Ollie Foodie: Monster the Shih Tzu

We hear from humans almost every day about how our food has made their pups healthier and happier (and exponentially more excited about mealtime.) In this series, we’ll share some of the stories that make us especially proud to fill dogs’ bowls with wholesome goodness.

At one point, Monster struggled so much with eating that he would starve himself until he threw up. His human, Yadira Jimenez, would hand-feed him and pretend to eat his food so he would be interested in it! The seven-pound Shih Tzu also suffered from allergic reactions to food so it was particularly tough to find one she could feed him. Until she found Ollie:

"Monster is extremely shy around new people or people he’s not into. It takes a lot for him to warm up, but once he’s there…he is silly and playful and very smart."

"Monster is the sweetest to mommy, he and I are two peas in a pod! He follows me everywhere I go and we love to cuddle up on the sofa with a fluffy blanket."

"Since I brought monster home in November 2014, he has struggled with his eating. He is extremely picky and stubborn. Certain foods would make him sick to his stomach, I was constantly visiting the vet.”

"I used to hand feed monster! I would pretend I was eating things, to get him “intrigued”. Another tactic was trying to switch the food up. He would enjoy things 1-2 times and then refuse to ever eat them again. I just wanted him to eat and not be sick all the time."

"The first time Monster tried Ollie, he devoured the food! I had never seen him eat like that. I continued to feed it to him, fearing that he would get tired of it. But here we are, 3 months later and he’s eating on his own and looking nice and strong!"

"His appetite is slow, but way better than before. He’s more of a once a day eater and snacks in between. Monster has more energy and he looks fuller and stronger than before."

"Words are not enough to describe my happiness since we received Ollie! It has literally changed my entire life/routine. I was constantly worried about him getting sick because he wasn’t eating enough or getting the appropriate nutrients. Monster looks good and healthy and happy…so I’m elated."

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.