Most dogs are gluttons and they love to eat everything they can.
That’s why when my dog has no appetite or eats less than normal All the alarms go off in my head. That could be happening?
My dog has no appetite, is it normal? what should I do?
In our house it has also happened: my dog suddenly has no appetite and I don’t know what could be the problem. Will he be sick? Will he have stopped liking the feed?
We are going to analyze the most frequent reasons why a dog may not be hungry and the easiest ways to solve it.
Reasons why your dog has no appetite
It does not have to be a single reason, can be several factors those that trigger the problem. What you should check It is the attitude that the animal has towards food.
If your dog…
- Smells food but doesn’t eat it: It is the least serious case. The most normal thing is that do not like the feed that you bought him or got tired of him. We will discuss it later in detail.
- Stays near food but doesn’t get to taste or smell it: On this occasion, it is most likely that your dog wants to eat but does not seem capable. It is a worrying situation Usually caused by parasites (such as tapeworms or worms).
- He makes no intention of eating or approaching the feed bowl: It is the worst of all situations and if you keep reading you will be able to discover the reasons why it is happening. In this case the situation is very worrying, it must be solved as soon as possible.
Are all your basic needs covered?
Loss of appetite is a common problem in dogs that they do not have their basic needs covered.
I have been in many houses where the owners thought they were caring for the dogs like maharajahs and unfortunately it was the opposite.. The intention was good, the result was not.
Basic needs of your dog:
- Water: you always have access to it, and if it’s clean and fresh like an automatic source, so much the better. It is the best purchase that can be made in a house with pets.
- Exercise: Not all breeds require the same intensity, but a minimum of exercise is mandatory for your dog’s well-being.
- Hygiene: brushing, washing, nails… everything you need (depending on the breed) so that your dog is well.
- Rest: Does your dog rest without noise? Does he have enough beds with blankets? Isn’t it cold?
- Veterinary: vaccinations and annual health check-ups are also part of their basic needs.
- Education: the use of positive reinforcement is mandatory for the good mental state of your dog.
- Social relationships: each dog socializes in its own way. It’s important that you understand your dog’s way of doing this and allow him to satisfy that need.
Surely when you thought about the basic needs that your dog has, it did not come out such an extensive list.
Check each point well and keep in mind that if any fail that could be the reason why your dog has not been hungry lately.
Changes in your dog’s routines
Humans aren’t the only ones who get stressed. before a long car trip, a change of routines or a move.
We think that a small change in our schedules will not affect our best friend. but I guarantee that it happens more often than you think.
These are five daily routines that poorly planned can negatively influence your pet’s appetite:
- Frequency and duration of walks: almost always the problem comes from cutting both the duration and the frequency. That your dog complains about walking more is rare (unless he is very old), but if you stay short it could affect him.
- Meal times: Your dog’s body adapts to eating at certain times each day. If you suddenly change the time your pet eats, it may lose its appetite.
- Rest: Sleeping well is essential for the proper functioning of your dog’s organs. We’ve seen it before: beds, blankets, noises; everything affects. Check that you rest correctly forever.
- Alone time: dogs have a hard time when they are left alone at home, but the opposite case can also occur and that he becomes overwhelmed if he does not have moments of solitude. In the event that you are on vacation or you go longer than desired, assess that this is the possibility that your dog does not want to eat.
- Game and fun: Dogs love to play but many times we don’t give them all the time they deserve. Why don’t you put your phone down for 15 minutes and spend that time playing with your dog? You will both win.
If one or more of the routines mentioned in the list change your dog could refuse the ration of food. Review and adhere to them whenever possible.
Vaccines or medication
If your dog has recently been vaccinated or is starting a new medication the likelihood of it interfering with your appetite is high.
The changes that occur in your best friend’s body when giving him a medicine or when vaccinating him can cause him not to feel like eating. In fact I guess your vet will have warned you about this problem.
if they pass more than two days after vaccination and your dog has not regained the desire to eat then the situation is no longer normal. In that case I advise you to make a call to the vet.
A new member in the family?
The arrival of a new member of the family such as a son and even Another dog can provoke May your best friend’s appetite disappear as if by magic. And it is that canine jealousy is a problem more common than we think.
If you have had a child, the dog’s relationship with the baby must be the best possible from the beginning to avoid behavior problems. Do not be afraid that your dog smells and even some affectionate lick to the baby since you will need it to accept it as a new member of the family.
Are you pregnant and worried that your dog might be jealous of your future baby? Let your dog come to your tummy and allow him to be a part of the process during pregnancy.
