Figure Out The Change
After the visit to your vet, you find out theres no underlying medical condition, then it is time to figure out what has changed at your home or your schedule with your dog. Sometimes, a dog might stop eating just to tell you something.
Did you just have a new baby, moved to a new home or your dogs best friend , or any of the other psychological reasons for anorexia? Then it is time to take action.
Feed At Consistent Times
Divide the food into two or three meals and serve them at consistent times each day.
Dont leave food out for your dog to graze on take it back within 10 minutes if it hasnt been eaten to help cement the idea of mealtimes.
Use your dogs kibble as treats, and only offer meals for short periods of time. This leaves your dog no choice but to eat their food and hopefully get used to it.
Make Sure Your Dog Is Getting Plenty Of Exercise
When your dog gets plenty of exercise, he will build up an appetite. If your furry friend is refusing to eat his food at mealtimes, make sure he is meeting his minimum exercise requirements.
High energy dogs may struggle to eat when they arent burning off their excess energy.
Your dog will be less picky when theyve worked up an appetite. Exercise is not only good for their health, but it offers them an incentive to eat the food thats in front of them.
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Environmental Explanations For A Loss Of Appetite
Dogs are creatures of habit and routine, so significant environmental changes can profoundly impact their behavior.
While it may sound trivial to us, even small changes in the environment could alter how a dog behaves, including how much theyre willing to eat.
If youve recently moved or even just completed a major renovation, your dog might be less willing to eat their food.
Less drastic environmental changes, such as traveling, the absence of a family member, an altered feeding schedule, the introduction of another pet, or even just significant changes in the weather can also impact your dogs appetite.
While it can be difficult to narrow down the exact cause, you should still think critically about any environmental changes your dog could be reacting to.
KEEP IN MIND that your dog will not always understand whats happening. What might seem insignificant to us could be incredibly confusing and scary for our dogs.
With any luck, your dog will get over the environmental change thats causing them to behave differently within a day or two.
Psychological Causes For Anorexia In Dogs
If your dog is not eating or has partial anorexia, there are a variety of reasons for it to be that way. Doctor Etienne Cote believes that the reasons why dogs refuse to eat may be divided into two primary categories: psychological reasons and medical causes.
- There are a variety of reasons for a dog to be off their food or to be suffering from partial anorexia. Doctor Etienne Cote believes that the reasons why dogs refuse to eat may be divided into two categories: psychological reasons and medical reasons.
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Has He Lost Any Close Friends
Dogs may get depressed and mourn the loss of a companion just as humans. Whether his best friend was a cat, another dog, or his beloved owner, dogs tend to lose their appetite when mourning. Some dogs have even refused food for long periods of time and even died from hunger. These cases may be hard to treat, but some exercise and environmental stimulus may bring part of his positive mood back and with that his appetite.
At What Age Do Dogs Start Eating Less
Even though puppies grow quickly, its important to keep caloric intake and food amount consistent from four to twelve months of age. Puppies use fewer calories for growth as they become older. This comprehensive puppy feeding chart has vet-recommended guidelines on how much and how often to feed your puppy.
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Is It Common For Dogs Not To Eat Their Food
It is not common for dogs to avoid eating. Dogs are very food motivated, and youve probably noticed that your dog will do almost anything for a treat. And whenever you go into the kitchen, your dog thinks theyre going to get either a bite of the food youre preparing or a bit more kibble in their bowl. If your dog is not eating, its most likely the sign of other issues you should be aware of. Here are some common reasons your dog is refusing to eat their dog food:
Why Wont My Dog Eat In The Morning
If your dog wont eat in the morning but will eat later in the day, it could be due to many factors. It may be the bustle of a busy house in the mornings makes your dog anxious or simply that theres too much going to focus on food.
Free-feeding is often a cause of dogs turning up their nose to their morning meal. This is because your dog has gotten used to having access to food all day and so can eat whenever they wish.
Unfortunately with free-feeding, the food sits out for a lot longer, losing its tempting aroma, not to mention ants and bugs that come to the party for their fair share.
Try taking your dog for a walk first to stimulate their appetite. Try to stick to a fixed meal schedule and avoid free feeding.
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Are You Giving Too Many Treats
You are training your dog and giving treats as he learns. However, it never crosses your mind that your dog may be ingesting so many treats that he is refusing food because he is already full. Just think how you feel after eating loads of junk food, got the picture? Why not use your dogs kibble instead for training? Kibble is great to use when you are training in low distraction environments such as at home or in the yard.
