Sophisticated people who turn up their noses at certain foods are referred to admiringly as discerning eaters. Choosy dogs and cats, however, go by the less flattering term finicky eaters. For their frustrated owners, finding a menu to tempt the finicky diner can truly be a challenge.
The dictionary defines finicky two ways. First, it can mean picky, choosy, or difficult to please. Its second meaning? "Insisting capriciously on getting just what one wants." The second definition probably describes what your pet is doing -- manipulating your emotions until you deliver whatever his tastebuds demand.
"Finicky eating is almost always caused by humans," says Karen L. Overall, V.M.D., Ph.D., head of the behavior clinic at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. Owners love to make their pets happy, and an easy way to do it is by giving them what they like. And what they like may be steak rather than kibble or canned tuna fish instead of canned pet food. Eventually, they get the message: "Aha! If I hold out long enough, they'll give me the good stuff."
Finicky eating can also be caused by giving your pet a monotonous diet. Suppose, for example, that your dog has been eating one kind of kibble all his life, and one day he gets to sample another, tastier food. His kibble is going to seem awfully dull by comparison, and finicky eating may be the result.
Cats are even fussier in their tastes than dogs because cats notice the texture and shape of their food as well as its flavor. "We've found that if cats are fed a restricted diet from the time they are young, they get very finicky," says Dr. Overall. "If a cat has been fed only dry food, it's hard to switch to the wet kind, or even to a dry food with a different shape."
Finicky eating may also be caused by an unpleasant experience. "If an animal gets ill and associates the illness with a particular food, he may not eat that food again," says Dr. Overall.
While every pet has his likes and dislikes, some are so finicky that they will hold out for hours or even days until they get exactly what they want. This is not only frustrating for owners, but potentially dangerous for pets, especially cats. Cats that don't eat for a long time may develop a liver disorder called hepatic lipidosis, which can be extremely serious. If your cat refuses to eat for a day or two, it is a good idea to give him something that satisfies his choosy palate. Then call your vet for advice.
See Your Vet If...
- Your pet eats from one kind of bowl (made of ceramic or glass) but not another (made of metal or plastic).
- He lost his appetite suddenly.
- Your pet has lost weight.
- He eats human food but not pet food.
- Your pet has eaten antifreeze, houseplants, or other harmful substances.
- She has missing or broken teeth.
- Her teeth are gray or black.
- She has been vomiting for more than a day or is vomiting blood.
- She has had diarrhea or constipation for a day or more.
- You have noticed weight gain or weight loss.
- Your pet hasn't eaten for more than 24 hours.
- She is eating, drinking, or urinating much more than usual.
- Her abdomen is bloated or feels tight.
- She is drooling more than usual.
- There is a bulge in her throat.
- Your pet seems unusually tired and lethargic.
- She has sores on her gums or tongue.
- She seems to be having trouble chewing or swallowing.
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