Species: Dog
Age: 9 months
Sex/Neuter status: Spayed
Breed: Pit/Golden mix
Body weight: ~50 lbs
History: Rescued at ~16 weeks as a stray, fostered until 5 months, with us for the past 3 months
Clinical signs: Healthy
Location: NYC
Hi all, looking for some guidance (especially from vets or anyone with a nutrition background). I have a 9-month-old female mixed breed (around 50 lbs now). We adopted her at about 5 months, and she was pretty malnourished when she was found as a stray at 16 weeks, so I think that history is part of why this is stressing me out so much. She’s currently on Purina Pro Plan dog food. Physically she’s doing well... growing, good energy, normal stools—but the issue is she is so inconsistent with eating.
In the morning we offer about 1 cup and add Wild Alaskan Omega-3 Pollock + Salmon Oil and Native supplements, and at night we aim for about 1.5 cups with Native Gutwell and PetHonesty vitamins. I know she likely should be eating more, but she won’t consistently eat more than that, if she even chooses to eat that day. Some days she eats totally fine, other days she barely touches it or just picks at it. It feels really fickle and unpredictable. I’ve tried sticking to scheduled meals and picking it up after 15–20 minutes, cutting out extra treats and toppers, trying toppers and treats, using puzzles, and even training with the food. Sometimes if I train with it she’ll eat it, but that’s not realistic to do every morning and night. Sometimes she’s just in the mood, sometimes she’s not.
Sometimes the structure works, sometimes she’ll just skip meals entirely, and that makes me anxious, especially given her history. I really hate the idea of her being hungry or slipping backwards. I’ve been debating adding a topper because she clearly prefers more “real food”. I’ve considered something like Maev raw dog food or freeze-dried options—but I’m worried about creating a pickier dog long term, messing up nutritional balance, or reinforcing her holding out for something better (and the unstable science on feeding raw).
For context, she’s otherwise a high-energy adolescent right now, so I don’t know how much of this is behavioral vs actually about the food.
I guess my main questions are: is this normal for her age, or should I actually be concerned? At what point do you switch foods versus hold the line? Are toppers a good idea or a slippery slope? And is skipping meals actually okay, or am I right to be worried given her history?
I feel like I’m stuck between “don’t create a picky dog” and “feed the dog in front of you,” and I don’t want to make the wrong call long term. Any insight would really help 🙏
TL;DR: 9-month-old rescue puppy is healthy but super inconsistent with eating Purina Pro Plan dog food—some days eats fine, other days skips meals. Tried structure, no treats, toppers, training, etc. Considering raw or freeze-dried toppers, or switching kibble but worried about making pickiness worse or messing up nutrition. Is this normal adolescent behavior, and should I switch foods or hold the line?