Dog Won’t Eat Hard Food

The Dog Has A Tummy Ache

A dog may have eaten something that doesnt agree with them, or they have an upset stomach.

Causes of tummy aches in dogs are numerous, but you will almost always see symptoms of stomach upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, salivating, or pacing.

A puppy not eating or drinking can be caused by an upset stomach too. They are very curious and might eat try to nibble and swallow whatever comes their way.

If your dog isnt eating or drinking because they have a tummy ache , monitor them for a day.

Aside from the stomach relief medicine, you can offer your pooch some boiled chicken and rice. A homemade dog food meal with chicken and rice will firm up a dog’s loose stool, settle an upset tummy and tempt a picky eater .

To entice your dog to drink more, instead of plain water you can try chicken broth. It’ll smell better and be more appetizing to your pet.

Note: Older dogs, puppies, or dogs with compromised immune systems should be seen by a veterinarian much sooner than adult dogs whenever they lose their appetite, and an illness of any kind is suspected.

Dog Still Won’t Eat Or Drink: When To Seek Help

When your dog won’t eat or drink for a day or two yet resumes by then, it’s nothing to be extremely worried about.

But if you have found yourself asking, why is my dog not moving or eating and drinking? Then it’s about time to seek professional help.

For severe cases that your dog is not eating or drinking and is also experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, you need to contact your vet within 8 to 12 hours.

Try Different Brands Or Flavors Of Dog Food

In some cases, changing dog food may be enough to stop your dog from begging for human food instead of eating their kibble.

If youre switching dog foods, avoid things with similar flavors to what your dog has already refused.

For example, changing between two brands of chicken flavor may not entice your dog to eat. Instead, try completely different flavors. If your dog isnt eating his chicken-flavored food, try beef or fish instead.

Many dog owners find that changing between flavors is often enough to entice their pup to eat. In many cases, this doesnt even require purchasing a more expensive food.

Please note: if youre switching dog foods, make sure to make the change gradually. Sudden changes to your dogs diet may result in digestive issues.

Also Check: Large Breed Puppy Food Comparison

Whatever You Do Dont Ignore The Problem

Most of the reasons that your dog might turn up their nose at their food bowl are benign. However, you should always take canine anorexia seriously and rule out any dangerous causes before writing it off as an anomaly.

Once you locate the problem, you can take steps to solve it so your dog can get back on their feed and save you from wasting any more expensive kibble.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

How To Get Your Puppy Eating Kibble

First things first, make sure its nothing medical or dental related. In this post, were going to stay away from getting deep into allergies and abscesses and parasites. All these things can cause eating issues with your puppy.

The truth is all these things are best determined by your puppys vet. If your puppy is suddenly not eating as much as usual, or has a sudden loss of appetite, then you should take them for a check-up.

What we are going to talk about is the most likely factor: Your puppy just doesnt like kibble.

If after this post youre still finding it difficult getting your pup to eat kibble, then we highly recommend using a fresh food service. Their meals are vet designed, fresh-cooked, and made in human-grade kitchens. The meals are also personalized to your pup, so theyll get the correct balanced diet and calories for their growth. Read more about one such service here in our post PetPlate: Should You Use It?

Read Also: 4 Health Puppy Food Reviews

What To Do When Your Puppy Isnt Eating

Remember, puppies dont have the same fat reserves as adult dogs. Therefore missing a meal or two can be problematic and be a cause for concern.

Always err on the side of caution and call your veterinarian for advice in these situations.

Below are some things you can do to try and tempt your puppys appetite at home.

Our Method To Get Your Puppy Eating Kibble

Were going to give you a solid plan of action to get your puppy eating kibble. One that will be sure to work! If you have access to a printer, print this blog post out so you can use it as a reference.

But first, make sure your puppy is ready to eat kibble. If youre not sure theyre ready, you can check by reading this post first: When Can Puppies Eat Kibble? Answered!

Our new post is a must-read for all dog owners: Is Pet Insurance Worth It? 5 Shocking Stats You Should Know… It’s definitely eye-opening!

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Summary Of What To Do If Your Dog Wont Eat

There are a myriad of reasons why your dog might stop eating, many of which are relatively common and shouldnt be anything to worry about if your dog resumes eating after a few days. If your dog stops eating for more than a couple of days or experiences any other concerning signs, you should contact your vet right away. We hope these tips are useful. As a Small Door member, you can get in touch with us via the app 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns about your dog. We are here to help!

