Basenji Won’t eat
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Mine gets bored of the same thing every day. I add different foods to his regular kibble to change it up. Chicken broth, beef broth, pumpkin puree, egg, coconut oil, freeze dried fish or liver, you could add some raw as well. Pick a healthy kibble you know is good for him, add some variety here and there, he won't starve himself to death. If he just doesn't feel like eating some days but he's still a healthy weight then he's fine.
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My basenji had similar periods, when in puberty... I learned he was eating too much protein. We switched to raw, I have cut his portions and he is eating regulary.
He will eat anything when with other dogs, that doesn’t mean he likes it, he just doesn’t want other dogs to eat it.
Relax, offer him food after walking. Get him tired, come home and give him food. If he doesn’t want it, pick it up.
I prefer raw food, but that doesn’t mean That’s your only option. My problems are gone since on raw. Do your research and find food he likes. Wach for proteins, If you feed kibble, up to 24% of protein is enough. -
mine is a foodie. He won't eat if he is disappointed in the offering especially if I am watching. Try a little bit of high quality real food (an egg, sardine, meat, yogurt) and then walk away and see what happens. If he eats it, you may have a dog who knows quality and won't eat anything else. Not such a bad thing in the long run. Expensive but better for him.
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We buy dried raw food from Chewie's and add a little warm water and some Linatone for Binti's coat. Our vet 3 Basenjis ago told us that the Linatone was not only good for the coat, but that Basenjis seem to like the taste. Sometimes we substitute some bone bone for the water, but we always slightly warm the liquid. That seems to do the trick for Binti.
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Not sick isn't determined by normal bowel movements.
Changing food four times in what, 3 1/2 mos? is too much. Give him an acid reducer so he doesn't throw up bile, stick with one food. Putting water is fine, avoid other stuff. If he doesn't eat after 3 days, it's time for full blood work, teeth, gums, everything that could be making eating a problem. Dogs do have eating issues, and sometimes you don't know why. I believed all dogs would eat and not starve ... until i was proven wrong.
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@nick4 I'm assuming your pup has had Fanconi testing or is clear by pedigree? It usually causes decreased appetite, so I wanted to make sure it's been ruled out.
Otherwise, I've always found basenjis who are 'only children' are really fussy eaters--no siblings to steal their food if they walk away. At 5.5 months, it might also be he's missing the his mom & littermates, since b's are social dogs. Does he spend a fair bit of time alone? That's often stressful for them, and stress affects their appetite a fair bit.
You could try a commercial raw diet, mine definitely prefer it to kibble. Earthborn Meadow Feast is another kibble that's tempted mine when they weren't hungry.
Also, make sure the kibble is stored in a cool, dry place out of the sun in the original bag. If you economize by buying large bags, store the bulk of it in the freezer, taking out about a week's worth at a time. It can go rancid quickly once exposed to air, especially in hot weather. I'm also cautious about buying kibble in the summer months--I think it might go rancid if transported in unrefridgerated railcars or trucks that stand in the sun for hours. I have one boy with a sensitive nose and even more sensitive gut--I pay attention when he refuses food, he's my canary in the coal mine.
If he doesn't eat, pick up his food and either discard or bag it & put it in the freezer. Leaving it down for him to eat later will make him a pickier eater. It's better for training & housebreaking if he eats (or not) on a schedule that YOU dictate. Good luck!
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Seems like there is a lot of sensible advice. I'll second the question of how much does he weigh. Also, does he look healthy? Emaciated? Makes a difference. Also note that his growth may be slowing down so he may not need as much food as he did a month or two ago.
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@katclem said in Basenji Won’t eat:
him.
My Sahara is a picky eater as well. I feed her Dry kibble Royal Canin, with cut up chicken thigh & a little broth. I heat it a bit, she hates cold food. I give her French Style (no salt) green beans at night with chicken. She also loves white rice with chicken & broth. I know she is spoiled, but I want her to eat good. On her Birthday she gets steak, Just Saying!!!!
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replied to basenjilover60 on last edited by
@basenjilover60
Your spoiling is of a good kind. :)
