So, your dog has just stopped eating his favorite food and you really have no idea why it is happening. Don’t worry there might be something that’s creating problems for your dog. In this article, I’ve concluded the exact question that you need to figure out before you reach out to your vet.
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When your dog smells the food, they will most likely rush up to you to obtain a bite. As a result, if your dog refuses to eat its favorite meal on rare occasions, you have reason to be concerned that something is amiss.
What to Look Out For When Your Dog Is Not Eating
It’s not normal when dogs stop eating or refuse to eat their
food. If your dog's eating habits have changed,
there are some questions you should try to answer to find both the cause and
seriousness of the situation your pet is dealing with.
These questions include:
- How long has your dog stopped eating?
- How long has your dog been eating the same type of food?
- Are there other symptoms noticeable, such as vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy?
- If you have other dogs, are they also not eating?
- Has your dog stopped drinking water too?
These questions should ideally be answered before you visit the veterinarian. Having a thorough grasp of the situation might assist you — and your veterinarian — in determining what has happened and is causing food rejection.
Call your Vet about your dog not eating
If your vet has confirmed that your dog has no underlying illness or issue, you should look into a few alternative possibilities for why he isn't eating his food:
Old or Spoiled Food
You should check the food packaging that you bought from the grocery store. Check its expiry date and see if it has expired.
If it's dry food, keep it in a tight seal container. For wet food, store it in the refrigerator after opening for up to three days (or follow the instructions on the label) and use fresh ingredients for home-cooked meals.
Some dogs eat only at certain times of the day. Maybe your dog only eats at noon, or maybe they don't complete their bowl until after the sunsets.
No matter what your dog's preferences are, it's usual to feed him at the same time every day. It's unlikely to be a problem if they only eat at certain times of the day.
Just like we humans get freaked out or tensed out during some situations, our dogs do get stressed out and feel depressed at some times. Maybe you just moved to a new home, maybe you have been too busy with your work for some days, or maybe they just came to your house and are trying to adjust with their new family.
Instead of scolding your dog for not eating, spend some time with them and give them the attention they deserve. Getting them plenty of activity can also help them eat more.
If there are no medical issues, your dog may just be bored. Of course, before you come to this conclusion, you should ensure that the potential cause is not medical. It's worth trying to make feeding time more interesting.
Dental Issues
Any meal might be ruined by a toothache or mouth sore. If your dog begins to eat but soon loses interest, it could be a sign of oral discomfort. If you try to examine it yourself, be careful because pain may force your ordinarily calm dog to nip or bite. You should contact your veterinarian right away.
Why is my dog not eating his food but will eat treats?
There are chances that the food that you are giving to them, has been changed from the brand itself. Because they have a sense of taste of it and they will understand it better. So, you should try to change the brand of dog food and see what he/she likes ultimately.
Why is my dog not eating his food but will eat human food?
Most pets like human food more than their own foods and it's quite normal. Don’t worry, they need nutrition to grow and be healthy and it’s completely fine if that’s coming from our food.
If in case, you want them to eat their food only, then start adding dog foods in smaller proportion to the human food they like and slowly increase it on weekly basis. You will see in a couple of months, that your dog has started liking his food.
Try these if your dog is not eating his food
If you and your veterinarian are convinced there isn't a medical issue to blame, here are some suggestions for getting your dog to eat again. Some of these may be more appropriate for your pet than others, so test a few to find what works best.Try rotating through a few types of dog foods
To determine if another food appeals to your dog, try a few different flavors, mix dry and wet food together, or vary between dry and wet food. To avoid upsetting their stomach, make any changes slowly.
Add a tasty topper or mix to their food
You could try adding a small bit of human food to see if it helps.
Plain chicken, fish, or a low-sodium beef/chicken broth, steamed or boiled butternut squash, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin are all fine choices. Just avoid giving them any substances that are hazardous to dogs, such as onion or garlic.
Warm up the food
Add a tablespoon or two of warm water, or microwave the food for a few seconds. Make sure it's not too hot so your dog's tongue doesn't get burned.
Go for a walk before meals
It may be helpful to ensure that your dog is well-exercised before feeding them to help them build an appetite.
When it comes to your pet's appetite, taking them for a walk before giving them their dish can be beneficial. However, there is a link between exercise, food, and bloat, so don't combine these two habits too closely.
Feed at consistent times
Divide the food into two or three meals and serve at regular intervals throughout the day. To help reinforce the idea of mealtimes, don't leave food out for your dog to graze on; if it hasn't been eaten within 10 minutes, take it back.
Use kibble as a treat for choosy dogs, and only feed them meals for brief periods of time. This forces your dog to eat their food and ideally become accustomed to it.