What to Do When Your Dog Won"t Eat
Contrary to the cliche of dogs devouring everything in sight-including the food off your plate and your shoes-sometimes they just won't eat.
It can be both frightening and frustrating.
Don't panic! A healthy adult dog can go three days without eating as long as he's drinking water.
To get to the root of the problem, ask yourself these questions: Is there a medical problem or is he just being finicky? Visit your vet to rule out diseases that cause appetite loss, like parvovirus, pancreatis, or kidney disease.
Do you feed him people food? Your dog won't be thrilled with a bowl of Kibble if you frequently toss him chunks of juicy meat.
Make sure everyone in the house knows to stick to doggie treats-especially since certain people foods are harmful to dogs.
Has your dog been raiding the garbage? If your dog gets his snout into some rotten or contaminated food this could cause serious digestive problems.
Make sure your trash has a tight lid and keep it where Fido can't get at it.
Are you teaching your dog to be picky? When it comes to variety, dogs aren't like people.
Pick one type of food, see that your dog likes it, and stick with it instead of mixing things up; otherwise he may learn to hold out for other options when you feed him.
Have you created a consistent feeding schedule? If you feed your dog at the same time every day, he's more likely to get onboard with the program.
Teach him that when the food comes out, he needs to eat by leaving it in front of him for 15 minutes and then taking it away.
Is your dog too distracted to eat? Playing children, a blaring TV, a couple chatty neighbors-all these can make your dog feel anxious.
Feed him in a peaceful area so he'll feel comfortable and focus on the task at hand.
(This is especially useful if you've recently brought your dog home from the shelter or moved to a new place since he'll need time to feel safe in the new environment.
) Have you changed his food abruptly? If you'd like to change your dog's diet, make the change slowly by mixing the new and old food together over a week-long period.
Start by replacing just a handful of the old food with the new food, and increase the percentage gradually.
Is it hot outside? Dogs often eat less when it's hotter out.
So long as he's getting 90 percent of the calories he consumed in the winter, he will be just fine.
Do you help your dog work up an appetite? Maybe your inert dog isn't hungry because he hasn't expended any energy.
Make sure to walk your dog frequently, or try some exercises alternatives.
You should find the problem once you get through this list.
If you have another idea, add it to the comments! We'd love to know what's worked for you.
It can be both frightening and frustrating.
Don't panic! A healthy adult dog can go three days without eating as long as he's drinking water.
To get to the root of the problem, ask yourself these questions: Is there a medical problem or is he just being finicky? Visit your vet to rule out diseases that cause appetite loss, like parvovirus, pancreatis, or kidney disease.
Do you feed him people food? Your dog won't be thrilled with a bowl of Kibble if you frequently toss him chunks of juicy meat.
Make sure everyone in the house knows to stick to doggie treats-especially since certain people foods are harmful to dogs.
Has your dog been raiding the garbage? If your dog gets his snout into some rotten or contaminated food this could cause serious digestive problems.
Make sure your trash has a tight lid and keep it where Fido can't get at it.
Are you teaching your dog to be picky? When it comes to variety, dogs aren't like people.
Pick one type of food, see that your dog likes it, and stick with it instead of mixing things up; otherwise he may learn to hold out for other options when you feed him.
Have you created a consistent feeding schedule? If you feed your dog at the same time every day, he's more likely to get onboard with the program.
Teach him that when the food comes out, he needs to eat by leaving it in front of him for 15 minutes and then taking it away.
Is your dog too distracted to eat? Playing children, a blaring TV, a couple chatty neighbors-all these can make your dog feel anxious.
Feed him in a peaceful area so he'll feel comfortable and focus on the task at hand.
(This is especially useful if you've recently brought your dog home from the shelter or moved to a new place since he'll need time to feel safe in the new environment.
) Have you changed his food abruptly? If you'd like to change your dog's diet, make the change slowly by mixing the new and old food together over a week-long period.
Start by replacing just a handful of the old food with the new food, and increase the percentage gradually.
Is it hot outside? Dogs often eat less when it's hotter out.
So long as he's getting 90 percent of the calories he consumed in the winter, he will be just fine.
Do you help your dog work up an appetite? Maybe your inert dog isn't hungry because he hasn't expended any energy.
Make sure to walk your dog frequently, or try some exercises alternatives.
You should find the problem once you get through this list.
If you have another idea, add it to the comments! We'd love to know what's worked for you.
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