Why Won’t My Dog Eat? 4 Helpful Tips for Owners

Oh, no! Why won’t my dog eat his kibbles?

As dog owners, there are many things you’re responsible of no matter which breed you own, such as getting him spayed. However, if you find your dog isn’t eating his food all of a sudden, but will gladly take treats or table scraps, something might be wrong.

Most dogs will eat everything in sight. If your pup is generally a healthy dog who gobbles up his kibbles, but has suddenly lost his appetite, he could be experiencing some sort of illness. To find out exactly what that sickness may be, you will have to talk to your regular vet and have your dog examined. Of course, going to the vet would be the safest and best way to treat your dog.

However, you can begin to understand what you may be dealing with if you notice any of the following signs:

• Sometimes, your pet might vomit, but this is not an indicator that something is seriously wrong. Dogs are notorious for eating too much too fast which is the common cause of vomiting. It may also be that he got a hold of something he wasn’t supposed to, like a plant or a bug. However if he is vomiting particularly frequent, you should take take him in to get checked out  especially if he refuses to eat his regular food afterward.
• One of the most telling signs of your dog’s health is their poop. Healthy poop is supposed to be solid, but not too hard. Diarrhea should not be a normal occurrence. If it has become more frequent, your poor little doggo could be feeling under the weather. So, please take note!
• No one wants to be super active when they don’t feel too well. Dogs are the same way! If your dog  is less active than normal and he also won’t eat, take him to get treated at the local vet.

There are many reasons why your dog is suddenly not eating as much, such as these reasons here. but to help dogs with underlying disorders get back to eating, in addition to visiting your vet, here are some basic steps you can take:

1. Feed your dog in a comfortable environment away from other pets, unfamiliar people, and distractions.
2. Don’t leave food out all the time. If your dog is sick, this predisposes him to food aversion. Try   feeding a few times a day, and only leave the food out for 30 minutes.
3. Have the dog’s preferred caretaker offer the food, as long as they aren’t too stressed themselves by the whole situation.
4. If you think your dog might have a food aversion, try switching the flavor of food. Keep other flavors on hand, though, so that you have options if your dog refuses the new flavor or develops an aversion to that.