Dog Not Eating
Help! My Dog is Not Eating
While it can be a little scary to find that your dog is not eating, there are several reasons for why a dog may skip a meal or two. Sometimes the reasons behind a dog’s failure to eat are simple and natural, while others may point to more serious underlying issues. Read on to learn about some of the most common reasons behind dogs skipping out on meal time.
The first thing you need to consider is how much your dog is eating. If you are worried because your dog isn’t consuming as much as the guidelines recommend on the dog food label, try not to worry too much. On average, most dogs only eat about seventy percent of the recommended serving. If your dog is consuming less when compared to his usually portions, it might be due to a recent change in dog food. If your dog’s food hasn’t changed, ask yourself if he has recently been through a stressful experience. Dogs can experience stress just like we humans do, and a decrease in appetite can sometimes be a result of that stress.
If your dog isn’t eating his food at all, there are several things that could be causing this. For starters, ask yourself if there are any noticeable changes in your dog’s behavior. Does he seem sluggish or disoriented? Does he sometimes loose his balance when he stands up or walks? These are common indications that your dog is not feeling well. If your dog’s nose is wet or he is running a fever, these are also signs of illness. Dogs try not to hide symptoms of illness due to an instincts, but if you notice obvious (and sometimes not-so-obvious) signs that your dog may not be feeling well, it is probably time to schedule an appointment with the vet.
When a dog is not eating his food and seems to otherwise appear healthy and full of life, then you have to ask yourself if he is able to get food from somewhere else. Do you have neighbors close by that like to treat your dog? Maybe you or a family member feeds him leftovers from the table? You might even be shocked to find that your dog has been nicking food off of the counter or from the cat’s food dish. There are many possibilities as to where a dog can get alternative food sources, so try to do a little detective work to find out if this could be your dog’s issue.
Another possible reason why a dog is not eating his food could be that he is being “spoiled” with better tasting food or treats. We all like to give our pets a little treat now and again for a job well done or simply to show them that we love them. However, giving doggy treats or table scraps too often may cause your dog to acquire a taste for “finer” food—so much so that he refuses to eat his own food. Usually this sort of problem is not difficult to remedy, although it may take a bit of time. Many pet owners find that it’s much easier to “wean” a dog back onto dog food if they stop giving table scraps and treats altogether, at least until the dog has resumed his regular eating schedule, and then only in moderation afterward.
If you stop giving your dog extra food, you know he isn’t getting fed from another source, and he still refuses to eat his own dog food, you should take him to the vet immediately for consultation and a recommended course of action. As a pet owner, you are responsible for the health and happiness of your dog. If you feel that there may be any risk to your dog’s health, it’s best to simply “bite the bullet” and take him to see the veterinarian.