Seeing your pet not eating has to be one of the most stressful things pet owners go through. Are they ok? Will they starve? Is the food I’m providing ok? Do I need to ring the vet?
Here are a few reasons why the dog might not be eating:
- Stress or changes to their routine: Anything that will have changed lately in their routine will have a big effect on our dog. Holidays, wake up time, walk time or a new environment can have a temporary effect on your pet’s behaviour.
- Other food sources: If you or family members (albeit unbeknown to you!), are feeding your pet treats in between meals, they will be holding out for them. It might seem like they ‘’haven’t eaten’’ for 4 days, but if they have been getting other things, have they really not eaten at all?
- They’ve eating something for the first time and their tummy doesn’t agree with it. If that’s the case, wait 24h and then feed them their normal meal.
- Minor health issues: teething, a reaction to tablets, travel sickness…These should be temporary and clearly identifiable.
- One of a kind event: a phantom pregnancy is a common one. The pet should hopefully resume eating in a few weeks.
- Other health problems: things like acute pancreatitis, kidney failure or cancer. Whilst they are more rare conditions, one might have to consider them.
- The food isn’t good, and is not appetising for them. If when you turn the bag of food you see a lot of filler ingredients (rice, brown rice, pea starch, tapioca…) it might be that your pet is not really interested.
Most of the time, the problem is behavioural, so being strict and approaching things with common sense will suffice.
As always, please ask us any questions!