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What About a Dog Not Eating or Drinking?
So, the dog not eating or drinking? Let's think about this if we were talking about kids in your family... When your child is not eating or drinking your first thought is to go to the doctor and have them checked out. Usually you will get an answer from the doctor that says it is normal for a child to go through a period of time where they eat or drink less than you think they should. The doctor will tell you that as long as they are going to the bathroom on a regular basis they will eat and drink when they are hungry and thirsty. The same is true to some extent if your dog is not eating or drinking. In the case of a dog not eating or drinking it is more important to verify what the reason is fairly quickly. Some of the questions you need to ask right away are: 1. How long has it been since they stopped eating or drinking? 2. Are there other health issues along with the lowered appetite (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.)? 3. How old is the dog (older dogs eat less in quantity and frequency)? 4. What is the breed and what you are currently feeding the dog and has that been changed? The breed matters in that pugs are susceptible to a condition known as reverse sneezing. While reverse sneezing is not life threatening it does cause irritation in the pug’s throat that will lead to making eating uncomfortable if the food offered is dry. Switching to a canned food can alleviate the problem for pugs. Changes in a dog’s life can lead to eating problems. An additional pet, the arrival of a baby or even a change in home can lead to a dog not eating or drinking. Some serious health problems that can lead to a dog not eating or drinking include bowel obstructions, cancer, hormonal disorders, heartworm disease, pancreatitis, tooth decay, canine diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease. If your dog persists in not eating or drinking please seek the advice of your vet within a couple of days. Waiting too long can lead to more serious health problems that can lead to expensive vet bills or even to the need to have your pet put to sleep. Whatever you do make sure that once he is over the eating issues that you are offering him a healthy diet of food especially formulated for his breed and age and do not offer human food as that can set off any number of digestive problems going forward. RECOMMENDED READING Subscribe to the Pet Comfort Newsletter DISCLAIMER The dog health 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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