Every day you put a tasty bowl of food in front of your faithful four-legged friend. And every day the dog eats the food greedily. But then comes a day when your dog doesn’t want to eat. What could be wrong? The phenomenon itself gives you important information about the seriousness of the situation. You look at the change compared to your dog’s normal behavior. Has your dog always been a big eater or does he often look very picky in his bowl? Both versions give you information about what could be wrong. Maybe your dog hasn’t been so enthusiastic about his (new) diet for a while. Or did he secretly take an irresponsible bite during a walk? Sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause of a change in behavior. When is it time to visit the vet? And what can you do yourself? You are worried when your dog no longer wants to eat. According to the vet, however, this is no reason to panic. Veterinary practices even indicate that this is one of the most frequently heard complaints during their consultations. Dogs can use their energy extremely efficiently. This allows them to function perfectly well for days, sometimes weeks, without eating. They can also temporarily have a reduced energy requirement, as occurs during warm weather. So does your dog seem energetic, is he attentive and does he not show any abnormal behavior? Then he can skip a meal. However, is your four-legged friend listless, shaky or does he sleep all day? Then something may be wrong.
Taking action yourself if your dog doesn’t want to eat
You can also take action yourself if your dog no longer wants to eat. Think about the diet choice you have made. And what activities does your dog do throughout the day. You can ask yourself the following questions. Does my dog perhaps not like his food (anymore)? Is he ready for a different way of feeding? Am I feeding my dog too much? Is my dog in pain? Do you always feed the dog the same thing? Then boredom or obesity may be lurking. Then it is time to adjust his food or change food. In addition, physical changes such as castration or heat can affect the energy requirement. Just like with people, some dogs start eating poorly due to tension and stress. A move, a baby, fireworks, being home alone. Every dog has something that can confuse him. Refusal to eat can also occur after a major event such as an operation, during which the dog has been under anesthesia. The body is severely disrupted and your dog feels a bit disoriented. That is why he will not want to eat immediately after the operation and you do not have to worry about that. After waking up from the anesthesia, the anesthetic effect does not immediately disappear from the body. Often the last remnants of the anesthesia still have to wear off. How long this can take, varies per animal.
Behavioral changes in your dog can lead to not eating
There may be several causes underlying this phenomenon. Therefore, take a good look at your dog’s behavior to assess the situation. Is your dog still cheerful and lively? Then he may be too cheerful to eat quietly in the morning and later, at an unguarded moment, he will still empty the food bowl with enthusiasm. Does your dog not eat at all? Or does he stop after a few bites? Some dogs do not eat their food immediately and do so later, but this can also be an indication of physical complaints. Stopping eating can also be an indication of illness. Is your dog lethargic? Listless? Irritated? Then he may be ill. Then it is wise to check your dog’s body temperature. This is normally between 38 °C and 39 °C. Is the temperature higher than 39.2 °C? Then we speak of fever. Other symptoms can reveal a more serious cause. Think of: Pale mucous membranes, (empty) vomiting, diarrhea, hard, swollen belly, panting, coughing, drooling, difficulty walking or moving, squeaking or whining, drinking a lot and strange odor in the breath. Does your dog stop eating, while he has a hard belly and (empty) vomiting? Then there is a strong chance of a fatal gastric torsion (tilting of the stomach)!
Well insured at the vet
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