It is a good thing to be concerned if you have noticed that your dog has stopped eating. That said, there is no cause for alarm yet. Dogs losing their appetite is usually caused by simple behavioral and environmental factors. The good news is the issue can be fairly addressed at home. That said there are cases where the loss of appetite may underline much more serious problems, in that case it is preferable to see a vet.
In case of serious infection
There are serious conditions that may result in your dog loss of appetite. Conditions like bloating, liver disease, kidney failure, dental problems or even cancer can result in your dog not able to eat. Usually, symptoms resulting from those conditions are: vomiting, constipation and passing blood in urine . If you notice any of those symptoms then you should take your sick dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Dogs are able to go a couple of days without eating, that may not necessarily be a sign of illness. However, if you know your dog to be a big eater and all of a sudden he doesn’t seem interested in his food anymore then you should see a vet. This is particularly important for puppies and older dogs.
5 causes and remedies for dog loss of appetite
- Dogs are not used to rapid change of the environment. Sometimes even a change of the place where your dog eats to another one may need that your dog readjusts to the new eating place (same for moving to a new apartment). If you are in a similar situation with your dog, just give him some time.
- In case your dog was most of the time fed alone and all of a sudden he/she find himself/herself being fed with other animals may also have an effect on his/her feeding habit. There has been a change in what he or she believes is the normal routine and this might put him or her off her feed. There reverse is also possible. Again, give your dog time to adjust.
- Older dogs may have problems related to old age. For example there may be broken teeth that are making it painful to chew. Also dogs suffering from arthritis in their neck may find it difficult to lean their head down to get the food. In a case like that try to raise the food bowl higher so that the dog may not have to lean much down to get the food. (you can use a phone book to do that)
- Vaccination, even though important may sometimes have a side effect. If your puppy has stopped eating after getting vaccinated, just check with your vet to see if that is a known side effect.
- Sometimes there is really nothing to do. Some dogs, just like humans are picky eaters. To deal with them, you just have to designate feeding times. The bowl goes down for an hour twice a day and that’s it. When the picky eater gets really hungry they’ll eat.
So if your dog is not eating you may try to figure out what’s going on using the 5 points made above. If you think there may be an illness seek help from a veterinarian. If you are a bit inventive, you can usually deal with your dog’s loss of appetite at home. However you can’t ignore the serious health risk involved. You can get more information about dog health if you sign up for our free 7 days ecourse.
Tags: dog constipation symptoms, dog digestive problems, dog food, dog food allergies, Dog health, Dog not eating, dog not eating food, dog stomach problems, dog vomiting, my dog is not eating
Wow, dogs are very close to us humans. I had no idea. I am sure many dog lovers will find this site helpful. You have provided a variety of topics as well great insights to how dogs are affected with these common afflictions.
excellent writing about dog health, it is actually useful for me. keep writing and happy blogging.
Thanks, really appreciate
Thank you for sharing this important information. Dogs are really like little children who never grow up. Pet owners really need to be informed about how the pet might be responding, just as it is important to be informaed about aspects of your own health.
Dogs are so finicky. My dog eats everything. That is really her problem. The only time I think she did not eat was when she got into rotten garbage and was sick for a few days. I would love to hear bout older dogs and getting them trained to not eat garbage or go on tables when we are not home.
This is such an informative article, I am so glad I had the chance to read it. I appreciate you taking the time to put this information together for us.
My Great Dane is just picky. I always forget to pick the bowl up after an hour and I feel bad if she misses a meal. I guess I am a sucker for those soft floppy ears. I have to remember to take her bowl up. Thanks for the article.
Great information here for dog owners. I didn’t know that they could be so picky. I really liked that you not only showed some scenarios that could be the problem you also offered solutions. Very cool. Thanks.
WOW This is a very good post for pet lover or Dog lover , I never think or know that about dags. I dont have Dog’s but i will keep this in mind when i get my own dog.
I think you did a goo job with this post.
Regards
Theuns
Awesome post. I so good to see someone taking the time to share this information
I appreciate you sharing as it is great timing to read because my puppy has become a picky eater in the past couple of weeks, and nice to be reassured that most likely there is nothing wrong with her
Christine
Thanks for the info! My son has a new husky puppy. He’s been told they can be picky eaters, so he’s learning what to watch for in case there’s a health problem instead of just picky-ness.