What Does It Mean If My Dog Won’t Eat His Food?
It’s never a good thing if your dog isn’t eating its food. A dog that’s not eating may have an underlying medical condition. It can also cause further complications and health concerns if left untreated.
A dog may also lose their appetite due to behavioral or situational reasons, including changes to its routine or environment. Some dogs will also refuse to eat certain dog food. The food may be expired and stale. They may also prefer other foods after a while, including treats and human food.
Medical Causes for Anorexia in Dogs
Medical causes of anorexia include any condition or illness that causes a dog to not want to eat. They can include hundreds, maybe even thousands, of potential issues. The medical disorders that can cause anorexia include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, kidneys, airway, lung or blood, and anything that can cause pain. Information about some of the most common causes include:
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract include infections of the bacterial, viral, or parasitic variety. Examples of infections are hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and viruses, such as coronavirus or parvovirus. Additional diseases of the GI tract include tumors, such as cancer, ulcerations, inflammatory diseases, food allergies, ingestion of indigestible objects that cause a âforeign bodyâ, ingestion of spoiled food or trash, or even changes in food. Diseases of the mouth, such as bad teeth or ulcerations, can also cause pain and lack of appetite.
- Diseases of the liver include hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, toxic reactions from drug therapies, and congenital problems, such as a Portosystemic Shunt.
- Diseases of the pancreas include inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis, and tumors of the pancreas (pancreatic cancer). When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the organ can release some of the digestive enzymes in to itself, causing further inflammation, pain, nausea, and lack of appetite. Pancreatic cancer also causes lack of appetite, lethargy, weakness, and general vomiting.
As you can see, any disease that impacts the function of an organ can cause dogs not to feel like eating. If your dog is not eating, please see your veterinarian so that they can help identify the underlying cause and recommend the best treatment option to get your dog to start eating again.
Will Dogs Starve Themselves If They Don’t Like Their Food?
No, dogs will not suddenly stop eating and decide to starve themselves if they do not like their food. However, dogs can be picky eaters and rather finicky when it comes to certain foods. They might refuse to eat, but they will never purposely starve themselves. To do so would go against their innate survival instincts.
Your dog might go as long as 24-48 hours without eating. But hunger will eventually set in, and they will start eating food again. But what if your dog still doesn’t eat food after this time? When this happens, it’s not a picky dog going on a hunger strike. It’s most likely a sign of an underlying medical condition, and you should take your dog to the vet immediately.
Training A Dog Who Doesn’t Like Treats
Many dogs go through stages where they ignore their kibble yet still inhale treats and human food. In fact, for some dogs, this is a relatively common occurrence.
This kind of food apathy is frustrating to owners, but you can do a few things to address the issue. We’ll discuss a few reasons why your dog may not want her food and share tips for encouraging her to eat more than treats below.