The dog does not eat anything: reasons and what to do
Decreased appetite (hyporexia) or loss of appetite (anorexia) in dogs can be alarming for dog owners and is often indicative of a dog's physical or psychological illness. A dog's lack of appetite for more than 24 hours should not be ignored, as this is often a warning that the dog has a medical or behavioral problem that is causing it to refuse food.
Here's some information about why your dog won't eat, including a questionnaire that can help you figure out what's causing the problem, and some tips on what you can do to help.
Reasons why dogs don't eat
There can be many reasons why a dog won't eat, but they usually fall into three main categories:
- Medical
- Behavioral
- Problems with the food itself
Medical problems of food refusal
The list of possible medical causes of anorexia or hyporexia in dogs is long and can include anything that can cause pain, nausea, lethargy, or stress:
These are just some examples of medical problems that can lead to loss of appetite in dogs. There are many more possible reasons.
Behavioral problems with food refusal in dogs
Anxiety, stress, or fear can cause a decrease in appetite in some dogs, just as it can in humans. Keep in mind that what you consider stress is different from what your dog may perceive as stress, and even the smallest things can cause anxiety and make him not want to eat.
Changes in a dog's daily routine or environment, such as new people or pets in the house, travel, or loud noises such as construction, a storm, or fireworks, can cause anxiety.
Even something as simple as changing the time or place of a meal can be stressful for more sensitive dogs, and it can make them less likely to eat.
Bullying from another pet in the house can also cause the dog to avoid their food bowl. Many dogs don't like to eat around their housemates as there can be bullying that we humans don't notice.
It is recommended that dogs be separated for feeding to reduce any resource guarding or intimidation.
Typically, if the problem is related to stress or anxiety, dogs will start eating again after a day or two, once they have adjusted to the change. Some dogs may need behavior modification or treatment to reduce stress and anxiety if this happens frequently.
Dog food problems
The problem may lie in the food itself – it may be old, expired, stale or spoiled. While some dogs, like the easy-going Labrador Retrievers, can eat anything they see, others, like Yorkshire Terriers, can be a little more picky.
If your dog has been on the same food for a while and has always eaten well, look at the expiration date on the bag or jar and make sure it is stored in an airtight container.
All containers and dog food storage containers of dog food must be sealed, and food should be discarded if it is past its expiration date. Opened cans can be covered with plastic wrap or a lid that fits dog food cans and stored in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Many pet owners wonder if their dog might just get tired of their food if they stop eating it. While some dogs can be picky, a healthy, hungry dog shouldn't stop eating certain foods just because they've been eating them for a while.
It sometimes takes a few tries to figure out which dog food your dog likes best, but if your dog seems to get tired of eating after eating, it could be because he's getting too many treats or human food, or he may havebe medical problems. Condition.
Dogs are smart and quickly learn that if they don't eat their dry food right away, they can get tasty treats instead. Instead of rushing straight to table scraps or a new meal, see if it's a good idea to mix the kibbles into canned food or heat canned food a little.
A sudden switch between foods often leads to stomach upset (loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea), so it can be very counterbest storage containerive. It would be very unusual for a dog to go hungry for days just because they are picky, so it's important to rule out underlying illnesses from your veterinarian if this happens.
Questionnaire: Why is my dog not eating?
Use this questionnaire to determine the possible causes of your dog's loss of appetite.
01. The dog does not eat, but drinks water?
If your dog drinks water, but does not eat, it may be associated with nausea, stress or pain in the mouth. If they manage to hold water at a low level, this is a good sign.
However, if they have vomiting after drinking water, they should be immediately shown to the veterinarian, as this may indicate severe nausea or intestinal obstruction.
If they do not eat for more than 24 hours, even if they still drink, they should examine the veterinarian to determine the main reason for their lack of appetite.
If your dog did not eat or drank within 24 hours or more, it should be immediately shown to the veterinarian to evaluate and treat possible dehydration, as well as to find out the main reason for its unwillingness to eat or drink.
Everything that the dog can cause poor health, for example, kidney diseases, pancreatitis, intestinal parasites, liver diseases, cancer, infection, intestinal obstruction, etc. Can lead to the rejection of the dog from food and water. Like people, dogs cannot do without water for more than a few days, so this should be taken seriously.
02. The dog eats goodies, but does not eat food?
If your dog refuses dinner, but agrees to goodies or scraps from the table, it may be eaten by “unhealthy food”, and not her own dog food. However, if your dog has other symptoms of poor health, the disease can be to blame for appetite.
For example, if your dog is happy, energetic, drinks water, plays and she has no vomiting or diarrhea, maybe she just gets too many calories a day with goodies and does not want to eat.
