What to Do If My Dog ​​Doesn’t Want To Eat

“My dog ​​does not want to eat” is a complaint that is heard a lot in the consultations of veterinarians or dog breeders, since it is clear that there is a problem, but without the dog seeming to be sick, it does worry the dog. Its owner or owner who loves and appreciates their pet from her.

In addition, if the time that your dog does not eat is prolonged, he begins to lose weight, and the concern turns into anxiety for not knowing what to do. It is time to go to the vet, to address any underlying issues and learn how to treat the animal.

Loss of appetite is called anorexia, as in humans, but unlike in us, which are a mental illness, in dogs, it is a physical illness most of the time, although it can be combined with causes related to the environment and the character of the dog itself.

Next, we give you a series of clues and possible solutions so that you know what to do if your dog does not want to eat.

Instructions to act if my dog ​​does not want to eat

1. Age. Like the human being, a dog has very different needs for exercise and activities, and therefore, for food when it is young compared to when it is at the end of its days, or at least it is getting old. When he reaches this stage, his physical activity is reduced, and his physiology is different, so he needs other quantities and other foods than when he was a fully fit adult. For example, if an old dog is given adult food, it is likely that he does not want it or does not like it, in addition to causing obesity, which is not very healthy.
2. Bowel obstruction. This could be the cause of your dog’s lack of appetite, but it must be diagnosed by the veterinarian. Perhaps your pet has swallowed an object or eaten something that they can’t digest or block their intestines and cause a lack of appetite.  On the other hand, there could be gastritis or a hormonal problem.
3. One hit. It could be that a blow to the head has caused neuronal damage in the part of the brain that regulates hunger on a regular basis, with the consequence that he does not eat. You should be aware of this possibility if at any time he has been out of your sight, paying attention to your dog’s behavior, if he complains, etc., as a reason for alerting you to pay a visit to the veterinarian to observe him, or, if you only notice a lack of appetite, to find out the possible reasons. In the same way, you should rule out any small wound that bothers him and is taking away his appetite.
4. Years. Like all living beings, the elderly dog ​​develops ailments and changes in his daily life, including those related to his physical exercise and his eating habits, and for this reason his appetite can decrease. In any case, as a daily companion of fatigue, you will be able to gauge if he is eating less or if he is really stopping eating and losing weight abnormally, something that will need a medical check-up.
5. Stress. Stress is a state of tension that can have many causes, such as the relationship with other animals in the house, with family members and neighbors, with other dogs, excess or lack of exercise, spending a long time without leaving the home, and other particularities related to the decrease in well-being necessary for your dog. Therefore, you must ensure that your dog’s life is pleasant for him as much as possible, interacting with him through playing and walking with him, and if, in addition to other alterations of his usual character, he loses the desire to eat, it would be It is recommended that he be seen by a breeder or someone who is an expert in canine behavior.
6. Medications. If you are treating your dog for any ailment, with some type of medication, antibiotic, etc., it would not be surprising if he eats less or is listless, as it is very common. You just have to make sure that he at least eats something and that he drinks enough water.
7. Vary the diet. The lack of appetite can also be simply related to the fact that the food you give is always the same. It happens to dogs like people; always eating the same thing is boring and makes them not want to eat. It is important to combine the different foods that are sold for dogs to make them more palatable. Add cans of juicy food to the feed from time to time, like adding hard-boiled egg, or pieces of chicken breast or meat, raw chicken bones, never cooked, cow knee bones for him to gnaw. You can also give him a variety of fruits, always without the bone or seeds.

Tips to act if my dog ​​does not want to eat

• There are several tricks to make your dog’s food more palatable. For example, moisten dry feed with hot water, which will enhance its smell, in addition to giving it a different texture and temperature.
• Keep your dog’s food in the best environmental conditions, in a dry and damp-free place, tightly closed, in order to keep its smell as long as possible, because the smell is what most motivates dogs from food.