What You Should Know When It Comes to Your Dog Not Eating
Dogs can sometimes stop eating their food, and this can be worrying. It's important that you identify the reason why your dog won't eat his food, because this will help you provide a suitable treatment for your dogs problem. If your dog refuses his regular food, take him to the vet immediately. Loss of appetite in a dog can be a sure sign of illness, but your pooch will also exhibit other signs of illness if he is feeling under the weather. If your normally good eater forgoes any food for several days, he will become dehydrated and malnourished, which could make him even sicker.
Anorexia in Dogs
While anorexia is sometimes known as a human condition, dogs can suffer from it too. There are two kinds of anorexia in dogs: true and pseudo. True is when there's a blatant refusal to eat, usually aligned with serious illnesses. The other kind, pseudo-anorexia, is a bit more involved: A hungry dog that really wants to eat will generally go up to his or her food bowl, but not be able to eat. This is largely due to some kind of issue with swallowing or chewing.
Possible Causes
There are a number of things that can cause anorexia in dogs, such as:
Dental Disease
If your dog is not eating, your veterinarian will be able to inspect its mouth. Oral pain, gingivitis, a broken tooth, abscess, or oral tumour may be the cause of this problem, and your vet will be able to address these problems if they are found.
Illness
A significant illness can cause a person to lose their appetite. Examples include:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Fever
- Infection (whether or viral bacterial)
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Pain (anywhere in the body)
- Pyometra (infection of the womb)
Anorexia in Dogs: Treatment
When a day or two passes without the dog eating at all, but they're alert and active otherwise, you should keep an eye on them and feed them some bland food. If your dog is not eating because of an upset stomach, it's a good idea to offer them home cooked food like boiled chicken and rice. Warm the food up a bit in the microwave, as this can help entice hungry dogs to eat.
Another good tactic to try is to offer meals more frequently but smaller in terms of portions. If a dog leaves any food on their plate within fifteen minutes of eating, remove the leftovers and offer them again a few hours later.
It should be noted that this is not the time to change the dog's diet. Don't present them with plenty of choices at this point either. A quick change can sometimes lead to upset stomachs, which can make things even more complicated. Be especially vigilant when it comes to toxic foods like chocolate, garlic and onions.
If your dog displays the following symptoms, you should take them to the vet:
- Not eating at all for two days in a row
- Throwing up
- Too quiet
- Watery diarrhea
- Weak or lethargic
Conclusion
Dogs are a man's best friend, which means when they don't eat, there's definitely room to worry. Anorexia in dogs comes in either "true" or "pseudo" form. Dental disease and illness can cause it; treatment can include subtle changes in feeding. Ultimately, it's best to see a veterinary professional.
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