Shes Pregnant Or In Heat

Hormones affect your dog from nose to tail, and intact females ride a rollercoaster of changes during a heat cycle or pregnancy.

In addition to eating less, your female may demonstrate other symptoms of her ready-to-go reproductive status, such as urinating more frequently or being restless . Pregnant dogs typically eat more than usual as pregnancy progresses, but they can exhibit food aversion or vomiting early on. Similarly, intact males can be overly restless if an in-season female is near, impacting their appetite.

A dog in heat will have a bloody discharge or period that makes it obvious, whereas a pregnant dog may not show symptoms for a few weeks after mating. If you suspect that your dog is pregnant, take her to the vet as soon as you can. Providing proper prenatal care is essential to avoid complications. The only way to prevent either is by spaying your dog.

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Can Puppies Eat Just Dry Food

So is it a success when your puppy eats just dry food and water? Many vets would say yes. It certainly is a big improvement on a meat-based diet.

I would say not quite. I prefer the puppies I see to eat a little fresh fruit and vegetable with their dry, and I recommend starting raw bones early under supervision. But thats just me. The big battle is already won.

But are you feeling just a little guilty that you took away the tastiest food? I perfectly understand how you feel we all love our puppies and want them to be happy always.

Perhaps my favourite thought experiment will help. Imagine your dog is now old and has the power of speech. You ask what was great about your life?. Do you really think theyd say the food? Dont sell yourself short- its you they want.

Love your puppy in every other way that you can. Just not with food choices its you who needs to do the choosing. Theyll love you back anyway!

Related: Better treats for puppies | Puppy food recommendations

Now, one last thingWe recently went to the Senate inquiry in Sydney on pet food safety. Click the picture to learn more.

Have something to add? Comments will appear within 24 hours. By Andrew Spanner BVSc MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here. The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.

Stimulate Your Dogs Appetite

If your dog has refused food for a long period of time, or if they have a health condition that suppresses appetite, your vet can prescribe or recommend a medicinal appetite stimulant. There are stimulants that reduce nausea and others that mimic the hormone that makes your dog hungry. This method will require you and your vet to first know why your dog isnt eating so you can get the correct stimulant.

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Why Your Puppy Wont Eat Kibble

Puppies wont eat kibble if they have an allergy, medical issue, dental issue, or if theyve inadvertently been trained not to eat it. It could also simply be a plain dislike for the flavor of the kibble.

Puppies wont eat kibble if theyve been offered other choices in the past. Especially if they have refused to eat kibble and theyve been given something else instead.

This can happen when you as an owner think your puppy should have eaten their kibble but havent. And so you find something else to try. This will inevitably train them to not eat kibble and wait for the other thing that they find preferable.

Bonus Tip: Monitor Water Intake When Your Dog Wont Eat

When your dog wont eat, its important to monitor the water intake. Dogs shouldnt even go a day without drinking water. Your pooch should drink at least an ounce of water per pound of weight every day to prevent dehydration. If you notice your dog isnt drinking, its wise to get to a vet sooner rather than later as dehydration can set in.

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Behavioral And Environmental Reasons

Behavioral reasons are , your dog is used to getting lots of treats and table scraps, your dog likes to eat alone or only when theres someone else in the room, or your pooch is used to being hand-fed.

Changes in the environment include a recent move or traveling, absence of a family member or another pet, weather changes, recent stress, or a change in the feeding schedule.

My dog refused to eat for two and a half days when she got a new food bowl. Maybe its a dachshund thing. The point is, you should consider every change in the environment and habits.

What to do?– Read about Treating environmental and behavioral loss of appetite in dogs

Your Dogs Favorite Food

Is your dog not eating because of dental issues, extra snacks, or plain ol pickiness? Give Ricks Dog Deli a try!

We believe that when your dog is given a healthy meal that s/he loves, the appetite will follow. Thats why our meal formulations are lovingly made from wholesome, nutritious, 100% USDA-inspected ingredients in our Orlando kitchen.

Youll see it for yourself, right when you open your package: Ricks Dog Deli isnt your average dog food!

Find us in select Woofgang Bakery shops, in our College Park location, or let us deliver to your front door!

