Why Is My Dog Not Eating His Food

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Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!

I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.

But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.

Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!

Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.

But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:

Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.

Is It More Serious

Full anorexia is when a dog wont eat anything, including normal dog food or doctored-up with cooked ground beef, chicken, baby food, or anything you offer. Sometimes, dogs will refuse everything but eat something as peculiar as a fast-food hamburger.

Anorexia in dogs can vary from minor issues to serious and life-threatening problems. Normally however this is much less serious.

What Do You Do When Your Dog Wont Eat

If your dog stops eating, do you need to take them to the vet right away? Or is it okay to wait until morning or even to monitor for a few days if your dog is acting normal otherwise?

Its always best to be cautious and , especially since loss of appetite could be a symptom of a serious health problem that may get worse. Regardless of cause, prolonged refusal of food can lead to health complications. And, if your dog isnt eating due to an illness, they need good nutrition for their bodys immunity and healing responses.

For all these reasons, its best to address a lack of appetite with your vet as soon as possible, even if your pet is otherwise acting normally.

Immediate veterinary care is recommended if your dog is refusing to eat and is also:

• A young puppy .
• An old dog .
• An underweight dog or dog that has an underlying health problem.
• A toy or teacup breed. These pups are at risk of low blood sugar when they dont eat regularly.
• Showing signs of illness, such as vomiting, listlessness, or a fever.
• Losing weight.
• You suspect your dog ate something toxic or ate an object that could have gotten stuck in the stomach or intestines.

Regardless of what is causing the loss of appetite, addressing the issue with your veterinarian as soon as possible provides your pup with the best possible care before the condition progresses.

Prompt care will also help your pup feel like their normal self again as soon as possible.

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Will A Picky Dog Eventually Eat

A picky dog will eventually eat his food. No dog will let himself die by refusing to eat, it is against their survival instinct.

Some dogs are spoiled with treats or have a preference for a type of food. If there is a reason that you need to change their dog food, they may not like it at first but eventually, your dog will eat the food and get used to the new taste.

Of course, try and give your dog food that he likes and add some variation, so long as youre consistent then your dog will soon adapt.

When A Dog Wont Eat: Summary

If a dog wont eat or eats too little is can be a sign of a health problem. So if your dog starts to look underweight, seems unwell, or if you are worried, have him checked by your vet.

If your dog wont eat or drink, he needs to see a vet now. Take your adult Labrador to the vet if he hasnt eaten anything at all for more than 24 hours even if he doesnt have any other symptoms. Unless you know theres a good reason like moving house.

Puppies need to eat more frequently than adult dogs. And lack of appetite in small puppies is unusual. If your normally hungry puppy refuses two meals in a row, have him checked by a vet. Dont delay. Whenever in any doubt visit your vet.

But is your dog is just being picky about what he eats hell eat one thing but not another and has no other symptoms at all? The chances are he is training you to feed him the diet of his choice.

For fit, healthy and happy dogs you can, if you wish, cure your dogs picky eating using the system described above. Let us know how you get on in the comments section below!

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Dogs Who Move The Food Bowl Around

Does your dog take your food bowl on a tour of the house every time it’s feeding time? Have you ever found yourself holding your dog’s food bowl still by holding it with your foot? Again, you’re not alone. Many dog engage in this behavior, especially if the food bowl is the type that allows this behavior. We like to call these dogs the “delivery dogs” who like to “deliver” their bowls all around the house.

First off, consider that any behavior that involves food is potentially reinforcing. In other words, whatever your dog does before getting his food will likely repeat in the future. It’s just the nature of things.

Just as your dog will sit more and more if you give him food after he sits, your dog will learn to move the food bowl around if that helps him get food. In simple words, his behavior of pushing the bowl around is rewarded.

Again, dogs don’t do this to upset their owners, it’s just one of those things that happen. Your dog gives the food bowl a little nudge when food is stuck in the corner of the bowl? Next time he’ll likely use that strategy again and again.

What to do: you have several choices to curb this behavior. There are several non-skid mats you can use that will keeps the bowl steady or you can invest in a bowl that has a non-skid silicone bottom. Some dog owners have success using a food dish stand.

