What To Do When Your Healthy Dog Is Not Eating?

Pet parents often switch their furballs’ diets, hoping they would like it and be excited about it. It often happens when dog owners switch to raw food diet plans. Raw food is supposed to be biologically appropriate for dogs.

But, many owners are surprised that their babies do not share their excitement. Some dogs seem hesitant, and there is plenty of licking and sniffing. There is a slow build to develop an affinity to the new dietary regime. There could be a few days when your dog decides not to eat.

They may prefer spending time in their bed. But, you have to check if everything else is normal or not. Is your dog listless? Is your pet vomiting? Is their stool okay? These are crucial factors that you need to check.

If you see any change in their appearance or behavior, kindly contact the doctor. There is no need for you to worry as there are several reasons why even a healthy dog would not want to eat.

Why Is My Dog Not Eating?

All the dogs have unique ways of reacting to food; getting to know this part of their personalities is fun. There are several reasons why your dog would not want to eat. These reasons are enumerated below:

• they are not hungry
• they want to go to the potty before they eat
• you are feeding them more than they can eat
• they are tired
• they may not be interested in the protein – some dogs are known to pass the chicken
• there is not enough space between their dish and that of another dog
• the food is not the same as the one they are used to – it could be different in terms of texture and smell
• they want you to feed them
• the meal may be missing something that they like
• their gut is not doing well
• perhaps some ingredient has not been mixed proportionately in the food
• they could be in pain

People adopt a couple of dogs and resort to tactics such as feeding them by hand to deal with issues such as littermate syndrome. It gives rise to some unsavory habits and expectations later on. So, you may have to indulge them from time to time.

How to get your healthy dog to eat 

One of the best things you can do for your dog is to feed them raw food. It is significantly helpful for your pet. If your dog is healthy, it would be rare for you to have days when they do not feel like eating because they are not hungry.

It may not even happen more than once a year. So, on a few occasions, you should try tempting them with food. If they are still not eating, you need to find out if they are healthy or not.

You might also want to find out if they need a break or not from the routine they are used to. If you can determine that the lack of appetite is a sign of health issues, you need to take notes that you would be sharing with the doctor. However, if you see that they have chosen too fast, there is nothing that you need to do.

Tempting your dog to eat

One of the best ways to tempt your dog to eat would be to pour warm and tasty broth over their meal. A good option, in this case, would be bone broth.

Keep it handy should the need to use the same arise. Even if they are not interested, you would have to see if they are trying to eat or not.

The most obvious signs, in this case, are trying at first, followed by licking the lips. It could be because they are either disinterested or nauseated.

What to do when they have selected too fast

This is especially applicable when you have changed your diet. If you have had them for years, you must learn to pay attention to them and trust their instincts. So, if you see them fasting on their own accord or skipping protein, you should know that this is something they need to do.

You should still take notes if you see something unusual. Share these with your vet, provided you have to go that way. It would help you understand your dogs and their health a lot better.

Here are some more reasons why your dog might decide to fast 

Upset tummies and health issues are not the only reasons your baby does not want to eat. There are several other reasons you need to be aware of. Those reasons are stated below:

• their routine may have changed
• they have been vaccinated
• you have increased the number of dogs in the family
• issues with the quality of the food
• they may be suffering from dental issues
• you have rewarded their pickiness earlier
• they are traveling

When should you consult your vet?

Talk to the vet when your dog shows illness and refuses to eat. You need to check if they stay that way for more than 48 hours and if none of your tricks to get them eating are working. It is helpful to have a journal where you can monitor the monthly weight changes of your baby.

Keep notes on the bumps and lumps that appear in their bodies. You should have any information that can prove to be helpful for the vets.