Youll soon agree that Ricks Dog Deli makes your dogs favorite food!

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Dog Wont Eat Dog Food Picky Eater Or Serious Problem

Jesse Hopping, CCDT

Few things are as concerning for a dog owner as when their dog wont eat dog food.

While your initial thoughts could be that your dog no longer enjoys their food and has become a bit of a picky eater, sometimes a refusal to eat could point towards a much more serious health issue.

To help put your mind at ease, we highlight some potential causes of your dogs reduced appetite. From there, well explain when you should be concerned and what actions you should take.

How do you know if your dog is just picky or if you have a more serious problem?

There are many reasons why your dog might not want to eat, including health reasons, environmental reasons, and behavioral reasons.

Below, we cover these and a few other reasons and give you some tips on how you can encourage your dog to eat.

In This Article:

• What Should You Do if Your Dog Will Not Eat?

New Puppy Not Eating Or Drinking: What To Do

Puppies can be picky eaters. So, if you find your new puppy is not eating or drinking, give them more time to adapt to your place.

A new puppy can go a day or two without eating since they’d be too occupied exploring their surroundings. They’d be too distracted to recognize their hunger signals.

Another reason your new puppy is not eating or drinking is an upset stomach. Puppies tend to eat or nibble whatever they find, and they might have swallowed scraps or garbage without you noticing it.

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Dog Not Eating After Surgery Or Vaccination

Surgery like spaying and neutering commonly results in dogs not eating for a day or two. Often the anaesthetic causes nausea so your pooch may skip a meal or two, which is totally normal and nothing to worry about. A dog not eating after surgery is common and usually, the loss of appetite resolves within 24 hours. If not, call the vet.

Pain after a procedure can also cause your dog to lose interest in eating for a short time. If your dog is not eating at all after 24 hours, its best to check in with your vet.

Similarly, after your dog receives a vaccination, its common that it would lose its appetite. Let them rest and recover and if theyre not improving within 24 hours, contact your vet.

Try Enhancing His Meal

Some dogs just dont like the taste or texture of dry food. If your dog is not eating his dry food, you may want to mix a small amount of wet food with his dry food to make it more palatable. If you do decide to add wet food to his regular meal, remember to scale back the amount of dry food to avoid over-feeding him. Other options include adding meal enhancements, which coat the dry kibble with a flavorful puree, or try creating your own personalized dry dog food blend.

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Does Your Dog Eat Treats But Not Food

If your dog is refusing dinner but saying yes to treats or table scraps, they may be filling up on junk food rather than their own dog food. However, if your dog has other symptoms of not feeling well, a medical condition could be to blame for their altered appetite.

For example, if your dog is happy, energetic, drinking water, playing, and not having any vomiting or diarrhea, it may be that they are simply getting too many calories per day in treats and arent hungry for their meal. They may also have outsmarted you, knowing that if they refuse to eat their food, theyll get tasty chicken and dog treats instead.

However, if your dog is lethargic, having any vomiting or diarrhea, starting to eat a bit then stopping, or drooling or licking their lips, they may not be feeling 100% well. Treats are higher rewards, so many dogs will be more likely to eat those rather than their food, even if they arent feeling the best. Think of a time when youve had an upset stomach but powered through to have your favorite treat while passing up the salad bar.

It is always best to be on the safe side and have any possible medical conditions ruled out if getting your dog to eat is becoming a frequent challenge.

Dog Wont Eat Dry Food

For many owners, it can seem like their dogs are bottomless pits always hungry and always ready for more but some dogs just don’t have much of an appetite, particularly when it comes to dry food. If your dog won’t eat kibble, it could be because they’re a picky eater or just aren’t hungry, but it could also be a sign of an underlying health issue. If your dog refuses to eat dry food or seems to have less appetite than you would expect, here are some things you can do.

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Tricks To Get A Picky Dog To Eat His Food

Some owners have to put up with the fact that their dog is a life-long picky eater

While others find that their dog becomes picky all of a sudden.

It doesnt matter what the cause, getting a fussy dog to eat his meal is can feel like an impossible task.

So what do you do when your dog will not eat his food?

We surveyed 500 dog owners and consulted with an animal behaviorist to find the best solutions for dogs that refuse to eat.

With their help, we put together this list of 22 solutions. By the time you have finished reading, you will know what you need to do to get your dog to eat.

Lets begin