Why is my dog not eating?

Is your dog’s food bowl always full? Are they turning down their favorite treats? If your dog stops eating their food, something’s probably up. Dogs may go on hunger strike because of underlying physical or psychological issues.

Underlying health issues

Your dog may not be eating because they’re facing one of these physical causes:

• Illness. This is probably one of the most common reasons why your dog isn’t eating. Look out for a fever, cough, or other cold and viral symptoms. Your dog’s eating should return to normal as they recover.
• Recent vaccinations. In some rare circumstances, recent vaccinations can have negative side effects on a dog’s body, one of which may be a loss of appetite. Vaccinations can make your dog feel drowsy and lethargic – these side effects are usually short-lived.
• Medications. Certain medications may cause an upset stomach, making your dog not want to eat. If your dog is on chemotherapy or anti-inflammatory medicines, sometimes these cause nausea and stomach aches in dogs.
• Dental disease. A painful mouth can cause your dog to stop eating. Your pup could have periodontal disease which causes loose or fractured teeth. Oral foreign bodies can also affect a dog’s appetite.

Emotional and mental health issues

Dog’s have emotions too, and believe it or not, these feelings could be to blame for their lack of appetite:

• Travel. Changes to a dog’s normal environment can cause them to stop eating. If you’re driving in the car, too much movement may make your pup motion sick — this can cause an upset stomach and vomiting.
• Unfamiliar setting. Dogs like familiar places which they recognize by their sense of smell. If you move them to new environments where they feel threatened, they may stop eating.
• Stress. General stress can make your dog less hungry. Avoid stress by treating them with constant care and by sticking to a healthy routine. Your dog could also suffer from separation anxiety which is when their caregivers leave for extended periods of time.

Issues with a dog’s food or schedule

• Time of day. If your dog tends to eat at the same time every day, any changes to its schedule may cause them to stop eating.
• Food preference. Your dog might just not like the food you’re feeding them. Certain dogs can be so picky that they’ll refuse to eat something that doesn’t meet their preference. Dogs are smart. They may catch onto the fact that if they don’t eat their food, they’ll get to eat something they do like (probably people food). Some dogs will hold out for days waiting for table scraps!
• Food quality. Believe it or not, a dog may be able to sniff out bad-quality food. If this is the case for your pup, it’s time to switch up their food regimen.

It never really hurts to take your dog to the vet, even if their lack of appetite is due to something harmless. It’s especially important to go to the vet if you answered yes to any of the above questions. Make sure to mention any other strange symptoms or behavior your dog is showing to the vet and they’ll proceed with other tests or a plan to help you feed your dog. The vet will rule out any potential causes of your dog’s change in eating.

The things you should pay attention to

• How long has it been since your dog stopped eating? If it has been 24 hours, head to the vet, especially if your dog is diabetic.
• Has your dog stopped drinking water? It’s a red flag if your dog stops drinking water. They could have a bladder infection, diabetes, or another illness that causes your dog’s thirst to decrease.
• Is your dog vomiting, gagging, lethargic, or experiencing diarrhea? Take your pup to the vet immediately if they exhibit any of these extreme symptoms.

If your vet concludes that your dog isn’t eating because of their food or schedule, there are a few things you can do to help.

Change their food — By simply swapping your dog’s food, they may begin eating again. If they’ve been eating dry food for a while, switch from a dry kibble to a high-quality wet food. Always be cautious when abruptly changing foods.  Before changing protein sources for your pup, try the same protein but in a different formula or food form.

Make their food more enticing — Do things like heating your dog’s food or adding a bit of warm water. Add a tasty treat on top, like pumpkin, sweet potato or chicken broth. You can also try using interactive food puzzles, like this treat-dispensing toy, which makes mealtime fun for your pup.

Cut back on treats — If you give your dog too many treats in between mealtimes, they might not be hungry at breakfast or dinner. Try to limit your dog’s treat intake and stay away from feeding them table scraps (these can hurt their tummy).

Take your dog on a walk — Exercise expends energy and increases your dog’s appetite.

Change their environment — Is your dog eating next to other pets in the house? This can make them feel nervous while they eat. Try switching up their environment or moving their food bowl to a new place in the house. Feed them out of a ceramic bowl instead of a metal bowl or switch up the height with raised bowls.

Keep your dog on a schedule — By sticking to the same feeding schedule every day, your dog will get into a habit and anticipate mealtime. Don’t leave their food out all day for them to graze, otherwise it will be hard for you to determine how much they’re eating. Start your dog on a routine from when they’re a puppy.

Aside from simply following all of the above steps, you should always monitor your dog closely. Look for any changes to their daily routine and eating habits.