Appetite Problems in Dogs: Solutions for Food Refusal
Your dog's bowl sits untouched, and the once-enthusiastic eater now turns her/his nose up at meals. Why is your furry friend refusing to eat, and how can you help? In this article, we'll explore the common reasons behind a dog's loss of appetite and what steps you can take to address this issue.
Checking the health of food refusals
Dogs may refuse food for various reasons. The causes can be natural; some dogs are just picky eaters and may even fast for a day or two a week without it necessarily being a sign of illness.
However, if your dog suddenly becomes finicky with food, stops eating, or results in underweight, consulting a veterinarian is always advisable. When food refusal occurs, the possibility of illness or pain should always be ruled out as a cause.
Avoid tempting with extra treats
Surprisingly, the most common cause of dogs refusing food is us, their dog parents. It's not uncommon for dog parents, with the best intentions, to "top" the food when their furry friend turns up their nose at kibble. We add something tastier to entice the dog's appetite, but this only teaches the dog to refuse regular food in anticipation of something better.
If you want to treat your dog to something special, it's better to do it before putting their regular meal in front of them and ensure that their daily food is nutritious and energy-rich, so they get what they need despite eating smaller portions.
If food is always available, and your dog is picky, it might be a good idea to put it away. Most dogs would get tired of their dinner if it was in their line of sight until it was time for the evening meal.
Effective feeding tips
- Put away your dog's food
- Serve it at specific times
- Leave it out for 10-15 minutes.
- If the dog doesn't eat, remove the bowl and serve fresh food only at the next feeding time, approximately six hours later, assuming you have a fully grown, healthy dog.
Exercise can increase your dog's appetite
Sometimes dogs aren't picky but rather overfed. These dogs need to work up an appetite. Try feeding them an hour after their longest walk or exercise session. Their stomach should be growling when the bowl is set down because it's natural for dogs to "hunt" (exercise) before mealtime.
Hormonal causes of food refusal
Another common cause is hormones; female dogs in heat can refuse food, and male dogs with females in heat nearby may stop eating. Fortunately, this is usually temporary. However, if the problems are severe and recurring, neutering may be the only solution.
If you can't stimulate your dog's appetite, and you believe your dog is too thin for its breed, consult a veterinarian to investigate the cause behind the food refusal.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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