She Doesnt Like Her Food
Dogs can be a lot like toddlers, especially when it comes to food. You may think your pups kibble is tasty, but she may disagree and start a hunger strike aside from treats and other goodies.
This is a likely explanation if youve recently changed her food or stopped adding flavor boosters, like wet dog food or bone broths. Fortunately, this is one of the easier causes of food refusal to fix. You may just need to try a more enticing food for picky eaters thats meat-focused or start using a delicious meal topper.
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Make Your Dog Work For It
I dont know about you, but I find that the rewards I work the hardest for are the most satisfying
Your dog feels the same. He will be considerably more likely to eat his food if he has to work for it.
A short session of Shake, Roll Over, or any other trick will have your dog expecting a reward for his hard work.
Its at this point you offer your fussy dog his meal. Many picky eaters get so caught up in being rewarded that they forget they would normally reject this meal.
The key here is to make your dog think his reward is a big deal. Shower your pup with praise and pats while offering him the meal.
If you can get your dog excited enough, he will believe this meal is the best thing that has ever happened to him He will eat his food without a second thought.
Bored Of The Dog Food
Many pet parents will assume that their dog is tired of their food when they stop eating it. While some dogs can be picky, healthy adult dogs should not stop eating their meals simply because they have eaten them for a long time. Studies show that dogs have fewer taste buds than we do about 1,700 this suggests that they have less urge to eat different things daily. Dogs are also creatures of habit and appreciate routine, so knowing what food they will receive daily can reduce stress.
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Swap Over To A Tastier Food
The solution to getting your fussy dog to eat could be as simple as swapping over to a new food.
Unfortunately, your dog cant talk. Just bark. By refusing to eat his food, your dog could be trying to tell you that he doesnt like the taste.
When making the switch, try to avoid similar flavors. For example, swapping from Purina One Chicken & Rice to Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice probably wont make your dog eat his meal these two dry dog foods taste very similar.
Instead, you should test a completely different flavor. Lets say that your dog is turning his nose up at a chicken flavor. You could try fish, beef or venison instead.
The good news is that tastier food doesnt have to be more expensive. Many finicky dog owners report success with swapping over to a cheaper variety cheap doesnt necessarily mean tasteless!
That was the case for Chop, a fussy bulldog. On a tight budget, Chops owner swapped over from Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula to Iams Chicken Flavor
Chop took to the new food immediately and his owner saved money by switching to a cheaper brand.
Interestingly, quite a few fussy dog owners reported success when switching over to a fish-based dog food.
They noted that the stinky fish flavors such as salmon, tuna or whitehead were much more likely to be gobbled up than traditional flavors such as beef or chicken.
The following were the 6 most recommend fish flavors from fussy dog owners
There Are Different Types Of Anorexia
True anorexia is when your dog simply refuses to eat this is often associated with serious illnesses. Pseudo-anorexia is another type which is when your dog is hungry and really wants to eat, goes to the food bowl, but cant eat due to a difficulty chewing or swallowing.
If your dog stops eating for a day or two, but is otherwise active and alert, then its ok to keep a close eye on them initially. You could offer them some bland home cooked food like boiled chicken and rice, which is a tasty but easily digestible diet. Try warming it up a little in the microwave, as this sometimes will entice them to eat. You could offer smaller meals more frequently. Take away any leftovers that they havent eaten within 15 minutes and offering again a few hours later. Avoid chopping and changing the diet and offering too many different types of food. Sometimes a quick change in food can cause an upset tummy, which may complicate matters. Be careful to avoid any toxic foods such as onions and garlic.
If your dog is quiet, not themselves, or displaying any other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or lethargy or has not eaten at all for 2 days then you should seek veterinary attention.
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Why Is My Older Dog Not Eating
The first thing to understand is that there is a difference between a dog losing its appetite and a dog not eating. As explained above, a loss of appetite can come from old age or several other non-health-related things. However, your dog not eating altogether over a long period is definitely a more serious problem. Lets take a look at some of the root causes for not eating and a lack of appetite.
1. Old Age
We have outlined this already, but it is worth expanding upon. Old age alone is enough to see a reduction in your senior dogs appetite. The exact same thing happens in humans and all kinds of other animals. As your pet grows old, they become less active than they once were as a youngster. Rather than running, jumping, and playing all day long, they may only stroll down the street these days, meaning they need less food to keep them going. Older dogs also sleep more often than younger dogs, and their bodies burn very little while they are completely inactive. These calories are not being burned off, so dogs arent as hungry when they wake up.
