How To Stop This From Happening Again
Many pet owners ask, âHow can I avoid having a dog that wonât eat or will only eat their treats?â The answer is to avoid underlying causes and monitor your petâs diet. For example, if your dog is not eating because they got into the trash, ate some spoiled food, or have an upset stomach, the recommendation would be to ensure that your dog doesnât have access to the trash can. Another example is, if your dog is not eating due to pain from arthritis, work with your veterinarian to treat and prevent pain.
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Heat Up Your Dogs Food
Heating up your dogs food increases its smell and palatability. Sick dogs will have a hindered sense of smell and taste. Food that has been warmed up may smell more fragrant and can help entice your dog to eat it. This will also help with taste which will encourage your dog to continue eating after that first bite.
What Do I Do If My Dog Only Wants To Eat Treats
If you want your pup to be exposed to new flavors and textures, it may be worthwhile to try out a new food. You may want to consider doing a few hours research before switching your dry food to some wet dog food. He should probably try the next food again until he enjoys it. As soon as he does, stick with it, since he may like the taste of the new menu.
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Dog Not Eating And Drinking
Your dog not eating and drinking water is a serious issue. There can be a medical problem and you should take your pooch to a vet. Check for signs of dehydration, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. If all three are present, consider it an emergency.
If the lack of appetite is accompanied by other digestive issues like vomiting and diarrhea it may be a sign of an infection or disorder that requires a vets attention. A dog not eating but drinking water and vomiting may have a more serious infection.
Most digestive issues will clear up in a few days but if they dont seem to be improving, make sure to get to the vet as soon as possible.
Medical Causes For Anorexia In Dogs
Medical causes of anorexia include any condition or illness that causes a dog to not want to eat. They can include hundreds, maybe even thousands, of potential issues. The medical disorders that can cause anorexia include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, kidneys, airway, lung or blood, and anything that can cause pain. Information about some of the most common causes include:
- Gastrointestinal Diseases â The gastrointestinal tract includes the system that takes food in, processes it, and eliminates it. This includes everything from the mouth, esophagus , the stomach, the small intestine, and finally the large intestine. A disease of any of these areas can cause a dog to not want to eat and are commonly associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract include infections of the bacterial, viral, or parasitic variety. Examples of infections are hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and viruses, such as coronavirus or parvovirus. Additional diseases of the GI tract include tumors, such as cancer, ulcerations, inflammatory diseases, food allergies, ingestion of indigestible objects that cause a âforeign bodyâ, ingestion of spoiled food or trash, or even changes in food. Diseases of the mouth, such as bad teeth or ulcerations, can also cause pain and lack of appetite.
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When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food Without Water
By 8 to 10-weeks old puppies will have their full set of teeth. From this time its ok for them to eat dry kibble without soaking it into a soggy meal. We have more information on this topic here: Soaking Puppy Kibble: How, Why, and When to Stop
If theyre having issues adapting to their kibble without water, then try slowly transitioning by adding less and less water over a week or two.
Research Raw Food Diets
A raw food diet tries to replicate food a dog would have eaten in the wild. It consists of some mixture of meat, bones, organ meat, raw eggs, some fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
Fans of raw diets believe its the healthiest option for their dogs and that it promotes shinier coats, cleaner teeth, more energy, and healthier skin. Naysayers point out the risks, which include exposure to harmful bacteria for both dogs and humans, an unbalanced diet, and the potential dangers of sharp pieces of bone injuring a dogs teeth and digestive tract.
In spite of its popularity, some research has come out against raw food diets. As early as 2012, the American Animal Hospital Association stated, Based on overwhelming scientific evidence, AAHA does not advocate or endorse feeding pets any raw or dehydrated non-sterilized foods, including treats that are of animal origin. The American Veterinary Medical Association discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens, because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs, as well as humans.
Additionally, some frozen raw dog foods have been recalled due to the presence of pathogens like E. coli and salmonella. Owners feeding these diets should be careful to always stay aware of the most recent recall information for their brands.
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Buy Higher Quality Foods Rather Than Diet Foods
Sometimes your dog gets a little overweight or a lot overweight. Its a natural tendency to think that you should then buy them a diet dog food. If your dogs are anything like ours, they can smell and taste the difference. This often leads to them refusing to eat until theyre starving.
Over the long term, its best to try and find a food that is healthy for a sustainable diet. Just like us, dieting is often a miserable experience for a pet, and we do best finding a diet that is good for us. This will ensure your dog has the right nutrients while allowing them to indulge in a treat every now and again.
Puppy Not Eating Or Drinking
If your puppy is suddenly not eating or drinking and is showing signs of lethargy then its best to get them to the vet.
Make sure youre giving them enough exercise and then provide fresh water to them. If they drink and seem to be energetic and in good spirits, then its likely they just havent been thirsty.
If your puppy isnt eating their kibble, and has been on a diet of wet food, then the food itself contains fluids and so theyll require less water.
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Get Food Amounts Right And Exercise Regularly
If your pet is otherwise healthy, seems in high spirits, and has energy, try adjusting the amount of food that your dog eats in a day. Fully grown dogs, and older dogs need fewer calories than puppies at their peak of growing. Your dog might simply not need the food at the moment.
If your dog isnt being exposed to regular exercise, getting them active for at least an hour a day via walks or trips to the dog park can stimulate their appetites.
