In his latest video for Fish4Dogs, leading animal nutritionist David Southey examines the reasons why dogs may be deemed ‘fussy eaters’ and palatability could be key.

Before considering a change in diet, it’s important to rule out other factors – a recent vaccination or environmental change or a possible illness that may need a vet’s attention. It is also important to differentiate between a picky inclination and a simple lack of hunger.

“The first thing to look at is treats,” he says, “how many treats are you giving them? Do you give them lots of table scraps? if you do overdo these, they may be holding out for more exciting food from your plate. Treats are great but as with all good things, they should be enjoyed in moderation.”

However, if picky eating has become habitual for your dog, it could be time to change the menu.

Although dogs have far fewer taste buds than humans (around 1700 compared to 9,000), they do have a highly developed sense of taste. Whereas cats have a strong preference for fresh clean meat and fish - in the wild they'll normally only feed from prey immediately after the kill – in comparison dogs will often bury bones and return to them later.

“Dogs can tolerate and may even prefer the strong flavours produced from the decay of meat. Dogs really aren't that keen on bland foods and it is possible that their pickiness is, in-part, caused by the blandness of some dry foods.

“Foods made from poorly processed meat and fats or with significant levels of cereal may just be too bland for your dog's taste,” he states.

The sense of smell is also extremely important to dogs. They have a huge number of smell receptors compared to their body size and it plays a major part in determining whether or not the food is attractive enough to eat.

“If you do have a picky eater, try foods with stronger tastes and aromas,” advises David. “Like humans, dogs are omnivores and have developed preferences for a wide range of foods. They can detect the umami taste – a flavour found in foods such as cheese or Marmite.

“It's very common in Asian foods and particularly strong in fish. For centuries Asian chefs have added dried fish powder, fish sauce and fish heads to stocks and soups to enhance the umami flavour. The common ingredient in the Roman and Greek culture was a fermented fish sauce called Garum.

“It's the fermentation fish that enhances the glutamic acid that is responsible for delivering the umami taste and resources the same umami flavours are created in the cooking process used to produce pet food.”

So, if you're worried about your dog being picky – it may be time to ring the changes and try other foods with stronger tastes and smells.

The video can be seen on Fish4Dogs’ YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJhpz2eglfI