Whether or not your dog is sick, from time to time he maybe loose appetite, but sometimes the appetite loss may not last long, or is not supposed to last too long.
If your dog has loss of appetite but is eating very little and drinking water might still be endurable for you but should the case be that your dog is not eating at all you will be sick wit work and you may even start to wonder how long can your dog go without food. Usually lack of appetite might not last long, but when it do last for about two or three days the rate at which your dog will loose weight will marvel you.
However you should not let it last long enough for your dog to loose weight after just 24hours and your dog has still not eaten, you should go to get medical care as fast as possible because more than 24hours without food means that something must be terribly wrong with your dog.
But after seeking medical attention and there is no diagnosis for your dog but he is still not eaten but is drinking water there are a few ways to go about it and get your dog eating again.
Check This Out – How To Comfort A Sick Dog
How Long Can A Dog Go Without Eating
After about 24hours of fasting there is no specific number that can be considered safe for any dog going on a fast, regardless of the breed or species your dog is in danger if he is not eating. Although some very healthy and strong dogs can go for about 3 or 4 days without eating provided he is drinking enough water but even with water your dog might start loosing weight.
Sometimes loss of appetite might just be a normal issue but in few cases loss of appetite might be as a result of a serious medical issue that is why it is advice’s to not let the fast exceed 24hours, After 24hours visits the vet for a checkup and possible diagnosis.
Possible reasons why your dog is not eating
When you notice your dog has not been eating his food the first thing that comes to your mind is WHY. Why is he not eating, is he sick, is he tired, you would ask lots of questions.
There are various reasons why your dog is not eating his food, the problem might be they’re bored of their diet, they sick, anxious and so many other simple things while the reason might be more complex than you actually think such as an infection or disease. Below are a list of possible reasons why your dog may not be eating;
Medical problems
If your pet is battling with a medical problem it might be the reason why he is not eating. Some medical problems such as stomach infections, gingivitis, congestion, stomach upset might be the reason for his lack of appetite. In this case it may be a good idea to let his stomach rest for 24hhours after which you must go to the vet for a diagnosis and possible treatment if appetite does not return.
Psychological problems
If your dog is one to suffer from psychological problems, say he was abused at a time and maybe suddenly remembers it, this can cause loss of appetite because he may become depressed or sad or anxious and all these conditions can certainly affect the feeding habits of one and even dogs, and might not want to eat.
If you think depression or anxiety is the problem, try as much as possible to make him feel loved and cared for and special with gifts, treats(he might be tempted to eat) hugs, cuddles, kisses and attention. Otherwise you can decide to visit a pet psychologist or therapist.
Abuse
Maybe you just moved in with someone or it’s the other way round or you have been having friends over and suddenly your dog just stops eating it may be because of fear, he might be going abused and you don’t know it, if they are scared they won’t have an appetite for food.
Possible pregnancy
Most people may totally forget about this possibility when thinking hard why their dog might not be eating. It may be because she is pregnant, just like how some humans do not have appetite or is irritated by some food when pregnant it is just the same for dogs.
Maybe you’ve not been an attentive pet owner and your dog has mated in her heat and is now pregnant and you still have no idea she is pregnant, she may now be irritated by the foods she used to like maybe the smell upsets her stomach. You will now have no other choice than to provide pregnancy care as well as provide her with variety of foods until she finds something that doesn’t upset her anymore and fast so she doesn’t get malnourished.
Your dog is a picky eater
Your dog might be avoiding all his foods because he is a picky eater. In this case except you intend for him to starve to death you will have no other choice than to provide him with variety of foods until you know the one he likes. This may mean being patient and spending a lot on dog foods.
Interesting Read – When Is A Dog Too Old To Breed
What to do if my dog will not eat
Just as there are various reasons your dog might not be eating, there are also various things you can do to get them eating again. If your dog has been with you for long it may even be easier to get to him. Not all the tactics will work on all dogs because just like humans, dog’s vary individually. But you can try the majority and soon your dog will Start eating again;
Staying calm
As much as you want to freak out over the fact your dog is not eating especially when it may be the first time you are experiencing such you should just be calm, it might just be a normal issue of loosing appetite for a while. All you need to do is start giving your dog other food options until you come across the one he will eat.
Panicking might cause your dog to be even more uncomfortable so relax, provided the fasting does not exceed one or two days and your dog is not showing and odd behaviors that indicates something more serious might be the matter. After one or two days of not eating your pet might develop long term problems or loose weight. So if he still does not eat anything by the second day, you should take action.
Finding possible reasons for fast
Since your pet cannot talk and tell you how he feels and what is wrong with him or why he doesn’t want to eat, it is now up to you to determine what the problem is. Monitor your dog if he is walking different of sitting different or any part of his body is bruised or hurting anything which may indicate injury or physical abuse.
You can even check if your dog is pregnant, pregnancy might be a reason for loss of appetite maybe she does not like the smell of the food you are giving. Once you are able to determine what the problem is, the solution will be just around the corner.
Providing variety
Maybe your dog is now picky and you are not serving enticing foods and treats. If this is the problem, you will have to spend a lot of cash picking out a variety of foods and snacks for your dog to choose. Having pets is expensive and you will just have to endure once you’ve gotten your dog’s preference you will have no more problems regarding diet.
Seeking medical attention
If all of the above does not help you will have to consult your veterinarian for any diagnosis or explanation of why else your dog is not eating. And this must be done after 2days of no improvement, attempting to try more methods might cause damage by the 3rd days still without food.
Conclusion
When you notice your dog is not eating it may be caused my a lot of things and it is always advice to go to the doctor for examination and diagnosis. Then if nothing is wrong, you can go ahead with personal tricks and method to help your dog start eating and if after about 24 to 48 hours of trying all possible options and your dog is still not eating you must take him back to the vet for further examination.
In this 48hour fasting period be sure your dog is having enough fluid because it will be bad for your dog to be dehydrated and probably malnourished after more than 48hours of fasting. Do not attempt to guess a medical reason and proceed to administer un-prescribed medications to your dog, the consequences may be dangerous or irreversible.
Leave a Reply