Why Won’t My Dog Eat?

Why Won’t My Dog Eat?

When you’re the proud parent of a dog, then there are few things that escape your notice. Your dog refusing to eat is one of them. There are few things that can be more stressful and frustrating than when your dog refuses to eat. For many people, this begins the panic mode as it typically means there’s something wrong with your dog when they decide to stop eating, or they eat very little. Noticing the changes in your dog’s behavior, while not always indicative a serious issue, typically means a trip to the vet is in order. Here are a few common reasons why your dog might not be eating.

They might be sick- Dogs are similar to humans in that when we get sick, the last thing we want to do is eat. Sometimes, your dog might just have an upset stomach which means they’ll tend to stay away from their food bowl. A good indication of an upset stomach is when you see your dog grazing in the back yard. While they won’t always vomit after the fact, sometimes eating grass can be a good indication that they’re not feeling good.

Image Courtesy of: nikoretro

Suggestion– If you think your dog might be sick then a trip to the vet is a good idea. There are a number of illnesses and ailments (some more serious than others) that can cause your dog to lose its appetite. While most of these are passing, it could be a sign of a more serious issue such as dental disease, liver, or kidney problems.

Recent Vaccination– Sometimes your dog might lose its appetite right after they’ve gotten their shots. While this is something the vet will mention, it can slip to the wayside when you start to worry if there’s a more serious issue. While it doesn’t always happen, your dog might be feeling a little off after a shot, which can interfere with their desire to eat.

Suggestion– While this doesn’t happen often, it does happen from time to time. Just keep an eye on it. Usually after a day or so your dog will be right as rain and happily plowing chow. Also, don’t let this be a deterrent from getting your dog vaccinated, vaccines go a long way towards keeping your dog healthy and are not to be missed.

A Change of Flavor– Could you imagine eating the same thing, day in and day out, every day of your life? Sounds pretty dreadful. Sometimes your dog gets tired of eating the same thing everyday.Sometimes your dog might just be picky and decide that they’re bored with plain old kibble.

Suggestion– When this happens, you might need a change of flavor or something to make your dog’s food a little more appealing. A half cup of warm water over dry food can help make it more aromatic, making it more desirable. Or you could try changing the flavor of dog food. However, it’s important to do this gradually by mixing a little of the new food in with the old food to start with. Changing your dog’s food instantly can cause a lot of gastrointestinal distress, and could make them sick.

Overall it’s important to remember not to panic. There are a myriad of reasons (many more than were listed here) as to why your dog might not be eating. Stay positive and keep trying. If you expect something is wrong, then take them to the vet to rule out any more serious issues.

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+Neil Kilgore is the Jack (Russell) of all trades at Greenfield Puppies in Lancaster Pa. He regularly blogs about dogs, breeders and puppies on the Greenfield Puppies website.