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So, The Dog Is Not Eating?
The dog is not eating... but guess what. Most people do not pay much attention to their dog’s food as long as he eats what you put in his bowl on a daily basis. But, that's not good. There could be problems... If you notice that he is leaving a significant amount of his daily food in his bowl that you may want to pay closer attention so that you can let your vet know exactly what has changed in your dog’s eating patterns. Is that your puppy is not eating because he is sick... or that he is just not hungry? If you have children you will need to watch them at the dinner table or at other times during the day to make sure that they are not slipping your dog extra treats during the day or food from the dinner table. The dog might be getting snacks! All of these things can lead to a diagnosis of your dog is not eating. You should be concerned if your dog is not eating only if it continues for more than a couple of days. 1-2 days isn't a big deal. If you notice a change in your dog’s eating patterns do not change the amount of food you have been giving him, the time that you feed him or what you are feeding him until you have been able to chart exactly what is happening. Regularity is very important. If you see that there is a definite problem with how your dog is eating then you can schedule a visit to the vet to have your pet checked out for a more serious problem. In most cases with your dog is not eating it will be because he has found another source of food and is not hungry at the time you put his food out. Most healthy dogs will eat everything you put in front of them unless they are sick or are already full from something else. Has his outside behavior changed? This can really help you figure things out! For example... Have you allowed your dog to run free and possibly get into some road kill or other animal carcass that they have found? Other issues that may come up are changes in your dog’s elimination patterns. If your dog suddenly has issues with diarrhea or other digestive issues including throwing up then he has probably been eating garbage, cat food or feces or even various kinds of road kill or other animals in the woods. These kinds of dietary changes can cause havoc with a dog’s digestive system if they have been used to a particular diet of premium dry dog food. Not controlling what goes into their system can also lead to a variety of diseases including heartworm disease, infections and other parasites that can cause the death of your pet. It is very important to get to your vet if you suspect that your pet’s change in eating habits is the result of some kind of sickness. RECOMMENDED READING Subscribe to the Pet Comfort Newsletter DISCLAIMER The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.
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