Wet dog food for picky eaters
Wet dog food is often the first thing owners reach for with a fussy eater, and it genuinely does help in a lot of cases — the stronger smell and softer texture make it more appealing than dry kibble to a dog who has gone off their food. Before working through different flavours, though, it is worth ruling out that the fussiness is actually a habit or a health issue rather than a genuine dislike of what is on offer.
Fussy eating: habit, taste, or something else
A dog who has been offered better-smelling food, treats, or table scraps whenever they turn their nose up at their normal meal can learn quite quickly that refusing food gets them something more interesting — which looks exactly like fussiness but is really a learned pattern. Sticking with a set meal, offered for a set time and then removed if untouched, breaks that pattern for a lot of dogs faster than switching food repeatedly does.
A genuine sudden change in appetite, especially in an older dog or one who has always eaten well until recently, is worth mentioning to your vet rather than assuming it is simple pickiness — dental pain, an upset stomach or an underlying illness can all show up first as a dog going off their food.
Why wet food helps with genuine pickiness
Wet food has a much stronger smell than dry kibble, and smell is the main thing that gets a dog interested in eating in the first place. The softer texture is also easier and more appealing for some dogs, particularly small breeds, older dogs with dental wear, or any dog who has simply lost enthusiasm for dry food over time.
Terms worth knowing on the label: 'pate' or 'terrine' means a smooth, blended texture; 'chunks in gravy or jelly' means visible pieces of meat in a sauce; and 'complete' means the food alone meets your dog's full nutritional needs, as opposed to a 'complementary' food meant to be fed alongside something else — check for 'complete' if wet food is going to be the main meal rather than a topper.
How to try it without wasting food
Buy a small variety pack or a few single pouches first rather than a large case of one flavour, since even a genuinely picky eater usually has preferences between wet food flavours and textures, and it is cheaper to find out which before committing.
A small amount of wet food mixed into dry kibble is a good middle ground if you do not want to move to wet food entirely — it adds smell and moisture to make the meal more appealing without losing the dental and cost benefits of a mainly dry diet.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Calm the Eff Down Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured calming tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack and given as a treat for dogs who find fireworks, travel or being alone difficult.
£22.99
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for adult cats, without the grain-free or joint-support extras
From£21.79
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Pedigree Dentastix Light Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light dental chews across small, medium and large sizes
From£2.35
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Common questions
- Why has my dog suddenly gone off their food?
- It can be as simple as boredom with a food they have eaten for a long time, but a sudden change in appetite is also a common early sign of dental pain, an upset stomach or other illness. If it lasts more than a day or two, or your dog seems otherwise unwell, get them checked by a vet rather than assuming it is fussiness.
- Is it bad to feed a dog only wet food?
- No, as long as the wet food is labelled 'complete' rather than 'complementary', it can meet all of a dog's nutritional needs on its own. Complementary foods are meant to be fed alongside a complete diet, so check the label if wet food will be the whole meal.
- Will switching flavours make my dog even fussier?
- It can, if a dog learns that holding out gets them something different or more exciting each time. Trying a few flavours to find one that works, then sticking with it consistently, tends to work better long-term than rotating flavours every time a dog seems uninterested.
- Should I add anything to wet food to encourage a picky eater?
- A small amount of warm water stirred through wet food can release more smell and make it more appealing, and warming food slightly (never hot) has the same effect. Avoid adding human food or seasoning, which can upset a dog's stomach or introduce something unsuitable.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.