Dog Feeding and Loss of Appetite in Your Dog



Does your dog shuffle up to their food bowl and sniff disapprovingly, yet the minute you sit down to eat they stare at you with big, begging eyes? If so, it’s probably down to one of two things: your dog may have lost their appetite because they’re feeling unwell, or they’re simply a fussy eater.
The first thing you need to do is consult your vet to rule out illness, dental problems or a reaction to a vaccination or allergen. If they get the all clear from the vet, it’s time to address the pickiness – for both of your sakes!
If your dog is consistently disinterested in food, it may be that they simply don’t have as much of an appetite as their four-legged friends - what’s normal for one dog may be too much for another. Once you’ve ruled out illness, and you’ve checked that your dog’s body condition is neither underweight nor overweight, you may need to consider a behavioural reason for their reluctance to eat. You can usually tell if a loss of appetite in dogs is behavioural if they refuse dog food, but miraculously regain their appetite when it comes to human food or tasty treats! If your dog is refusing all food then the most likely cause it that they are unwell.

If your dog is consistently disinterested in food, it may be that they simply don’t have as much of an appetite as their four-legged friends - what’s normal for one dog may be too much for another.
What can I do about my dog’s loss of appetite?

Once your vet has ruled out illness and the consensus is that your dog’s loss of appetite is down to a behavioural issue, you can try several different approaches to get your dog’s taste for appropriate food back.
For example, if you’ve been hand feeding, try stopping for a while. Increase the palatability of dry food by adding a good-quality wet food. Alternatively, you can try soaking their dry food in warm water or warming wet food gently in the microwave to release its delicious aromas. Try changing their bowl too - some dogs are put off by their reflection in stainless steel or glass bowls, so try a ceramic one, and always make sure their bowl is clean.
Another idea is to give them an interactive feeding toy, which releases kibbles when they roll it around. These are good for dogs that are easily distracted by their environment.
Fussy eating and your dog’s loss of appetite can be a challenging behaviour to cure, but be persistent and consistent, and you can stop it becoming a habit. Stop feeding your dog from the table and give them lots of praise for eating their own food away from the table. Finally, limit their treats to training tools only and keep their bodies and minds fit and healthy with lots of exercise, training and playing.

If you’d like more information on your dog's loss of appetite or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM.