A dog not eating or eating less than usual might not always signal a serious problem, but as a concerned pet parent, it’s wise to rule out any underlying health issues. A dog’s appetite is a complex system regulated by the brain, the digestive system’s fullness, and specific hormones. When your dog loses their appetite, it can stem from medical conditions, behavioral issues, environmental shifts, or even problems with their food. Anorexia refers to a complete lack of appetite, while hyporexia means a decreased appetite. If your dog is physically unable to eat despite wanting to, it’s termed pseudoanorexia. Veterinarians need to distinguish between these causes to provide the right care. While most adult dogs can survive for three to five days without eating as long as they are drinking water, it’s crucial not to ignore prolonged food refusal. If your adult dog hasn’t eaten in two days, even if they seem otherwise normal, contact your veterinarian.
For owners of diabetic dogs, immediate veterinary attention is necessary if any meals are skipped, as this can significantly impact their response to insulin and lead to serious complications.
Understanding the Reasons Behind Your Dog’s Lack of Appetite
Several factors can contribute to a dog’s decreased food intake:
Medical Conditions
Various health problems can lead to anorexia or hyporexia in dogs. These can range from dental issues causing pain when chewing to more systemic diseases affecting their overall well-being. If your dog is experiencing unexplained appetite loss, a veterinary examination is essential to diagnose and treat any potential medical causes.
Behavioral Causes
Just like humans, dogs can experience emotional and psychological distress that impacts their appetite. Stress, fear, and anxiety, including separation anxiety and phobias, can all lead to a dog refusing to eat. Senior dogs might also experience cognitive decline, which can affect their eating habits. If behavioral concerns are significantly impacting your dog’s eating, consult your veterinarian. Medications such as fluoxetine or trazodone might be prescribed to help manage these conditions. Supporting your pet through these times with a calm and consistent environment is also beneficial.
Environmental Changes
Significant changes in a dog’s environment can cause stress and anxiety, directly affecting their appetite. This includes events like moving to a new home, the introduction of a new pet or baby, houseguests, home renovations, rearranging furniture, or even simply moving their food and water bowls. These disruptions can make a dog feel unsettled, leading to a reduced desire to eat.
Age-Related Changes
As dogs age, their calorie requirements naturally decrease, which can sometimes result in a slight reduction in appetite. However, age alone should not cause a dog to become anorexic. Any substantial change in a senior dog’s eating habits warrants a call to your veterinarian. Adjusting feeding times or offering specially formulated senior dog food can help support their changing nutritional needs.
Issues with the Dog’s Food
If your dog suddenly loses interest in their regular food, several factors related to the food itself could be the cause. Check if the food has become moldy or expired, if it’s a wet food that has spoiled, or if you accidentally purchased the wrong flavor. When changing a dog’s diet, it’s crucial to do so gradually over several days to weeks to prevent digestive upset, which can also lead to a decreased appetite. Additionally, ensure no one else in the household is feeding your dog extra treats or human food, as this can lead them to hold out for more desirable options or feel full before mealtime. Remember, dog treats should constitute no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake.
Strategies to Encourage Your Dog to Eat
If your dog is reluctant to eat, several strategies can help entice them:
- Warm the food: Slightly warming wet or dry food can enhance its aroma and palatability.
- Offer a different flavor: Sometimes, a change in taste can pique their interest.
- Add a food topper: Specially designed food toppers can make their meals more appealing.
- Offer plain, cooked rice and chicken: Boiled rice and chicken (without spices or seasonings) can be a gentle and appealing option for a short term.
- Use treats strategically: While not a primary food source, treats can sometimes coax a reluctant dog to eat their meal.
For dogs with chronic conditions like diabetes, food allergies, or kidney disease, always consult your veterinarian before making any significant changes to their diet. Addressing any stressors in your dog’s environment is also crucial.
Your veterinarian may also prescribe medications to stimulate appetite, such as mirtazapine or Entyce™ (capromorelin). Medications like Cerenia® (maropitant) or onansetron can also help manage nausea, which often contributes to a poor appetite.
If you notice a decreased appetite but your dog appears otherwise healthy, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. However, if these symptoms are accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, a tense or distended abdomen, or yelping when their abdomen is touched, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
When to Seek Veterinary Care
Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s lack of interest in food persists for more than a couple of days. This is especially critical for puppies and dogs with pre-existing chronic medical conditions like diabetes, as they cannot safely go without food for extended periods.
If your dog is refusing food but drinking excessive amounts of water, this could be a sign of a serious condition such as diabetic ketoacidosis and warrants immediate veterinary attention or emergency care.
Puppies have higher metabolic rates and smaller reserves than adult dogs, making them more vulnerable to the effects of not eating. If your puppy is skipping meals, contact your veterinarian promptly. If these symptoms are combined with vomiting and/or diarrhea, parvovirus is a primary concern in puppies and requires emergency treatment.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Food?
Prolonged fasting can negatively impact all of a dog’s body systems. Going without food for more than three days can cause significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract and vital organs. It is strongly recommended that your dog receive veterinary evaluation much sooner than this to prevent potentially irreversible harm and even death.
Written by Rhiannon Koehler, DVM