Ready for treasure hunt?

Before You Decide Begin By Observing The Dogs Behaviour

You can monitor your pets food intake as you feed them and just see what your dog eats. Pay attention to the dogs stool and urine and if all is normal, you can let your pet skip a meal or two. If your dog is vomiting, has diarrhea, is lethargic and dehydrated, talk to a vet online. If apart from reduced appetite, your pooch is hiding, sleeping all day, or losing interest in play and other usual activities, it can be a sign of dog depression. Appetite wise, you may want to ask your vet to check about kidney disease or liver disease.

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Your Dog Is Holding Out

Does this sound like you? Your dog wont eat her favorite kibble, so you switch brands. When she stops gobbling that up, you dress it up with something yummier, like cheese or chicken. Pretty soon youre sitting next to your pooch coaxing her to take a bite, wondering, why is my dog not eating?It feeds into this attention-seeking behavior where the dog says, If I dont eat, my owner will give me something better,’ Bain explains.

Another variation: Youve gotten your dog used to people foodhand-fed from the table, says Teller. The solution? After you get the okay from your vet , put down her dish of plain dog food, and take it up after 15 minutes even if she doesnt eat it, suggests Bain. Try again in the evening, doing the same thing until your dog gets the memo. If table scraps are ruining your dogs appetite, feed her at a different time and keep her away from the table as you dine, Teller advises. Now find out these other things your dog wishes you knew.

• Lori M. Teller, DVM, clinical associate professor at the Texas A& M Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
• Megan E. McClosky, DVM, lecturer in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
• Melissa Bain, DVM, professor of clinical animal behavior at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine

Diagnosing Loss Of Appetite In Dogs

Your vet will ask you about your dogs recent medical history and whether you have noticed any other signs, such as weight loss or vomiting. It is important to try to work out if they have no interest in food or if your dog is hungry but not managing to eat for some reason in these cases, they will show interest in food and sometimes attempt to eat, but then give up or sometimes run backwards. Its likely your vet will give your dog a thorough examination and check their teeth to make sure thats not the source of their problems. They may also run some tests, such as X-rays, ultrasound, taking blood, urine and faecal samples, to check for illness and disease.

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My Dog Isnt Eating But Acting Normal

If your Lab is full of energy and charging around like a puppy there is probably no immediate need to rush your dog off to the hospital. Or even if he seems just a little bit reserved. You dog might just not be hungry. Or bored with his food. Maybe he moved around less and doesnt need his usual amount of food. Someone could have slipped him too many treats.

• Have you changed food brands? Some dogs are very suspicious of unknown tastes and smells. A new bag of kibble you just opened might be off check and smell the food.
• Has something in your dogs environment changed? When dogs have emotional upsets it often puts them off their food just like our children.
• Have you moved house? Even a simple thing like a new food bowl or changing the place where you feed him can have him turning up his nose at food.

Most dogs also stop eating for a day or two when their owners go off on holiday. Or even just when their favourite companion isnt home a person or another pet. Are there visitors who might be upsetting him? Or a new pet? But, if he normally has a healthy appetite, keep an eye on him, watch and wait. One of the things you need to watch for is that your dog drinks water.

How To Make Homemade Dog Food:

Making homemade dog food is a cinch! Heres a quick rundown of the process:

• Brown the turkey. Heat a large skillet or pot over a medium-high heat. Add in the coconut oil and turkey and sauté until it is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Add the veggies. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the zucchini, spinach, carrots and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
• Mix in the egg. Turn off the heat and and crack in the egg. Let the egg cook in the hot food, mix it around to ensure it mixed through and cooked through.
• Stir in the rice. Add the rice and stir it in with the other ingredients until everything is well combined. Cool and serve!

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What To Do When Your Dog Wont Eat

If your dog is lethargic, vomiting, or having diarrhea in addition to not eating, see your veterinarian right away. If you dont see any of these, here are some ways to try to entice your dog to eat:

• Add water or no-sodium chicken broth to the dog food and let it soak for several minutes to soften it.