Perhaps they also outwitted you, knowing that if they refuse to eat their food, then instead they will receive delicious chicken and treats for dogs.
However, if your dog is sluggish, she has vomiting or diarrhea, she begins to eat a little, and then stops, lets down saliva or licks her lips, she may not feel 100% well.
Treatments are a higher reward, so many dogs are more likely to eat them, not food, even if they do not feel better. Think about the time when you had a stomach disorder, but you managed to eat your favorite treat, passing a salad bar.
It is always better to be safe and exclude any possible diseases, if you force your dog, it becomes a frequent problem.
03. The dog does not eat dry food, but eats wet or home?
Your dog turns his nose from dry food only to swallow canned food as soon as you put them?
This is a common complaint by pet owners and it can mean several different things.
Your dog may be experiencing pain in the teeth or mouth. Many pet owners believe that if their pet eats, they shouldn't have a sore mouth, but this is not true.
They must eat, which is why many dogs struggle silently with oral pain for months or years until a dental procedure is performed to remove decayed or infected teeth.
While some dogs will still eat dry food even with severe mouth pain, many prefer canned food as it is easier to chew. If your dog no longer wants to eat dry food, but will eat canned food, he should be taken to the veterinarian for an oral examination.
It may also be the case that your dog prefers canned food over dry food, as they often smell stronger and can be seen as more of a "treat".
Try mixing canned food with dry kibbles to encourage your dog to eat, and gradually move up to a higher ratio of dry food until your dog returns to eating dry kibbles.
Some dogs simply refuse to eat dry food in favor of canned food. While this may have some negative consequences, such as more severe dental disease or a higher food bill, it may not be a problem if your dog is on canned food for a long time.
Talk to your veterinarian to see if feeding your dog a 100% canned food might be the best option for them.
04. Does the old dog eat anything?
While older dogs may have lower calorie requirements than younger dogs and therefore may eat less than before, noticeable weight loss or refusal to eat is not normal and may indicate serious comorbidities.
They may include, but are not limited to:
- Dental disease (eating something you shouldn't eat or sudden change in diet)
- Cancer
Cognitive decline, mobility problems, or loss of vision can also cause a dog to stop eating if it cannot find or reach its food bowl.
It is important for older dogs to follow a feeding schedule so that the food bowl stays in the same place in the house, so that they know where to find it, and that they have a mat or yoga mat they can stand on while eating so thatdon't slip. Or having difficulty standing on a hard floor.
If your elderly dog has not eaten for more than 24 hours, she should contact the veterinarian for a thorough medical examination and possible diagnosis to find out the cause of the loss of appetite.
05. The puppy eats nothing?
A young, healthy puppy should not do without food for more than a few hours.
Puppies of small breeds are especially susceptible to high risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and they should be carefully monitored for signs of lethargy or collapse, if they do not eat.
If this happens, the puppy should be treated in an emergency order.
Some puppies may not like larger granules, since their puppy teeth can be difficult to chew, especially if they only switch to hard food.
This can be fixed by mixing with water and allowing it to be absorbed to get the consistency of porridge, or you can also mix granules with canned goods.
If your puppy still does not eat, it should be immediately shown to the veterinarian. If the puppy is also sluggish, it has vomiting or diarrhea, it should be examined in an emergency order.
06. They took the dog from the shelter and she eats nothing
A newly made dog may need days or weeks to get used to the new home. Anxiety is a common cause of temporary lack of appetite, so the newcomer often refuses food during the first two days.
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It is important to provide them with a calm place for food, away from other pets or children who may interfere with them. As long as they are energetic and they do not have vomiting or diarrhea, you can give them a day or two, so that they are used to their new home before worrying about what they do not eat.
However, if they are sluggish, they have vomiting or diarrhea, or they do not eat for more than 48 hours, they must be examined by the veterinarian to exclude any basic diseases.
07. Has something in your family changed?
Some dogs can be sensitive enough so that the environmental change can cause a lack of appetite. Examples include replenishment in the family (whether it be a new pet or a new child), construction, reception of guests or even a change in the location of bowls with food and water.
Although noise phobias are not necessarily specific for your family, things such as thunderstorms and fireworks can also cause sufficient concern to repel your dog hunting.
08. Can your dog feel anxiety of separation?
Many dogs suffering from separation are alarming, refuse to eat while their home parents are not at home. Some dogs with anxiety of separation even expect their loved one in the room while they eat, and stop eating if a person leaves the room.
Although this is not necessarily a health problem, this is a sign that your dog may have a serious concern that you need to solve. Soothing chewing tablets, such as Composure or Solliquin, as well as soothing collars with pheromdog food containers or diffusers, such as Adaptil, can be useful.
