immature.  I wasn't sure how else to put it.)

Singelli :

No problem. I understand perfectly. As for the dental issues, there's very little that the vet can do about it. Any suggestions for that? (The vet had none. x.x Or anyhow, the vet's secretary. The vet himself was absent on emergency and now I don't have any money whatsoever.)

Ktanaqui :  I've never had a pet with that problem, so I'm afraid I really can't offer any advice. It might just be something you have to wait out.

Have you tried googling it?

Well - I have tried every search I can think of. Nothing is really doable for a dog. Thanks for what you guys did have though. And you helped me realize the stupidly simple fact that I'd been missing for some reason x.x