My Australian Shepherd Is A Picky Eater

by Marne
(Williamsport, PA)

My 15 yr. old Aussie has recently stopped eating from a dog bowl. She wants me to hand feed her for a while, then she continues eating kibble from the floor, rarely from her bowl.

We added canned food to her diet thinking it might be easier to digest (and it seems to be). However, she begins eating from the bowl, then stops and wants me to hand feed her. I use a wooden spoon for the canned food. She is slightly under-weight so I indulge her.

I know she is smart and she will be 16 in November. We adopted her when she was 6 yrs old and realize that she doesn't have much time left. I'm pretty sure she is manipulating me. (Ya think?) But could there be a reason she doesn't like a bowl? I tried metal, ceramic, deep, and flattened. No luck. Any hints?

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