Why doesn’t the dog eat?

When a four-legged friend refuses food, caring owners are alarmed. Should you panic about it, and what steps can you take to remedy the situation?

Reasons for refusal to eat

An attentive owner may find it easier to spot why a dog won’t eat

Often a dog won’t eat when new foods are introduced into the regular diet that he strongly dislikes. Because of one such product, the pet may refuse to eat the entire portion. But the pet’s appetite can also be interrupted by “nibbling,” i.e., feeding between meals. Dog food of poor quality or with a lot of salt and spices, the animal will also ignore.

Oral pain also causes the doggie to stay away from the bowl – palate or gum infections, a broken tooth, various inflammations, etc. Allergies, ear ailments, and other ailments can also deprive a dog of his appetite. Usually, other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, sleeping for long periods, shivering or hunching, inactivity, and snarling when touched may also be observed.

When to call a vet

Seeing a veterinarian promptly can help you determine what’s wrong

Some problems the owner can solve themselves, for example, removing worms, if the lack of appetite in the dog is affected by their presence. If there are no other signs of the disease apart from his refusal to eat, owners are probably to blame, since they’re feeding him too much on a regular basis. But in order not to miss the moment and not to build hypotheses, it is better to contact a specialist who will diagnose and prescribe treatment, if necessary.

In some cases, refusal to eat is the norm for a dog. Thus, the process of sexual hunting in male dogs and heat in bitches causes a decrease or complete absence of appetite. Simply put – at these moments the animal does not care about food. Puppies have periods of “gluttony” followed by indifference to food at different growth periods. This can also be caused by teething, vitamin supplements, and the heat of the outdoors. If the pet has had any kind of medical intervention under anesthesia, it may refuse to eat for several days.

What to do

If the pet has no ailments, the owner can cope with the lack of appetite himself

If the diet meets all the requirements, some actions can be taken to stabilize the situation. In particular, try skipping feedings. You can do it twice, but the main thing is that instead of skipping a meal, the dog is not given goodies. Sometimes it helps to reduce the portion size, because the dog may simply be undernourished rather than refusing to eat. Perhaps the dog is missing some important (for his breed) food in his diet or is simply bored with the monotonous food.

Lack of activity and fresh air also negatively affects his appetite – new toys, interesting training, and learning new commands will return his interest and appetite. If the reason for refusing to eat is not a disease, you can try a little trick: 10-15 minutes before the meal give the dog a couple of salted fish – sprat or capelin. Such a “surprise” may arouse interest in food.