The dog has a poor appetite: why and what to do?

Caring owners of four-legged pets with great trepidation relate to their pets, so they worry about the slightest changes in condition. Dogs can refuse to eat for various reasons, ranging from low physical activity to heat and simply reluctance to eat. Today we will consider everything about this in order to save you from anxiety.

The reasons why the dog does not eat

If you notice that the four-legged pet eats badly, there are some explanations for this. Try to find out and exclude the reasons, only then try to feed the dog (if circumstances so require). Problems, as you know, can be serious or harmless, the latter are eliminated by themselves.

1. Optionally, the dog loses the craving for food due to illness. With excessive heat and humidity, not only in humans, but also in animals, appetite is lost. This applies to pets with long hair who live in apartment conditions and are constantly at temperatures above 25 degrees.
2. If the pet has estrus, it may lose its craving for food due to sexual hunting. When this period ends, the bitch gradually returns to a normal diet, begins to eat and drink water.
3. In cases when an animal is being treated with a vitamin-mineral complex, all substances valuable to the body are supplied in the proper amount. Therefore, food is simply not necessary.
4. Some breeds, by their characteristics, eat little and rarely. This includes major representatives, these are their features. Also, the dog does not eat well due to the large portion sizes.
5. If we talk about young animals, during the change of teeth or their prolonged growth, the dog may lose its appetite. Since the whole process of chewing is painful, the pet tries not to injure itself once again. Check if your dog has toothache.
6. It is worth paying attention to the physical activity of a fourth friend. If you hardly walk the dog once a day, as a result of which she sits at home all day, of course, the animal will not want to eat. The dog simply does not lose energy, so there is no need for replenishment.
7. All experienced dog breeders know that dogs tend to experience strong emotions. If the dog is stressed, then she will not be able to eat or sleep. Everything is the same as with a person. It is important to find out the cause of stress and eliminate it as soon as possible.
8. Dogs that are very fastidious in food refuse the usual food, because they are tired of it. This usually applies to animals that have been transferred from one type of feed to another. If your dog is tired of the diet, change it, introduce something new and tasty.
9. There are many other factors that affect the diet of a pet. In particular, he may refuse to eat because of a recent vaccination or deworming (prevention of worms). The same list includes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, constipation), medication, etc.

When to worry

If you touched the pet’s nose and revealed dryness, noted apathy and lethargy in the pet’s state, the dog refuses to eat for more than 2-3 days, then it's time to get worried. Stick to the following algorithm.

1. First of all, see how fresh the food is. If it is spoiled, it smells bad, throw it away.
2. Watch the dog. If she not only fell craving for food, but also appeared severe lethargy and drowsiness, the animal can be hurt. Dry nose is also referred to this symptomatology.
3. Open the mouth of the dog, see if there are any inflammatory processes.Assess the condition of the teeth and gums, if the latter are red, go to the veterinarian, the dog is hurt.
4. In the process of chewing food, ears are also involved, so check your hearing.
5. If your dog has a dry nose and is lethargic and refuses to eat, measure the temperature of the pet. The temperature in dogs is considered normal within 38–39 degrees. Performance may increase in summer.
6. Check your pet’s stomach. Place the dog on its back, touch the abdominal area. If it is round, solid, then touching a dog will be unpleasant. Go to the vet right away.
7. If you do not find signs of illness, but the dog refuses food for a long time, it must be urgently sent to the clinic for examination. In this case, do not forget to explain to the doctor what is what (symptoms, duration, etc.).
8. In situations where the refusal of the meal is accompanied by vomiting cramps, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, fever, do not self-medicate. Take the dog to the clinic.

Clinic examination

1. During a visit to the clinic, you and the veterinarian should find out the reason for the lack of appetite in the animal. Tell the specialist what the dog was previously eating. Remember if you gave the pet something unusual. Perhaps on the eve you did the prevention of worms. Drugs can affect appetite.
2. The veterinarian should receive the most detailed information from the owner of the animal. Thus, it will be possible to exclude the visible causes of the problem in question. After they are excluded, the veterinarian examines the dog for any pathologies.
3. To establish an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will take blood and urine for analysis. The specialist will conduct research on hormones. An X-ray will also be performed. A picture will help rule out the presence of tumors. Also required tests for the presence of parasites and ultrasound.
4. After all the procedures performed, the veterinarian will make certain conclusions. If necessary, treatment for the pet will be prescribed. Sometimes the doctor prescribe special drugs or products that can significantly improve the animal's appetite.

Why a healthy dog ​​does not eat

It is not uncommon for a specialist to reveal anything bad after an examination. It turns out that a healthy dog ​​simply refuses to eat. To raise the pet's appetite, you must follow some rules.

1. It is forbidden to pamper the animal with various delicacies and snacks throughout the day. It is strictly forbidden to give the dog human food from the table. It's no secret that a pet will prefer a piece of sausage instead of a balanced feed.
2. If the dog does not eat the required portion, there is nothing to worry about. Remove leftover food. In the future, portions are recommended to be made smaller. Focus on the needs of the animal. Do not give your dog large meals.
3. Try to spend most of the time with your pet outside. Play more often. The animal must spend a large amount of energy to wake up a normal appetite. In addition, the pet can be given special means to increase appetite.

In order for the dog to always have a good appetite, it must be fed daily and at the same time. Provide the animal with a balanced diet. Give preference to premium feed. Walk and play with animals more. Against the background of low activity, the pet may not need food intake, hence the unfinished food or a completely untouched bowl.

Video: what to do if the dog doesn’t eat and why?