Whether you’ve petted dogs in the past or are a first-time pet owner, you’re bound to get worried if your dog isn’t eating as well as he should be. There are several reasons for dogs to lose their appetite, some of which can be extremely distressing to you as well as your pet.

While it is always best to consult an experienced vet to figure out if your dog’s health needs medical attention, there are several things that you can do to help him.  

Did you know that a dog not eating is a condition known as inappetence or anorexia? This anorexia, however, is different from anorexia nervosa - the eating disorder that affects human beings. In dogs, anorexia implies a complete loss of appetite.  

There is a difference between a dog that is picky about what he eats and one that is experiencing anorexia.

You should be able to tell the difference between the two by asking yourself the following few questions:

• Does your dog have a habit of skipping meals or is he usually non-fussy about eating whatever you feed him? If he is a good eater but has shown sudden changes in his eating pattern or if there has been a decrease in his appetite, it’s probably time to take him to the vet.

• Is the lack of appetite accompanied with fever, lethargy, breathlessness, soreness, diarrhea, nausea, or any other symptom that is out of the ordinary?  If yes, it is suggested that you take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

• Have you made any changes to your dog’s diet which may be a contributing factor to the difference in his appetite? Or have you been adding supplements to his food which may have altered its taste? Maybe he’s eating it less because he simply doesn’t like it. If you’ve made changes, try switching back to his old food/diet and see if his appetite returns. If you must change his food, try getting your hands on freebies of various dog foods before settling on one that suits him.

• Has there been a major change in the way your dog lives? Have you changed homes? Has there been a death in the family? These unexpected changes can also result in inappetence in your dog.  

• Has your dog been eating between meals? If you find that your dog has been refusing his meals but is still gaining weight, it could be because he has been receiving dog treats/snacks before his meal time. Check with your family members regarding this.  Also, look for signs of weight loss in your dog. If he’s not eating and losing weight, it could mean inappetence.

• Does your dog have broken teeth or painful/infected gums, which may be making him reluctant to eat?

Other Reasons Your Dog May Not Be Eating

• Senior Dogs

It is possible for dogs to begin losing their appetite gradually due to age-related health issues. Many a time, however, pet owners assume that their dog has stopped eating because of aging, when in reality his problem can be easily cured.

For example, a senior dog may be experiencing painful gums, which may be making it hard for him to eat his food. He may have a normal appetite and he may be hungry, but his dental condition may be preventing him from eating.    

If this behavior persists for more than a couple of days, it is best to take him to a vet who can diagnose the problem at the earliest and fix it, following which your aging dog should start eating normally.

• Behavioral Problems

This may sound strange, but dogs experience behavioral problems too, and this could be a reason behind him not eating. However, not all dogs that don’t eat have behavioral problems. Such issues can be triggered by other external factors such as the addition of another pet in the family.

By not eating normally, your dog could be reacting to this new pet. For example, he may not be eating as the new pet may be stealing his food, or showing aggression towards him while he eats. Sometimes dogs don’t eat if they are slow-eaters, while the new pet eats quickly.

They will, however, start eating normally again when they are served their food in a separate bowl and left alone to eat in peace.  

• Gastrointestinal Upset

Dogs will consume anything that appeals to them. This may include leftovers from the table, scraps from the floor and even things from the trash can.

When you take your dog for a walk in the park or on the street, he may end up eating something that he shouldn’t. If your dog loses his appetite, it may indicate he is suffering from a mild gastrointestinal trouble.

Look for signs of diarrhea or check if he has vomited somewhere. Your dog’s natural biological defense system will attempt to get rid of anything that may have distressed his digestive system. This could also mean a loss of appetite.    

As long as there is no trace of blood in his stool or vomit, it is better to let your dog expel the troublemaking matter from his system, provided he doesn't get dehydrated. However, if the vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, take him to the vet.

• Breeding Time

Appetite loss can often occur in a male dog if there is a female dog in heat around him. He can become so obsessed with the scent of the female that he will stop his normal activities like playing, eating and sleeping.

Weight loss can be quite stark during this period and become a major cause for concern for the pet owner. Generally, things get back to normal once the female completes her heat cycle, but if your dog has experienced tremendous weight loss, it may help to tempt him with his favorite treats to get him back to his normal weight.

Conclusion

As a concerned pet owner, it is very important that you understand your pet and what he’s going through. All his actions are indicative of something, and you need to take the time to analyze, understand and address his needs. I hope the above tips will be helpful in enabling you to understand your pet pooch better.