Some dogs simply refuse to eat when they don’t feel well. Before calling the veterinarian, try some less drastic approaches first – such as feeding their food slowly through a feeding tube.
If your dog has not eaten in several days but continues to drink water, this could be a telling sign that they’re healthy and not distressed. Here are a few suggestions that might help revitalise their appetite:
Warm Food
Dogs can survive up to several days without food, but they still require water in order to remain hydrated. A great way to encourage them to drink more frequently and safely is adding some broth-flavored water additives – this makes the water more appealing while remaining safe for your pup’s consumption.
Warming food to make it more appetizing may also help. Doing this will soften dry kibble, making it more appealing and helpful especially for older pets with hard palates. Some pet owners suggest adding moisture by using chicken or beef broth; always consult your veterinarian first if doing this though!
If your dog has suddenly started refusing his or her food completely, it is vital to seek medical advice immediately from a veterinarian. This is especially true if they continue refusing even after having received fluids.
Most often, dogs won’t eat due to being sick – this could range from viral infection through pancreatitis or cancer to medication side effects resulting in loss of appetite. Talk to your veterinarian if any medications that your pet takes cause side effects like this as they might need changing or switching altogether.
Some pet owners also notice that their dogs refuse to eat out of boredom or disinterest, which could lead to dehydration and malnutrition. If this occurs with your pup, take them for a walk first before offering some food as this might provide the stimulation they need to change their mind about eating!
As an additional boost to their meals, providing your dog with small treats is also beneficial in encouraging them to eat their kibble independently again. Just be wary not to give too many extra goodies as your pup might learn that refusing their food means getting more treats!
Stimulate Their Mouths
Dogs don’t always want to eat. This could be caused by pain, illness, stress or medication; if this is happening to your pup it would be wise to consult your veterinarian as soon as possible so they can help determine the cause for their lack of hunger.
If your vet doesn’t offer any suggestions, try some of these simple tricks to encourage your pup to eat: Take them for a walk to stimulate their appetite; place their food in a container with a lid so it retains aroma; give your pet a massage after every meal to help their digestion; give a tummy rub or massage as this may also aid digestion.
As well as trying different techniques to encourage your dog to eat, try switching up its flavor of food – this could mean simply switching from Purina One Chicken & Rice to Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice or making more drastic adjustments such as switching from chicken to beef, fish or venison.
Make sure your dog is drinking enough water. According to Cesar Millan, dogs can survive up to 12 hours without food but only three days without drinking water. Encourage your pup to do just that by placing a dish of water nearby and offering small quantities throughout the day.
Treats may also alter a dog’s appetite, so be wary when feeding treats as treats should only account for about 10% of daily caloric needs.
When visiting your veterinarian for treatment of your dog, they can recommend certain foods and treats to boost his or her appetite, such as plain chicken with white meat, baby food, steamed or boiled sweet potatoes, bone broth or even yogurt.
If all else fails, try force-feeding your dog via syringe, but be mindful not to force feed too quickly or aspirating (inhaling food into their lungs instead of their stomachs). A veterinarian can instruct on the safest ways of doing this and also provide insight as to which diet would best meet his or her medical needs.
Tempt Them with Treats
When your dog exhibits appetite issues, their vet must first ascertain whether the issue is something serious that needs treating. For instance, stomach bugs or being overwhelmed with their new home could be to blame. If that isn’t the case, there are things you can do to stimulate their appetite – according to Cesar Millan taking your pup for a walk with some water can work as an appetite stimulant while some pets may even require medication from their veterinarian as this option may not suit everyone.
Treats can also help boost your pet’s appetite; just make sure not to give too many; they should only account for 10% of daily calorie needs for most dogs. Milk bones, meat tidbits or fish chunks; cooked vegetables such as pumpkin and squash; as well as steamed chicken with carrots (remove any spices that could upset their stomachs first!). are some great examples.
One reason a picky eater might turn their nose up at their kibble is that they want something more rewarding. One way you could tempt them by mixing their dry food with wet dog food may help relieve their boredom with current meals; just be careful that any wet food doesn’t become too hot or it may burn their tongue!
Try offering them food with different flavors they might enjoy more. Make sure to transition slowly – gradually lessening their old food while increasing their intake of the new one over ten days or so.
If nothing seems to work, consult with your Small Door vet immediately. They will advise on how worried to be when your dog’s appetite decreases and what steps to take next. In any event, if they vomit or have diarrhea or become lethargic without reason it is imperative that you seek medical assistance immediately and regardless of appetite changes.
Change Their Diet
Sometimes a dog simply doesn’t feel like eating; perhaps they only want to eat at certain times of day or they could be sick and not want to eat any meals at all. If this occurs regularly then this should be investigated further as this indicates something could be amiss and should be dealt with accordingly.
Dogs may reject foods they don’t enjoy, and it is important to identify why this occurs in order to devise a plan of attack. Some dogs dislike the smell of new food which may turn them off; in such instances it would be wiser to switch their pet to another flavor of food gradually and introduce it over time.
Hohenhaus recalls a case in which a dog stopped eating because she was grieving the loss of her owner, leading her to stop eating altogether.
If this appears to be the case, speak to your vet about receiving an appetite stimulant prescription for your dog. There are various kinds of appetite stimulant drugs available; some reduce nausea while others mimic hormones that make dogs hungry.
However, you should only force feed your pet when directed by a vet and only when other more gentle methods have failed. Doing so could potentially result in injury to them and their esophagus instead of reaching it; so this method is only recommended when they fail altogether.
Attentiveness to how many treats you’re offering your dog is also vital, as this could negatively affect their appetite. Treats should only make up about 10% of daily caloric intake; taking away treats from picky eaters may encourage them to consume more of their regular food and resume healthy eating patterns.