Is Your Dog Not Eating? 10 Signs It’s a Bigger Problem

Your dog’s reduced appetite could be pointing toward more serious issues

Whether you’ve just adopted a new puppy, or you’ve had your furry tail-wagging friend for years, it can be very upsetting when your four-legged family member stops eating, especially if she usually has a healthy appetite! If your doggo or puppy just isn’t chowing down like she used to, it could be due to a variety of factors, ranging from health conditions to behavioral issues. While most healthy dogs can go a day or two without food, it’s important to monitor your dog’s health and behavior to see if there’s an underlying issue why he won’t eat. If your dog goes more than 48 hours without any food, it’s important to take them to see a vet immediately. 

Reasons why your dog might not be eating

1. Your doggo could be sick or have serious health issues.
2. Recent vaccinations may be to blame for your dog’s reduced appetite.
3. Travel and new surroundings can make your pup turn her snout up at the food bowl.
4. Her mouth could be hurting.
5. Your dog might have eaten something dangerous.
6. Your pup could be suffering from an injury. 
7. Aging could be responsible for the change in your dog’s eating habits. 
8. Your pup could be stressed out or depressed.
9. You might be feeding your dog too many treats.
10. Your dog simply doesn’t like the food you’re providing her with.

1. Your doggo could be sick or have serious health issues. A lack of appetite could indicate cancer, infections, liver problems or kidney failure, so talk to your vet if you think your dog might be sick. 

2. Recent vaccinations may be to blame for your dog’s reduced appetite. Vaccinations are vital to keeping your dog healthy, but they may cause your dog to temporarily lose her appetite.

3. Travel and new surroundings can make your pup turn her snout up at the food bowl. Did you take your dog somewhere new? If your pup was eating just fine until you went on a trip, her loss in appetite could be due to the stress of traveling and new surroundings. Some dogs may also get motion sickness in cars. 

4. Her mouth could be hurting. Check your dog’s mouth – something might be causing her pain. As your vet to check your pup for broken or loose teeth, gingivitis or an oral tumor. 

5. Your dog might have eaten something dangerous. Your dog may have eaten something that upset her tummy, such as bugs and insects or toxic human food. 

6. Your pup could be suffering from an injury. Pain medication and pain from injury can cause your pup to lose interest in her food bowl.
7. Aging could be responsible for the change in your dog’s eating habits. As dogs get older, their appetite may decrease. Physical changes and diseases associated with aging can cause a decrease in appetite. Older dogs may stop eating as much simply because they’re not moving around as much as they did when they were a puppy.

8. Your pup could be stressed out or depressed. If your puppy suffers from stress or anxiety, mental health issues may be to blame for food left in the bowl. If your dog is in new surroundings or around other animals, she might not want to touch her food. 

9. You might be feeding your dog too many treats. Dogs love their treats, but they can also have too much of a good thing! Too many treats can mean your dog isn’t hungry at dinner time. No matter how good of a dog she is, make sure to monitor your pup’s treat intake.

10. Your dog simply doesn’t like the food you’re providing her with. Some dogs are just picky and won’t eat their food because they simply don’t like it. Try switching to a new food, such as Wellness CORE RawRev, which can get picky dogs excited for mealtime.

Since loss of appetite in pups can indicate serious illness or injury, make sure you consult your vet regarding your dog’s health and well-being if she stops eating. 

Keeping your dog happy and healthy is important to you, and we understand you only want to give your pet the very best. Keep your pets looking and feeling their best when you treat them to Wellness Pet Food. When you give your pups Wellness Pet Food, you can be sure that their health and happiness are taken care of, since our food and treats are made with natural ingredients and crafted with your pet’s wellbeing at heart.