Like humans too, when a dog grows old, its metabolism slows down, meaning it is harder to use consumed food efficiently.
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2. Dental Problems
If your dog is not eating much, it can be a good idea to look inside their mouth. If they are suffering from a dental problem, they may also be experiencing pain when they eat, which can put them off the activity altogether.
3. Physical Health Conditions
Warm / Mash The Meal To Increase Flavor
Many picky dogs can be persuaded to eat their meals just by warming them up. This procedure is frequently used on senior dogs who refuse to eat.
Heating food Enhances the flavor and releases a pungent odor. It makes your dog’s food taste better, which stimulates his hunger.
It’s as easy as stirring dry kibble through a small amount of hot water, bone broth or goat’s milk and letting it sit until it gets mushy.
If you’re planning to microwave something, avoid using a stainless steel bowl since it will spark. Instead, use a plastic or ceramic bowl and then transfer it to your dog’s dish.
You should never feed your dog food that is too hot. Allow your dog’s food to cool before serving if it has been overheated.
Did you successfully get your dog to eat his kibble with one of these tips? We hope you did.
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Add Some Interesting Stuff
Sometimes all it takes is to add a few baby carrots or some string beans to make your dog’s meal interesting again. These can be healthy additions too!
Dealing with a finicky dog can be a challenging issue to deal with. However, in the wild, there was never a history of finicky dogs. A finicky dog in the wild was usually either sick or in heat. We are the cause of finicky dogs and as the source of the problem, we must solve the problem. Always rule out potential sicknesses first with your veterinarian and then start a “finicky feeding plan.”
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Warning: Loss Of Appetite In Dogs
A loss of appetite in your dog could be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection. Parvovirus is one such infection that causes decreased appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If you suspect your dog could have an underlying illness, its important to reach out to your dogs veterinarian as soon as possible.
Sick dogs often have a decreased appetite, but may accept certain human foods that they view as treats.
If your dogs eating habits are a recent or sudden change, take your dog to the veterinarian to get evaluated. Always talk to your dogs veterinarian about any changes in their diet.
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What To Do When Your Old Dog Stopped Eating
First of all, you should look to take your senior dog to the veterinarian immediately if they are displaying any of the following symptoms:
- They seem to be acting differently and you feel they are just not right.
- They are not eating anything appetite has vanished, or are eating noticeably less than usual.
- They seem depressed, confused, or have no energy for anything.
- They are vomiting and/or dry heaving.
- They are suffering from consistent diarrhea.
- They are panting, drooling, whining, or pacing more than usual.
- They seem very stressed and/or anxious.
- They are very constipated.
- Their belly is swollen.
- They are losing weight either suddenly or consistently.
If your dog is not displaying any of the above symptoms but stopped eating as much as usual, it could just be a natural side effect of old age. If they are acting normal, seem perfectly healthy but are just eating a little less, this is likely the case. Frequent monitoring of their weight is advised to ensure it remains consistent.
Appetite Stimulant For Dog Not Eating: Make Fidos Food Taste Yummy Again
Sometimes, puppies will stop eating their food not because theyre sick but because theyre sick of it.
If you were always given bland, tasteless food your whole life, youd probably eventually lost interest in it too!
The same thing happens with dogs!
So whats a pet parent to do?
If your dog is used to eating dry food, buy them some wet, canned food for a change. Many dogs will see this as a treat and will be curious enough to start eating. Just make sure you offer the food in small portions as to not overwhelm your pup. You might even try rolling up the food into small meatballs.
If they dont like the flavor, try a new brand. It may seem tiring and frustrating, but once you find what your dog likes, you can stick to it.
Another great option is to offer your dog boiled chicken breast and white rice, or white rice mixed with chicken broth. Again, you can also ball up the rice into meatballs for an appetizing treat.
Youll also find various appetite stimulants at retailers like Amazon, PetSmart, and Petco. These may come in the form of a paste that you can squeeze into your dogs mouth to help him get some nutrients or as a gravy thats meant to top his usual food.
Finally, when all else fails, try offering your dog Pedialyte either added to his water bowl or frozen into ice cubes that you can crush and set gently on his tongue. This will help your pup maintain his electrolyte levels so that he doesnt dehydrate.
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