Do appetite stimulants for dogs actually work?
I firmly believe that when the loving attention of a pet parent is coupled with the diligence of a committed veterinarian, the appropriate medication or combination of therapies can bring back enjoyment of food and a healthy appetite. Finding the right approach can sometimes take time and often changes as a disease progresses. But, it can be done!
Warm your dog’s canned food.
When something smells good it’s more tempting to eat. This is true for both humans and dogs. That’s why, if your dog eats wet or canned dog food, try warming it up slightly. How often does the mouth-watering aroma of dinner wafting out of the oven cause a sudden wave of hunger to hit you? The same goes for our pets!
Encourage Feeding by Offering Variety of Food
If the dog is not interested in eating certain types of food, you can try offering more varieties while maintaining the dog’s nutritional requirements.
If you think your dog dislikes certain things about feeding time or having physical difficulties accessing the food bowl, try a different feeding technique. Is it about the food bowl? Then try a different shape, material, size, etc.
Hot food increases the air temperature surrounding the food, and the hot air moves faster than cold air. Hence, the smell or the aroma of food is more noticeable and intensified. This will likely stimulate the dog’s appetite if the dog favors that particular smell.
Assist feeding may be necessary if your dog has a physical disability that prevents it from consuming food. For example, injuries within the oral cavity, dental disease, lethargy, visual impairment are some conditions that may require this.
It is important to note that assisted feeding must get done safely as it can stress and hurt the animal if a wrong technique gets used. Therefore, it is advisable to discuss with your veterinarian first if you are inexperienced.
Assist feeding gets contraindicated if the reason for inappetence has not gotten diagnosed yet. Your dog must be assessed by a veterinary professional first.
Several non-prescription over-the-counter products can stimulate the appetite in dogs. Many are homeopathic with a therapeutic effect on the appetite using natural or synthetic ingredients.
Some products stimulate the appetite and nutrient intake by offering highly palatable energy-rich multivitamin products. In contrast, other products use herbs and essential oils with appetite-increasing properties.