Like many humans who have difficulties making meal choices, pets can also be picky eaters, especially newly adopted pets adapting to unfamiliar people and surroundings.
To ease an animal’s mind and improve their eating habits, it would help to use the tips mentioned below.
The objective is to keep your pet healthy without using negative strategies and forcing new habits.
Give Them Some Privacy
Placing the dish around a group of people could intimidate your pet and cause them to barely consume the food or not eat at all.
However, by offering the animal some privacy, they can eat at their own pace without feeling forced or rushed.
If you notice that your newly-adopted pet does well when eating with fewer interactions, it would be best to block off this specific location in the house for mealtimes and other activities that require more privacy.
Provide Fewer Treats
To ease your newly-adopted animal into your routine, you may choose to reward them by petting them more than usual.
While rewarding an animal is okay, too many treats could spoil their appetite and cause them to pick over their meals.
A pet could also prefer treats and hold out until you give them what they want.
Try to reward your pet with different options other than tasty snacks.
Change Food Types
Trying new food may be the best choice for a picky eater, especially if an animal continues to show no interest in the options you provide.
Organic pet food would be an excellent choice due to the superb taste and health benefits. However, your changes should be gradual and not too quick.
Before making any changes, it would be best to research what foods are good and what to avoid.
You can also speak with a local veterinarian or reach out to the foster coordinator for tips and suggestions.
Providing your animal with quality food will help them maintain a healthy weight and can provide them with the energy they need to exercise.
Ease Anxiety
Being nervous about new living arrangements could decrease your pet’s appetite and lead them to skip meals.
Your newly-adopted animal could be suffering from loneliness, fear, and separation anxiety from previous owners.
If you believe that anxiety is the cause of your pet picking over their food, it may be a good idea to spend more time with them, especially during meals.
Another cause of stress may be food association.
Your pet may think of bad memories when served a specific food, such as an upset stomach, and choose not to eat.
In conclusion, it is up to you to monitor your pet’s actions and emotions when served the food and make changes accordingly.
Making sure that your pet maintains a healthy diet will help them live a long and happy life.
Take some time to research what type of food will suit your pet’s needs.