Chi Dog: Holistic & Delicious Dog Food For Picky Eaters

While we want our furry friends to be enthusiastic and happy about their meals, picky or selective dogs may miss out on essential nutrients when they regularly refuse food or fill up on treats and table scraps instead. Finding a healthy dog food for picky eaters can ensure that they have a complete and balanced diet that allows them to thrive.

In the United States, most dogs are served dry dog food (kibble) or canned dog food, and neither of these options provides an exceptional taste profile. Let's face it, if humans had to eat bowls of kibble or gloppy canned dog food, we'd likely be just as picky about our cuisine.

Additionally, as veterinarians, we don't recommend dry food or canned dog food because it is heavily processed and contains artificial ingredients such as preservatives and flavorings.

These processed foods also tend to be packed with cheap fillers, such as corn and wheat, as well as poor-quality fatty sources of protein. Additionally, these foods also tend to be too high in carbohydrates. While carbs can be nutritious, it's best to feed dogs a low carb dog food that includes quality protein sources.

Why Fresh Dog Food May Be Best

For picky eaters (and most other dogs, as well), we usually recommend fresh dog food. Look for brands that advertise as "gently cooked," and for options that include only human-grade ingredients, which ensures higher quality. Here are a few reasons why we recommend this option.

1. Fresh Dog Food May Appeal To Picky Eaters

Dogs are meant to obtain all of their nutrients from dog food, and if your dog is not eating enough of their food, this can be problematic. Fresh dog food looks appealing and tastes wonderful to dogs. The freshly cooked meat and vegetables can be especially appealing to selective eaters.

2. Gentle Cooking Preserves Flavor

Lightly cooked proteins, veggies, and grains are more flavorful than overly processed ingredients and have a better aroma, which can entice picky eaters. Additionally, gentle cooking can help preserve nutrients.

Fresh food also has a high moisture content, which can help hydrate your dog. Many dogs seem to resist drinking from their water dish, so a moist meal can help keep them hydrated. Maintaining good hydration can be especially important for dogs whose individual needs call for a dog kidney diet or a sensitive skin dog food.

3. Fresh Food Often Contains Limited Ingredients

If you look at the ingredient list for kibble or canned food, it's usually quite long. With many fresh dog food brands, they may feature only four or five ingredients, and that can be a good option. Dogs need a complete and balanced diet, but it's usually best to limit the foods they eat, as this is gentler on their digestive tract.

For dogs with allergies, a limited-ingredient diet can be an excellent option to consider. You also could choose a dog food with a novel protein, such as lean pork or lean venison. A novel protein is a protein that your dog has not typically eaten, and it may be a helpful option for dogs that do not tolerate more commonly used proteins such as chicken or beef.

Is Raw Food A Good Option?

Raw food, which is typically frozen or freeze-dried, is another option that dogs typically enjoy, and it's also usually a low carbohydrate dog food. However, we don't recommend it for a few reasons. The protein sources often include fatty organ meats, and raw food can be difficult to digest in general.

Even with leaner proteins, older dogs and dogs that need a sensitive stomach dog food should probably avoid raw dog food and opt for fresh dog food, because gentle cooking is gentler on their gastrointestinal system.

How To Pick The Best Dog Food For Picky Eaters

While fresh dog food can be a great choice, we only recommend options that include only human-grade ingredients as well as foods that meet AAFCO standards. AAFCO is an independent organization that sets standards for animal food. A dog food should meet AAFCO standards as a "complete and balanced" meal.

As veterinarians, we also believe that every ingredient added to your dog's food should be intentional. Every protein, grain, or veggie should be selected for its nutritional benefits, and no dog food should include chemical additives or preservatives.

At Chi Dog, each of our five vet developed dog food diets contains only human-grade whole food ingredients, and all meals are prepared in USDA-inspected kitchens. Our food also meets all AAFCO standards, ensuring that it is complete and balanced for all life stages. Additionally, if you have been searching for a high protein low carb dog food or a low copper dog food, all of our diet plans are low in carbs and copper.

Of course, each of our tasty holistic dog food options can be ideal dog food for picky eaters. While any of our meals can tempt even the pickiest palate, our Wood Diet is a particular favorite with selective eaters.

This diet includes lean chicken, chicken eggs, brown rice, carrots, and broccoli. Dogs love the taste of chicken, especially those fussy eaters. This also is an excellent, easily digestible diet for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We also recommend this diet plan for our puppy customers, as it helps promote healthy growth, even with large breed puppies.

Of course, if the Wood Diet is not a match, we have four other options, all of which provide complete and balanced nutrition for your sweet furry friends. Each diet plan contains high-quality lean proteins and carefully selected grains and veggies, and each is gently cooked to preserve flavor, moisture, and nutritional value.

Our fresh dog food diets can be the ideal dog food for picky eaters, and we deliver meals right to your door. We make it as easy as possible to feed your dogs high-quality meals that will help them thrive. To discover which meal plan is the best fit for your dog, head to our homepage and click the Get Started tab to take our short dog food quiz.

FAQ's

1. What is the best dog food for picky eaters?

Fresh, gently cooked dog food made with human-grade ingredients can be a good option for picky eaters. Freshly cooked meats and vegetables may be more appealing in taste and aroma than heavily processed foods.

2. Why might fresh dog food appeal to picky eaters?

Fresh dog food can have a more appealing aroma, texture, moisture, and flavor than heavily processed kibble or canned food. Gently cooking proteins, vegetables, and grains can help preserve flavor and nutritional value.

3. Is a limited-ingredient dog food good for picky eaters?

A limited-ingredient diet may be a good option for some dogs, particularly dogs with food allergies or digestive sensitivities. Fresh dog foods often use fewer ingredients, which can be gentler on the digestive tract.

4. Is raw dog food good for picky eaters?

While dogs may enjoy raw food, the article recommends fresh, gently cooked food instead. Raw food can be difficult to digest, and the article notes that older dogs and dogs with sensitive stomachs may benefit from the gentler nature of cooked food.

5. How do I choose healthy dog food for a picky eater?

Look for dog food made with human-grade ingredients that meets AAFCO standards for a complete and balanced diet. The article also recommends choosing foods where each protein, grain, and vegetable has an intentional nutritional purpose and avoiding chemical additives and preservatives.