Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Why wouldn't a dog eat their food?
By Martin from Houston,TX
Good advice from nonniebeth. You will need to give your Vet some information so he/she knows where to start. Has the dog found food elsewhere? (he isnt hungry) Have you recently changed food? (he doesn't like it) Has something changed in his day that may be causing anxiety? (he is too nervous to eat) Have you seen changes in behavior that might be a clue? (crying, sleeping a lot, limping, vomiting, fever, hiding, unwilling to move around) If it is none of these things it is likely an internal problem that only your vet will be able to diagnose. Be sure and see your vet within 24 hours if he continues to ignore his food. Good luck.
I have a 14 year old lab that's turning 15 this weekend. He is still very active and playful, but is starting to slightly show his age. I started thinking it was strange that I had to tell him to eat several times before he actually did and now it's not working. He just won't eat.
When my brother fed him in the morning (10am) recently my dog didn't finish until 3 in the afternoon. We haven't changed his feeding times, amount or food. Any ideas what it could be? We did make an appointment to see the vet, but it's not for several days and I need him to eat.Older dogs eat less. You may have to change his food to something lighter that he can digest. Your vet will give you recommendations.
My dog wasn't acting normal like not eating or playing so I took him to the vet. The first time they gave him a shot and some antibiotics. A couple of days later I took him back so they gave him another shot and gave him some Centrine. So a couple days later he was still acting the same so I took him to another doctor.
This time he did blood work and everything came back normal. He said there could be a female dog around that's in heat so I let someone dog sit him for 2 days. He is still acting the same. When will I see a difference? What should I do? He is not neutered. I miss my bad dog.Take him back to the vet. He should not charge you since you've been there multiple times.
Both dogs have been on Science Diet dog food all their lives. I took them on their first road trip for a month and they wouldn't eat so I gave them the same food, but in a can. We are home now and it's been almost 2 weeks and they will not eat their dry food.
I'm gone a lot and they both have auto feeders so I need them to eat when I'm gone. They drink a lot of water and eat treats, but not the dog food. Are they just messing with me or what?I don't think your dogs are "messing" with you. Seems clear to me that since they discovered the wet food, they prefer the canned "wet" food over the dry food they had before.
How many treats do you give them? If you're worried they're not eating you may be giving them too many treats and they can resist the dry food.
Stop giving treats altogether. Provide water and the dry food. Don't worry, your dogs can go a few days without eating. They will eventually give in.
They need to eat the food you feel is best for them, not just what they want. You are the human here.
They were a little spoiled during their vacation and liked it. You need to only offer them their dry food and if they don't eat it after 15 minutes, take it away and offer them nothing else (but leave water of course).
I have one year old cross breed terrier, Lucky. She is not eating well, only one or two bites. She is drinking OK. Most of the time she looks active, but some times she is sleeping. She also seems to be licking quite a bit. I don't like seeing her so skinny and bony. Any suggestions? Every day I am crying for her!
Try changing her food to something more interesting. Serve the food warm to bring out the smells. Maybe cook up a lovely meat stew or casserole with a few veges hidden it like carrot & pumpkin . There is a product you can buy which is a vitamin mix that is in a tube.
For about 4 days now she will not eat dry dog food. She will eat table scraps, not soup, but turkey and meat and such. She has a runny nose. Her eyes were runny, but that has all but cleared up now. She was sleeping more, but that seems to be getting better too. She drinks a lot of water. There is no visible discomfort. No whining or crying. Could she have a cold?
By Cara R.
Uncertain what your dog may have, however, drinking more water than usual is one sign of diabetes. Suggest you take to your vet quickly for a medical check to clarify any possible problems.
Yes, your dog can have a cold. Bring your dog to the vet if condition worsens, the dog loses weight, is lethargic, vomiting, or has diarrhea, or if discharge moves to eyes as well as nose.
I have a 2 year old Chihuahua and every couple of months or so he has a day where he just won't eat anything for the whole day and feels very sorry for himself. Usually the next day he will return to eating. Is this normal? I did mention it to my vet when I last took him in for his booster and she quickly dismissed me saying, "My dog does this too". Any suggestions would be appreciated.
By Maisie D
Your dog may be moping because of loneliness and may need another pet to cheer it up. My daughter has a chi and she's very sensitive.
I think another dog is a great idea. My dog does the same thing, but I can't get another dog because I have a cat also, and we are only allowed two pets where I live.
My 8 month old Rottweiler stopped eating his dry dog food about 3 days ago. He used to love his food and eat breakfast, dinner, and supper. He doesn't get any human food! He is still playful, still eats his treats, and is still drinking water. I mixed canned dog food in with it to get him to eat and he picked through it all to eat the canned food.
By heather
It sounds like your dog might have an upset stomach for some reason. I have a Corgi who acts just like that when she has "tummy troubles." It's almost like she's hungry and wants to eat, but knows that eating anything will lead to feeling nauseated and possibly throwing up. When she's like this, one day she'll eat dry food but not wet, and the next it will be the opposite. Or she won't eat the same brand twice in a row. Or she'll only eat the food from our other dog's bowl, lol. She still drinks water, and is very playful, but it does mean that she's not quite well. In her case, it seems to be due to a reaction to several medicines that we (now) know not to give her, but there are lots of other factors that can cause the same issues. I would suggest a trip to the vet to see if there is any underlying problem if the reluctance to eat continues. Good luck with him... he's a handsome boy!
Check his gums to see if there's any reddening or possibly a sign of a bad tooth causing pain when eating dry food. Take pet to a vet to have it checked out for the abnormal behavior sign pointing at a existing problem.