In the event that the newcomer is another animal acceptance depends on the character of your dog. There are some who don’t like being the center of attention while other pets adapt easily to living with a new companion and enjoy it.
change of diet
I have had dogs that would eat anything while others They are such foodies that they only accepted a certain brand of feed.
If your dog has no appetite and you have recently changed his feed, there is a possibility that this is the problem. is rejecting the change and their way of letting you know is by refusing to eat.
To confirm that this is the problem get some of the feed he was taking before. Mix it with the new one and offer it to him. If he eats it, that was the problem. Another option is to buy the new feed in a small format. That way, if he doesn’t like it, it won’t be a big problem for you.
If your pet rejects any brand of feed and there is no way for it to accept it remember that animal protectors always do well with any food for the dogs that are there waiting for an adoption.
Illness
That your dog falls ill is always bad news but it is a possibility that should be contemplated. If your dog has suddenly stopped eating It may be due to a health problem such as the following:
- Oral problems.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Renal insufficiency.
- Cancer.
- Parasites (ticks, tapeworm, etc).
Of course A visit to the vet is the most recommended if you suspect that there may be a serious illness behind his lack of appetite for food. Prevention is better than cure.
How to make your dog have an appetite again
I am sure that you feel terrible when you see how your dog does not feel like eating anything and that you are looking forward to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
To achieve this I will give you some simple tips and tricks They will get their appetite back.
Get back to your usual routines
It is somewhat unfair but sometimes dogs are the main victims of our routine changes. Before they had a good half hour walk in the morning and now they go out for five minutes… or none at all. The result is clear: a sad dog with no desire to eat.
The solution is modify your schedule to recover the routine that your dog had. I know that if you get up at seven in the morning it’s hard to walk it before going to work but remember that having a pet also entails making certain sacrifices.
The same applies to other customs that your dog had. For example, if it was a socially active animal and you have moved, it is possible that now it is less related. Then, try to walk it in areas where there are other dogs so that it recovers the usual sensations.
Change the brand of feed in search of new stimuli
Dogs are adapted to eat the same thing every day and they don’t usually cause problems for it because they have far fewer taste buds than humans. Nevertheless Sometimes I have seen how one of my dogs stopped having an appetite for no apparent reason… until I changed the brand of feed.
When looking for a change in your diet, I advise you to take the opportunity to choose a feed that is appropriate for your dog; We’ve already talked about:
- dog food seniors
- feed vegans
- Food Real Food applied to dogs
- I think in particular that we should give to the puppies
- dog food with obesity
- Different wet foods what can we give them.
There are feed brands that reduce the quality of raw materials to invest that money in advertising. Look at the ingredients before buying and don’t fall into the trap!
Grain-free feed (such as Nature’s Variety (True Instinct) or Taste of the Wild) are the most appropriate for proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Remember that the dog is a direct descendant of the wolf, which is a carnivorous animal. Forget about rice, corn or wheat, your pet needs meat or fish.
Increase physical exercise during walks
Dogs have a voracious appetite after a good exercise session or a long walk. You are not the only one!
Your pet’s central nervous system will increase your desire to eat to compensate for the calories expended. That’s why I consider this as one of the most interesting solutions if your dog does not open its beak.
This method It is excellent and recommended, for example, in the case of removals or routine changes. but do not do it if your dog is on medication or sick. You could make his situation worse.
Also remember that you must assess the physical condition, age and breed of your dog. Don’t do crazy things or force your best friend to do an exercise they’re not ready for. what we are looking for is get him out of his usual comfort zone a bit and make your caloric expenditure increase by 10% or 20%.
Regarding your responsibility you must be an example for your dog. Don’t be afraid to go out with him for a walk even if it’s raining or be very cold. There are no excuses!
Use natural and healthy snacks to awaken your instincts
My dog loves the food but has no comparison to the passion he has for awards. He goes crazy!
snacks for dogs are very powerful for your palate and your central nervous system so it is not convenient to abuse this method. Use it as part of positive reinforcement when he’s been good and deserves to be rewarded.
Chicken necks, animal skin, ox ears, nerves or “tips” of bull … They will freak out! I assure.
Enhance the flavor of food with a homemade broth
Sometimes something as simple as add flavor to your dog’s food it’s enough to awaken your instincts and get you back to eating normally.
Commercial broths can be an emergency option but I do not recommend them. Their high salt content and additives make them less interesting.
My favorite trick is to always have a good homemade chicken and ham broth in the fridge. When my dog has no appetite I mix the feed with the hot broth until a soft mass is formed that drives you crazy.
If you do not have at home or you are not always a cook you can mix tetra brik or powdered chicken broth with a little water and the daily feed ration, to give it an extra flavor and a change to the texture.