Dogs, for the most part, are good eaters. Unlike their picky feline counterparts, canines tend to consume whatever you put in front of them with great enthusiasm.
Sometimes, though, because of poor health, abuse or neglect, or just disinterest, dogs become underweight and/or lose their appetite. With a little extra effort and encouragement on your part, and the restoration of good health, your dog can start eating again and gradually gain a healthy amount of weight.
Things You'll Need
- Appointment with your veterinarian
- Plain cooked rice
- Plain cooked ground beef
- Large bowl with lid for rice and beef storage
- Nutrical
- A different dog food than you've been using
Instructions
Have your dog thoroughly checked by your vet. This is especially important if you've noticed a sudden decrease in your dog's weight and/or appetite, or if you've recently taken in an emaciated stray dog. Your vet will be able to tell if there is any underlying medical cause for this decrease.
Feed your dog a mild blend of food. If your dog has been starved by a previous owner--or no owner--or doesn't feel well due to a medical issue, commercial dog food may be too much for his stomach to handle. To help stimulate his appetite, feed him a blend of 75 percent cooked plain rice and 25 percent cooked plain ground beef. Feed your dog this blend twice a day: 1/4 cup per meal for very small (less than 10 lbs.) dogs to up to 2 cups per meal for very large (over 80 lbs.) dogs. Gradually increase the ground beef and decrease the rice as the dog's appetite increases and the consumed food is digested rather than vomited.
Try an appetite stimulant. Your veterinarian may suggest an appetite stimulator like Nutrical. Most dogs think this brown, calorie- and nutrient-laden gel tastes pretty good.
Offer your dog a different dog food. Just as you would become bored and lose your appetite if you ate exactly the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, so might your dog. Hounds very likely will be happy eating the same thing for years and years, but more independent breeds like border collies and German shepherds may get bored with predictable, never-changing fare. Switching brands of dog food or adding a spoonful or two of canned food will give your dog a break from the dietary same-old, same-old, and make mealtime something she looks forward to again.