PetHealth

Causes for a Dog Who Won’t Eat

 “Why won’t my dog eat?”

“My dog isn’t eating - is he sick?”

“How can I help a dog who’s refusing to eat?”

“My dog just had a surgery and he’s lost his appetite. Is this normal?”

Is your dog refusing to eat? Inappetance is a situation that most pet owners will face at some point in the dog’s life, so it’s important that dog owners understand what causes a dog to stop eating.

Reasons Why a Dog Stops Eating

There are several basic reasons why a dog will stop eating. Some of the most common causes of a dog’s refusal to eat includes:

*  Illness - A dog who is sick will usually stop eating and/or drinking. A sick dog may be suffering from something more minor, like a virus that will pass on its own within 24 hours. Or the dog may be sick with a very serious and potentially life-threatening disease, illness or infection. It’s difficult to know the seriousness of the dog’s illness without a visit to the veterinarian. Blood tests and an examination of the sick dog are usually required to get a diagnosis about what’s causing the dog to stop eating.

Is My Dog Sick? provides dog owners with information on how to look for signs of illness, like checking the dog’s gums for paleness and discoloration.

* Injury or Pain - If your dog has been injured or if your dog is in pain due to a recent surgery, operation or illness, this could cause the dog to stop eating. A dog with dental problems like an abscessed tooth or gum disease may also stop eating due to mouth pain, so the mouth is one of the first areas a dog owner should check if the dog stops eating. Offering a soft, warm dog food can help a dog who is refusing to eat due to tooth decay and other mouth problems. Medicating a dog for pain and employing other pet pain management techniques will also help encourage eating in a dog who’s refusing food.

* Mental Stress or Anxiety - Has there been a recent change in your dog’s life? A new pet in the home? A new family member? A house guest? The death of a pet? Are you working longer hours? Changes in a dog’s life can be upsetting, causing the dog to loose his appetite. Just like humans, dogs experience anxiety, depression and stress and just like a human, a dog may stop eating due to life changes. Treating the dog’s stress and anxiety with behavioral therapy or medication can help a dog’s appetite to return.

How to Help a Dog Who Won’t Eat

In most cases, treating the cause of the dog’s inappetance - illness, pain, anxiety or stress - helps the dog’s appetite to return. In extreme cases, appetite stimulant medications can be prescribed by a veterinarian to help a dog who is not eating due to any of the above mentioned causes. For more information on how to help a dog at home when he’s not eating, check out How Can I Help a Dog Who Won’t Eat?

There are also many things that pet owners can do to help a dog who won’t eat or drink. Check out Is My Dog Dehydrated? and How to Treat Dehydration in Dogs for tips on how to help a dog who’s not drinking.

For additional information and ways to help a dog who’s lost his appetite, check out and Why Isn’t My Dog Eating? and Tips for Helping a Dog Who Won’t Eat.