However, if you are concerned that your dog may have a strong alarm of separation, consider the possibility of consulting with a certified veterinarian of animal behavior.
09. Did you change the dog's food?
Too fast transition from one food for dogs to another can cause a stomach disorder, which may mean that your dog does not want to eat.
It is important to gradually switch to other food within 7-10 days to avoid stomach disorders. It also allows your dog to get used to a new stern over time, and not make a sharp transition.
10. Your dog is pregnant or in estrus?
At the beginning of pregnancy, your dog may have reduced or missing appetite. If your dog is in the middle or late stage of pregnancy, it can eat less, because its stomach has less space for expansion due to the presence of puppies, but it must compensate for this, eating less and more often.
Regardless of what stage of pregnancy your dog is at, if it did not eat for more than 24 hours, you should immediately call a veterinarian to make sure that everything is in order.
Dogs in estrus can also have a reduced appetite, which is considered normal. However, if she eats nothing for more than 48 hours, she must be examined by a veterinarian.
If she is sluggish, she has vomiting, diarrhea, or she drinks and urinates more than usual, she should immediately show her to the veterinarian, as this may indicate an infection of the uterus, known as a pyometer.
11. Does your dog have diabetes?
If your dog is sick with diabetes and does not want to eat, it may be a sign that something is serious not so. Ask your veterinarian what he recommends to do if your dog does not eat during the diagnosis.
As a rule, dogs should not give insulin if they do not eat, as this can cause dangerously low hypoglycemia. If your veterinarian advised you to give a half dose of insulin, if your dog misses one meal, do it, but immediately warn the veterinarian if your dog misses another meal.
If your diabetic dog misses food intake, we does not react, it has vomiting or diarrhea, it should be immediately shown to the veterinarian, since this can be a sign of hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis, both of which are life-threatening if they are not treated. Immediately.
12. Did your dog just have an operation?
Your dog often misses one or two meals after surgery. Medicines used for sedation and anesthesia usually cause nausea and decrease in appetite, and drugs that they can take at home, such as painkillers and/or antibiotics, can also suppress appetite.
You can try to persuade the dog to eat a spoonful of canned food or boiled chicken without skin and Bones on top of their pieces. Better yet, ask the veterinarian to give you several cans of a prescription gastrointestinal diet for feeding in the first few days after surgery.
These best storage containers are very tasty, easily absorbed and can help counteract some disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which may occur after surgery and anesthesia.
If your dog underwent surgery on the oral cavity or face, the veterinarian may recommend feeding it only by canned goods for two or more weeks.
It also means that your dog should not receive solid treats or chew hard toys until it is recognized as healthy at a second examination. If your dog refuses to eat prescribed canned food, contact the veterinarian in case of postoperative complications.
What to do if your dog does not want to eat
If your dog has lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea in addition to what she does not eat, immediately contact the veterinarian. If you do not see anything listed, here are several ways to try to seduce the dog to eat:
- Add water or chicken broth without sodium to the food for dogs and let it brew for several minutes so that it becomes softer.
- Reheat the canned food for a few seconds in the microwave (remember to remove it from the metal can and put it in a microwave-safe bowl). Canned food can get hot quickly, so be sure to feel it first so you don't burn your tongues.
- Try mixing some plain boneless and skinless boiled chicken with their pieces to encourage them to eat.
- Add probiotics to your food. Not only will this make food more palatable, but it will help heal any inflamed or irritated gut by restoring the balance of healthy gastrointestinal flora.
If you've tried these tricks and your dog continues to refuse food, he should be taken to the veterinarian to rule out any comorbidities.
Unless explicitly prescribed by your veterinarian, your dog should not be given over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications such as Imodium or vet-prescribed medications, as they can cause serious side effects or even interact with medications your veterinarian may prescribe.
Contents
- The dog does not eat anything: reasons and what to do
- Reasons why dogs don't eat
- Questionnaire: Why is my dog not eating?
- 01. The dog does not eat, but drinks water?
- 02. The dog eats goodies, but does not eat food?
- 03. The dog does not eat dry food, but eats wet or home?
- 04. Does the old dog eat anything?
- 05. The puppy eats nothing?
- 06. They took the dog from the shelter and she eats nothing
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- 07. Has something in your family changed?
- 08. Can your dog feel anxiety of separation?
- 09. Did you change the dog's food?
- 10. Your dog is pregnant or in estrus?
- 11. Does your dog have diabetes?
- 12. Did your dog just have an operation?
- What to do if your dog does not want to eat
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