• Heat canned food for a few seconds in the microwave . Canned food can become scorching hot quickly, so feel the food first to avoid any burned tongues.

• Try mixing some plain, boneless, skinless boiled chicken and rice with their kibble to encourage them to eat.

• Add a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora or Advita on top of the food. Not only can this make the food more palatable, but it can also help any inflamed or irritated intestine heal by rebalancing a healthy gastrointestinal flora.

If you have tried these tricks and your dog continues to refuse his food, he should be seen by his veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Unless explicitly prescribed by your veterinarian, your dog should not be given any over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications like Imodium or Pepto Bismol, as these could cause serious side effects or even interact with medications that your veterinarian may want to give. It is best to consult with your veterinarian before attempting to treat symptoms at home.

Your Dog Has A Toothache

Tana888/Shutterstock

Dental problems can cause trouble eating, McClosky notes. Dogs with dental problems may drop kibble, chew on one side, or drool excessively. Older dogs are more affected, especially the smaller breeds, she adds, but any dog can develop a toothache . Another big sign that your dogs teeth are in need of care, says Teller: Your dog may be interested in food and sniffing it, but it hurts too much to actually take a bite and chew. Its one of the 50 things your vet wont tell you, but youll want to know.

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What About A Dog Whos Not Drinking Water

Its very unusual for a dog to not drink enough water if their food intake is normal.

One possible cause for decreased water intake could be a food change. If you feed your dog dry food and start incorporating canned food or another higher moisture content food into your dogs meals, your pet may not drink as much water from their bowl since theyre getting more water at mealtimes. This is perfectly normal, so no need to worry.

But if your pup is also eating less than usual, or if you are concerned, go ahead and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

On the other end of the spectrum, if your dog is drinking more water than usual in combination with not eating, this could be a symptom of an underlying health problem, and its important you speak to your vet.

Is Your Dog Pregnant Or In Heat

Early in pregnancy, your dog may have a reduced or absent appetite. If your dog is in the middle or late part of her gestation, she may eat less because her stomach has less room to expand due to the presence of puppies, but she should make up for this by eating a smaller amount more frequently.

Regardless of what point of gestation your dog is in, if she has not eaten in over 24 hours, your veterinarian should be called right away to ensure that everything is okay.

Dogs in heat may also have a decreased appetite, which is considered normal. However, if she goes longer than 48 hours without eating anything, she should be checked by her veterinarian. If she is lethargic, vomiting, having diarrhea, or drinking and urinating more than usual, she should be seen by her veterinarian right away, as this could indicate an infection in the uterus known as pyometra.

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What Dogs Can Eat

You can make sure your dog has a healthy, well-balanced diet by asking your vet to suggest a quality dog food. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sometimes give your dog people food as a special treat. Only give them a little. Be sure the foods are cooked, pure, and not fatty or heavily seasoned. Here are some ideas.

Dogs Who Tip Their Food Bowl Over

Some dog owners can be quite annoyed by their dog’s behavior of tipping over the food bowl. Why would dogs tip over their food bowl? Again, we must be reminded that dogs are not humans, so they have reason to not adhere to our standards of keeping the house tidy by keeping food enclosed in bowls.

Some dogs seem to do it just for the fun of it. The food scatters everywhere and they get to go on a treasure hunt, which may satisfy their need to forage. Think of it as a fun doggy buffet!

Some other dogs might not like their food bowl for several reasons, as explained above such as its smell, size, material or the noise produced when the collar tags clash against it when eating.

Some dogs may also find it annoying if their whiskers repeatedly touch the bowl while they’re eating.

What to do: if your dog tips his food bowl over, you are not alone. Indeed, marketers have astutely invented heavy food bowls and non-tip food bowls for frustrated dog owners. Some dog owners have success using a food dish stand.

For dogs who seem to have fun with their “doggy buffets,” you may instead want to try one of those food bowls that offer an interactive food puzzle. Win win!

Consider Medical Problems

If your dog has always been eating from the food bowl with no problems, and now he’s suddenly scared of it or acting weird, consider that at times there may be an underlying medical problem.

Vision problems may also be a culprit for weird dog behaviors around food bowls.

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