You must know that each dog has certain types of food that they like to eat, so you must also know how to choose food
But sometimes we may notice that the dog does not eat his food well, and in this case we must try to encourage him in any way.
Have you ever heard that cats do not eat their food easily? You've certainly heard this, and it's because she is very discerning and has a keen sense of taste.
But for dogs it is a completely different story, as they will eat almost anything, whether these things are edible or not.
We may also find them eating things such as tennis balls, socks, hair, or cow droppings.
Can dogs taste food?
Do dogs have taste buds on their tongues?
Indeed, dogs have taste buds, but when compared to the buds found in humans, they represent about 15% of them. Therefore, we can say that the taste of dogs is similar to the taste of a person suffering from influenza to the extent that he does not distinguish foods significantly.
But this may make the matter more confusing. What makes foods delicious in a dog’s mouth?
Dogs can taste some things sweet, salty or sour, but they are more aroused by the smell than anything else and even more so by the taste itself.
If a food smells good to your dog, your dog will be more likely to eat it than another, and the texture or taste of the food may play a big role in this as well.
What foods do dogs like to eat?
Most dogs eat many different foods and flavors of food, and dogs accept new foods easily.
But there are some types of dogs that prefer to eat one food over another for many reasons of their own.
There are some indicators that help us know the foods that the young puppy will prefer to eat in the future through his diet.
One of the most important of these indicators is to provide a variety of foods for the young puppy, including dry and canned foods.
Just like adult dogs, your puppy will likely try different foods.
The smell of canned food is strong to him, and therefore this food is more tempting to him at times, especially if he is a picky puppy.
How does fresh food affect dogs' appetite?
Another factor that motivates dogs to eat is fresh food with a strong smell and delicious flavour.
As the dog does not accept to eat foods that have a bad smell or undesirable flavour.
It is known that dry dog foods remain usable for about a month after opening the bag.
For this reason, care must be taken to close the food bag tightly to keep it fresh at all times.
If you prefer to transfer the food to another plate or container, this container must be tightly closed and have a tight lid.
Although the idea of buying dog food in large quantities is an economical idea, this may be dangerous to the dog’s health if you do not pay attention to the expiration date and method of storage to keep it in good condition that does not cause diseases due to poor nutrition.
What is the shelf life of canned dog foods?
In general, the shelf life of unopened canned food is about two years, after which the vitamins begin to disappear and the food becomes no longer useful for dogs.
After opening the food, we must make sure to cover it well and store it in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days.
Because if the period exceeds that, the food will not have a strong smell, and in this case we may need to add warm water to it or heat it a little in the microwave until it regains its smell again.
You must also be careful not to serve the dog food too hot so as not to burn his mouth.
Can temperatures affect a dog's appetite?
The temperature of the environment may affect the dog’s appetite. If it is hot outside and the dog is panting due to the high temperature, then in this case we find that he does not want to eat.
Extremely cold temperatures can also reduce a dog's desire to eat, as he loses his appetite and is less attracted to all kinds of foods when his body is cold.
Do salt, onions, or spices increase a dog’s appetite for food?
Some believe that salt, spices, onions, garlic, or other additions will stimulate dogs’ appetite for eating all kinds of foods.
But it is quite the opposite, as dogs do not tend to eat salty foods.
Although salt is an essential part of dogs’ diet, it should be in a very small, negligible quantity, as an excess of it or even its presence in the same proportion as human food is undesirable for them.
Onions and garlic are even more dangerous because they are toxic substances that are fatal to dogs.