Dog Not Eating Food Right Now?

If your dogs not eating, read this article. I discuss possible causes, the potential dangers and some home remedies regarding situations of a dog not eating.

A pup that suddenly loses his appetite may simply be suffering from teething, as is usually the case. Teething is the stage of the puppy's development when a new set of teeth grows to replace the old set. As you can imagine, this can be quite a painful experience for the hapless pup, and it would be enough to make his lose his appetite.

So, if your pup is between the ages of 4 months to 8 months is he belongs to particular toy breeds, or 6 months to 10 months if he belongs to bigger breeds, and he suddenly loses his desire to eat, check his teeth. Statistics favor the possibility that, indeed, he's just enduring the teething phase. After teething, his appetite is sure to return.

If the case involves an older dog not eating, on the other hand, then the following should be determined:

1. How long as the dog refused to eat?

2. Is his loss of appetite accompanied by vomiting?

3. Is his loss of appetite accompanied by diarrhea or constipation?

4. Is his loss of appetite accompanied by stool with traces of blood?

5. Is his loss of appetite accompanied by stool with remnants of worms that may indicate worm infestation?

6. Has the dog become lethargic as well?

These are the questions that the vet is likely to ask.

Loss of appetite, you see, can be something as simple as the dog losing interest on the type of food being fed to him, or something as moderately grave as having eaten spoiled food or something totally inedible, or something absolutely dire like contraction of particular dog diseases -- like digestive problems, intestinal problems, or bacterial infection - that are sure to endanger dog health.

If your dog's loss of appetite is accompanied by any of the symptoms enumerated above, then such would indicate a matter that may require immediate medical attention. A trip to the vetís clinic should be scheduled at the soonest possible time.

For cases which aren't as grave as the possibilities above, the following home remedies can be observed whenever we encounter a dog not eating:

- Change his food. This is not really advisable, however, it is better than watch the dog starve and develop other kinds of dog illnesses. The new smell and taste of new food can entice him to try out the same.

- Sprinkle garlic powder over his food. Dogs love the smell of garlic. Most experts agree that, often, the smell garlic is enough to entice the dog to eat. Additionally, some types of parasites, such as the common tapeworm, abhor garlic. When the dog eats garlic-laden food, the tapeworms inside his system will refuse to eat such and they will starve to death, ridding our dog's system of these unwanted residents.

- Warming up his food may help. Applying heat on his dish will unleash the delicious smell. Dogs are more enticed by smell than by taste, and warm food may be more engaging for our canine companions.

Just to reiterate for emphasis, the safest approach is a trip to the vet. It's the only way you can be certain about what really ails your dog, and the vet is the only person who can conclusively prescribe the best kind of treatment for your pet.

RELATED READING

Dog Not eating Food? -- "A dog not eating food can be a minor issue or a serious problem. This article explores dog behavior problems, dogs eating too much, and dogs not eating."

Dog Food Nutrition -- "This article is about dog food nutrition and dog food labels."

Why Dogs Eat Poop -- "In this article you’ll find out why dogs eat poop. This behavior, known medically as coprophagia, can be frustrating. If you understand it, you’ll have a better chance of fixing the problem. Twenty reasons why dogs eat poop are provided to you."