If youve recently moved into a smaller location that also doesnt provide the yard space that a dog used to have, he or she might also need less food because of their increase in naps and laying around waiting for their next walk.
Make Sure Hes Healthy
If your dog normally eats his food with gusto and has suddenly stopped eating, the most important thing to do is rule out any serious health problems. Many dogs wont eat if theyre not feeling well, especially if theyre suffering from intestinal or dental issues, so you should visit your veterinarian to make sure nothings wrong. But if your dog eats other kinds of food and refuses to touch his dry food, it may mean hes a picky eater.
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What Do You Do When Your Dog Wont Eat His Food
What Do You Do If Your Dog Wont Eat Dog Food
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How Can I Get A Picky Dog To Eat Their Food
There are many ways to get picky dogs to eat their food. Try one of the following:
- Give highly palatable and nutritious food
- Make sure the food smells right
- If youre feeding your dog kibble, add some warm water, bone broth, or wet food
- Offer home-cooked food
- Cut down on treats and avoid feeding off the table
- Praise the dog for eating the food
- Take your pet for a walk or a run before feeding time
My Dog Wont Eat Dog Food But Will Eat Treats
Another common problem is the dog that will eat treats, or human food, but simply wont eat dog food at all. The causes are the same as for the dog that wont eat kibble unless it is smothered in yogurt or cheese sauce. Your dog has learned to play you. The solution is to teach him that you wont play his game.
The problem, is that many people are scared their dog will starve themselves to death, or suffer terribly, if he doesnt get to eat every three hours. Lets take a look at that.
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Why Is My Dog Not Eating Her Dry Food
Generally speaking, dogs do not like dry food because it has a low taste or texture. Rather than mix the wet food with your dogs dry food if it hasnt eaten his, you may want to try mixing a little wet food with the dry food. Make sure that you scale back the amount of dry food in your regular meal if you decide to feed him wet food.
When Should I Switch From Puppy To Dog Food
If your pup is six to 12 months old, these needs change. The peak season for your puppy is normally when he is a grown adult and transitioning to adult food. Its also more common at this age to have sex or take neutering. Once your dog is old enough, hell be able to benefit more from his adult food.
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Who Could Blame A Dog For Not Wanting To Eat Rotten Food
What You Can Do
It is imperative that you get your dog back to eating his regular food before health problems arise. The more you let him get away with eating only treats, the more he wont want to go back to his regularly scheduled kibble.
Luckily, there exist quite a few solutions to your problem that you can and should try!
Transitioning To A Kibble Puppy Food
So lets say youre in the same boat as the owner whose puppy only eats meat. Heres a plan of attack:
If the dry just isnt being eaten, try soaking it in warm puppy milk or just warm water before mixing it thoroughly with the mince. You can keep doing this as long as you like, but as with the mince, you can gradually reduce the amount of water each day.
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Feeding Your Dog Dry Food
If you choose to feed your dog dry dog food, there are a couple of things you should take into account in order to be sure that your dog is having a healthy diet:
- Make sure it is high quality dry dog food: it should be made from only a couple of ingredients and fresh meat should be the main ingredient.
- Check how much you are feeding your dog: respect the ration recommended by the manufacturer for your dog’s weight. You can also ask your veterinarian for further guidance.
- Remember that puppies eat more times a day: where an adult dog will eat 2-3 times a day, a puppy will eat smaller rations but more times throughout the day.
- Always provide fresh water: especially if your dog is only eating dry dog food, it’s very important to offer fresh water for them to drink.
You may also be interested in our article about combining homemade food with store bought food.
Adjusting Your Dogs Diet
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Will Your Dog Drink Water
If your dog will drink water but wont eat, it may be due to nausea, stress, or mouth pain. If they are able to keep the water down, that is a good sign. However, if they are vomiting after drinking water, they should be seen by a veterinarian right away, as this could indicate severe nausea or an intestinal obstruction. If they go longer than 24 hours without eating, even if they are still drinking, they should be examined by their vet to determine the underlying cause of their inappetence.
If your dog has not eaten or drank in 24 hours or more, they should be seen by a veterinarian right away in order to be assessed and treated for likely dehydration, and to investigate the underlying cause of their unwillingness to eat or drink.
Anything that can cause a dog to feel ill, such as kidney disease, pancreatitis, intestinal parasites, liver disease, cancer, infection, intestinal obstruction, etc., can lead a dog to refuse food and water. Like humans, dogs cannot go for more than a few days without water, so this should be treated seriously.
What To Do When Dog Wont Eat Food
Taking an extra step: feeding a sick dogWait. If your dog doesnt eat, let him/her for a while. We think its fun to give your dog some treats. Brands you dont like can change when you change your dry foods. Make sure your pets food is heated up. If your dogs food is lacking in fresh fish, add bone broth. Feed Your Dog from Your Heart. Make sure you read and follow the directions on any medication. Your dog should be allowed to consume grass.
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Tips And Tricks For Getting A Picky Dog To Eat Their Food
Do you have a dog at home who has suddenly stopped eating their food? Luckily, youve come to the right place as this is a fairly common occurrence, and we have some useful advice to get your pet eating again.
Before we dive into the tricks, however, lets discuss the importance of making sure your dog is actually being picky and isnt suffering from a more serious health-related issue.