My Dog Is Not Eating
Distinguishing a fussy dog from a sick one, how long is safe to wait, and the signs that mean the loss of appetite is not about the food.
Is this an emergency?
If loss of appetite comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or a tense abdomen, come in the same day. In puppies, do not leave it more than a few hours.
A dog refusing food is one of the most common reasons owners call us, and one of the least specific. Almost any illness reduces appetite. The useful work is separating a dog that is being fussy from a dog that is unwell.
Is the dog otherwise normal
Ask three questions.
Is it drinking? A dog that is off food but drinking normally is in a better position than one that is refusing both.
Is it behaving normally? Greeting you, wanting a walk, playing, sleeping in its usual places.
Is anything else different? Vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, limping, drooling, a change in breathing.
A dog that is bright, active, drinking and simply not interested in its bowl can reasonably be watched for a day. A dog that is quiet, hiding or reluctant to move cannot.
The fussy dog
Some dogs genuinely become selective, and it is usually created at home. If a dog learns that refusing its food produces chicken, it will keep refusing.
If your dog is well but picky:
- Put the food down for fifteen minutes, then take it away and offer nothing until the next meal
- Stop the table scraps and cut the treats right back, since they are often a large part of the daily calories
- Feed at set times rather than leaving food out
- Check the food is fresh and the bowl is clean
- Give it a few days of consistency
Reasons a dog stops eating
Mouth pain, particularly dental disease and a fractured tooth. Nausea from any cause. Gastrointestinal disease. Kidney or liver disease. Pain anywhere, including arthritis and back pain. Fever and infection. A foreign body. Poisoning. Stress and change in the household. And in older dogs, tumours.
Medication is a frequently missed cause: several common drugs reduce appetite, and some cause nausea if given on an empty stomach.
How long is safe
An adult dog in good condition can miss a day without harm. Beyond 24 to 48 hours, it needs looking at.
Puppies, small breeds and diabetic dogs have far less reserve. A puppy that is not eating can become hypoglycaemic within hours, and needs seeing the same day.
What we do
Examine, starting with the mouth, since dental pain is such a common answer. Then, depending on the findings, blood count and biochemistry, faecal testing, and imaging where an obstruction or a mass needs excluding.
Bring a list of what your dog eats, including treats and anything given by other members of the household, and any medication it is on.