I gave my dog, an Alsatian puppy raw fish two days ago. Then the following day it wouldn't play with anyone or eat.
It only drinks a little. Could it be the fish? Someone help me, I am dying of a guilty conscience already.
We have a 14 year old dog that has always been healthy. He started eating less which we associated with age. The past week plus he stopped eating altogether. After a visit and overnight stay at the vet, all tests came back negative.
He is drinking OK, but we were only able to get a few spoons of food in him. About an hour ago he vomited a dark brown/black substance. We are just not sure if this is his time. We really don't want to put him through many more tests. He came home really depressed.
My 3 month old Pomeranian doesn't eat anymore! He is now suffering from sneezing and coughing. He has to take medicine which is prescribed by the vet.
It is to be taken only after meals and he is not eating. Previously, he loved his food (Royal Canin for Mini Junior). What should I do ?Try syringe feeding mushy food. He's sick and can't smell his food with a stuffed nose. And being sick doesn't give you much of an appetite. Hope he gets well soon.
My dog hasn't touched her food all day, but I gave her a dog treat and she's eating that now. Is there something wrong?
By Taela Kelso
Maybe, maybe not.
Take her to the vet if you see this: Vomiting, diarrhea, strange lethargy, wobbliness, not drinking water, weight loss, not eating for several days, signs of worms, blood in stool.
We just lost our cat a few days ago and now our miniature Schnauzer won't eat dry dog food.
By Patricia I.
Your dog is in mourning. You'll have to give him some time. Take him to the vet if he shows pronounced weight loss. If this continues, consider getting a new cat.
My toy Poodle won't eat for about 24 hours after New Year's Eve. What should I do?
By Val
Did you have guests during the holidays? Is it possible he got ahold of human treats he shouldn't have had?
When to bring him to the vet: If he is vomiting, has diarrhea, blood in stool, or loses weight.
My 1yr old Chiweenie won't eat much since we got a puppy 2wks ago.
By Diana G from Palm Beach Gardens. FL
You just got a "new baby" and your "older child is understandably feeling a bit put out. Make sure you feed them separately at first. Your dog is not used to having competition for food.
You are giving the puppy a lot of attention right now, so it would be nice for you to take the older dog out at times when you don't take the puppy out, like trips to the store.
I have a 5 year old Labrador and a rescue dog believed to be 9 (who we have had for a year now). Two days ago the Labrador was sick three times during the day and night, the day after he wasn't sick and he ate some food in the morning, but in the evening he refused to eat which was very unusual for him. The rescue ate much less then he usually does.
By Rick S.
They may have caught a stomach bug. Chances are it will get better on its own. If it doesn't and dogs are showing these symptoms: Blood in stool or blood in vomit, worms in stool or vomit, weight loss from not eating, or vomiting and diarrhea at the same time, bring them to the vet.
After your dogs are well, wash their bedding and shampoo the carpet so the dogs can't get re-infected.
My 13 year old dog has is not eating his food. Had him checked out at the vet. The blood test showed he has some liver problem, so he was put on a 10 day course of antibiotics. He also put him on vet diet food, which he will not touch unless I feed it to him by hand. What can I do to help him along?
By Ken
You need to call your vet back and tell him your dog will not eat the prescription diet. It happens a lot. Unless the prescription is for a specific condition you may want to go back to the diet he likes to eat. If it were me I would have bloodwork done after the dog finishes the antibiotics to see if they corrected the problem.
My German Shepherd/Boxer mix doesn't eat as much as a normal dog should. We've tried several different dry dog foods. She usually eats about 1-2 bowls a day but it varies what time of day she will eat. For example, she won't eat anything all day until 10 o'clock at night so it worries me. A lot of times she will go up to the food and nose it and then walk away before we make her eat some. She loves dog treat bones and people food so I know nothing is wrong with her teeth.
I have several predictions, but I'm not sure if this is normal or serious enough to see a vet. 1) She doesn't like to eat without someone near by (because she's so nosy about what we're doing), but she has eaten when we're away too. 2) Our schedules aren't exactly regular with school and work. 3) My parents love to spoil their grandpuppy with human food but not enough to keep her from eating a full meal. Or 4) She's just really not hungry.
Please help me know if this is normal or if something may be wrong.
By Autumn H
My guess is that it's the treats and people food. If she expects to get them, she can eat enough of them to keep her going, and not eat her dog food until she absolutely has to.
She's getting more calories than you think, and you admit that your schedule is erratic, so you probably don't know what everyone in the family gives her. Unfortunately these special treats aren't very good for her.
The only way to know for sure is to cut out all treats and human food for a while. You'll have to get everyone on board with this- no cheating. Then see what happens.
Good luck.
My 2 year old German Shepherd female is not eating anything last 3 months.
I'm feeding her forcefully last 3 months. I've given her medicines for deworming, gastric vomit, appetite stimulant, and digestive enzymes, but none of them worked. Please give me a effective remedy.
By Bibhudatta
You need to take your dog to the vet. This may be a serious problem that cant be fixed with home remedies. Dont wait any longer to get her the help she needs.
My 1 year old dog has stopped eating food. Please tell me what to do?
By Neetika
I suggest you contact your dog's best friend a veterinarian.
My dog stop eating yesterday. I don't know why.
By George
Hi George, Sometimes Pets like people don't feel right and lose their appetite. If he or she is drinking water that is a good thing:) If not and after 2 days she should really be seen by a vet, good luck, Jacie
This is a page about dog won't eat after being spayed. Spaying is a major medical procedure. Your dog may not be very interested in food after the surgery.
This is a page about dog will only eat people food. Trying to transition a dog from people food to dog food can be a frustrating process.
