Animals need to eat to survive. That statement is true no matter if the animal is human or canine. Without food, animals’ bodies begin to consume themselves. Loss of appetite in dogs is often a first clue that something more serious is going on.
Common Reasons Why Your Dog is Not Eating
Food Changes Your dog may not be experiencing a true loss of appetite if you have recently changed foods. It’s not unusual for canines to wait out their human companions to see if something better will be placed in the food bowl. If you hold out, offering your dog nothing but its own food at meal times, it will eventually eat. If your dog does not eat after two days, it may be experiencing a true loss of appetite.
Pancreatitis in Dogs Pancreatitis is a common condition seen in dogs. This inflammation can cause loss of appetite in dogs. Dog loss of appetite, along with other symptoms, may indicate a necessity to test for pancreatitis. If your dog is not eating, contact your veterinarian for an appointment.
Pain in Dogs Dog loss of appetite can be a symptom of pain or discomfort, especially in an aging animal. If your dog is not eating, pay close attention to see if it is exhibiting signs of discomfort. These signs may include an altered gait, panting, a reluctance to participate in family activities, or crying out when touched. If your dog is experiencing one or a combination of these symptoms, visit the veterinarian.
Depression in Dogs While many people will argue that dogs do not have emotions, animal lovers know that this is not true. Dog loss of appetite can be triggered by emotional changes in your animal. Has someone in your family recently moved out? Maybe another animal in the house has passed away. No matter the cause, if your dog is not eating, depression may be the cause.
Toxicity Most of us dog-proof our homes to the best of our ability, but we all know that dogs can be sneaky, smart creatures. If you have pest control products, herbicides, cleaning products or medications in the home, toxicity is a possibility: toxic foods for dogs.
Keep in mind that your dog does not have to directly eat mouse or rat poison to be poisoned; consuming a rodent that has ingested the poison is enough. If you believe that your dog may have ingested a harmful substance, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Aging Dogs Anorexia, or loss of appetite, in dogs can be related to aging changes. If your dog is getting older, changes in appetite are normal. Your veterinarian can give you nutritional advice for your senior dog.
There are many causes of dog loss of appetite. If your dog is not eating, a trip to the veterinarian is in order. A healthy animal can survive for several days without food, but an animal that is sick needs to eat. If your dog seems to have lost its zest for meal time, call your veterinarian and make an appointment. Loss of appetite in dogs is not uncommon; your veterinarian will be able to assist you and your dog.