Loss of Appetite in Dogs

If your dog is turning up his nose to his food bowl, there may be nothing seriously wrong. He may be stressed, not like a new brand of food or have a stomach upset. However, if he continues to not eat, you should take action. Anorexia is the term used when an animal does not want to eat or cannot eat. Pet guardians often describe their dog's symptoms as a loss of appetite or not eating. Many times, not eating is the first sign of illness in pets. If your dog has not been eating for more than 24 hours (12 hours if he is a puppy younger than six months), schedule a veterinary appointment for your dog immediately.

  1. Physical Causes

    • There are many different types of illnesses that can cause a dog to stop eating. These might be digestive system problems, including the esophagus, stomach, intestine, liver and pancreas. Dental problems are often also a cause. Issues in the kidneys, blood, eyes, mouth, nose, throat, skin, brain and other organs can cause a dog to stop eating, as well as pain of any sort. If your pet is not eating because of a physical illness, many times other symptoms will be present. These include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and weight loss.

    Psychological Causes

    • Some animals will refuse to eat because of stress or other issues. This might include just disliking the taste of a new food. Or it could be because of a new home, new animal in the home or a new person in the family. Sometimes dogs will also refuse to eat when a companion pet dies or a family member moves away.

    Diagnosis

    • When you take your dog to the veterinarian because she is not eating, the doctor will begin by doing a physical examination. The veterinarian will pay specific attention to her gums and feel her stomach. The doctor may also order blood tests and a urinalysis and do a fecal examination to determine whether she has parasites that may be making her ill.

    Treatment

    • Treatment will depend upon what is causing the dog to not eat. However, the veterinarian will also provide treatments to help the dog until she regains her appetite. These might include IV fluids, hand feeding her or giving her medication to stimulate her appetite.

    Feeding

    • There are several ways you can encourage your dog to eat. Home-cooked meals often stimulate the pet's appetite. Feeding the pet by hand can help, and warming the food will often entice a dog to take a bite or two.