Dogs
Is your dog not eating properly? What might be the reasons for the decrease in appetite? Dog owners must not assume that their pet is being a picky eater. Decrease in appetite may be indicative of an underlying health problem. If the loss of appetite is accompanied by vomiting or changes in behavior, you must take your pet to a vet soon. Here are some of the common reasons for loss of appetite in canines.
Possible Reasons for Loss of Appetite in Dogs
Change in Dog Food
Did you recently introduce your dog to a new brand of dog food? Your pet might be finding it difficult to adjust to the new taste. Generally pets will take some time to adjust to a new brand as they might be habitual of eating the earlier brand of dog food. Dogs get attracted to a food by using the smell receptors in their nose, in case, the dog has been refusing to eat the same food for many days, the smell receptors might be causing it, so get healthy and delicious dog foods and see if he eats or not. If your dog is simply being a picky eater, try to train him. Also check if your dog has been eating food from other places. If he has been eating garbage or cat food, make sure you don't allow him to do that.
Change in the Surroundings
The issue might be psychological. If there has been a change in the surroundings, it might affect your dog adversely. If your dog has been the only pet, bringing in a new pet might also cause a change in dog behavior. Dogs are great pets and look forward to spending time with their owners. Sometimes, when the owners plan a vacation, leaving their dog alone at home for an extended period, their pets might suffer from separation anxiety. This might affect their appetite. They are used to having their master around to feed them and play with them, when their routine changes and they see new faces coming in to feed them, this might trigger a loss of appetite. Things could get even worse if you leave your dog at some other place, making him stay in unfamiliar surroundings.
Health Issues
Vaccination could also cause loss of appetite. So, if your dog got the shot recently, loss of appetite could follow. In case of older dogs, a decrease in appetite may be due to a lack of exercise. Aging can bring about many physiological changes. Low energy levels and loss of appetite could be due to aging. So, do take your pet for walks and give him healthy dog food. If your dog's energy levels have gone down and he is refusing to eat, it is advisable to get him checked for any systemic infection, worm infestation, kennel cough, digestive or dental problems. Loss of appetite that may be accompanied by vomiting might be caused due to diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome. If your dog has been making noises and refuses to eat, get him checked for abscessed teeth and gum problems. Sometimes, your pet might suffer from a loss of appetite after surgery. This might be a result of disorientation caused by the use of anesthetic. Comfort your dog as he deals with the disorientation and make sure he gets rest. Take him to a vet and get medicines to treat this loss of appetite.
Dogs are wonderful pets and would go to any extent to please their masters. All they want is their master's care and affection. You as owners also have a responsibility to note any physiological and psychological changes that may be affecting your dog's health. So, if your dog is not eating properly and seems to be losing his playful nature, take him to a vet and give him lots of love so that he returns back to his old ways.
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Dogs
Reasons for Dog Not Eating Properly
Is your dog not eating properly? What might be the reasons for the decrease in appetite? Dog owners must not assume that their pet is being a picky eater. Decrease in appetite may be indicative of an underlying health problem. If the loss of appetite is accompanied by vomiting or changes in behavior, you must take your pet to a vet soon. Here are some of the common reasons for loss of appetite in canines.
Possible Reasons for Loss of Appetite in Dogs
Change in Dog Food
Did you recently introduce your dog to a new brand of dog food? Your pet might be finding it difficult to adjust to the new taste. Generally pets will take some time to adjust to a new brand as they might be habitual of eating the earlier brand of dog food. Dogs get attracted to a food by using the smell receptors in their nose, in case, the dog has been refusing to eat the same food for many days, the smell receptors might be causing it, so get healthy and delicious dog foods and see if he eats or not. If your dog is simply being a picky eater, try to train him. Also check if your dog has been eating food from other places. If he has been eating garbage or cat food, make sure you don't allow him to do that.
Change in the Surroundings
The issue might be psychological. If there has been a change in the surroundings, it might affect your dog adversely. If your dog has been the only pet, bringing in a new pet might also cause a change in dog behavior. Dogs are great pets and look forward to spending time with their owners. Sometimes, when the owners plan a vacation, leaving their dog alone at home for an extended period, their pets might suffer from separation anxiety. This might affect their appetite. They are used to having their master around to feed them and play with them, when their routine changes and they see new faces coming in to feed them, this might trigger a loss of appetite. Things could get even worse if you leave your dog at some other place, making him stay in unfamiliar surroundings.
Health Issues
Vaccination could also cause loss of appetite. So, if your dog got the shot recently, loss of appetite could follow. In case of older dogs, a decrease in appetite may be due to a lack of exercise. Aging can bring about many physiological changes. Low energy levels and loss of appetite could be due to aging. So, do take your pet for walks and give him healthy dog food. If your dog's energy levels have gone down and he is refusing to eat, it is advisable to get him checked for any systemic infection, worm infestation, kennel cough, digestive or dental problems. Loss of appetite that may be accompanied by vomiting might be caused due to diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome. If your dog has been making noises and refuses to eat, get him checked for abscessed teeth and gum problems. Sometimes, your pet might suffer from a loss of appetite after surgery. This might be a result of disorientation caused by the use of anesthetic. Comfort your dog as he deals with the disorientation and make sure he gets rest. Take him to a vet and get medicines to treat this loss of appetite.
Dogs are wonderful pets and would go to any extent to please their masters. All they want is their master's care and affection. You as owners also have a responsibility to note any physiological and psychological changes that may be affecting your dog's health. So, if your dog is not eating properly and seems to be losing his playful nature, take him to a vet and give him lots of love so that he returns back to his old ways.
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As a dog owner, it is always important that you remain proactive when it comes to your pet's health. This will mean not only bringing your dog in for regular veterinarian check ups but also taking the time to notice any signs that there could be something...
- Dog Vomiting Bile
Some dogs are more prone to stomach disorders and may vomit a watery fluid (bile), after eating too much or eating something the poor pooch isn't used to. The second reason could be due to an underlying liver infection, which may be causing the...
- Canine Diarrhea
Canine diarrhea is one of the most common dog health problems. There are numerous causes for this condition and they include change in diet, food intolerance and consumption of table scraps or waste materials from trash. Sometimes, this condition...
- Health Issues In Older Dogs
Dogs age faster than humans do, right? So the chances of you watching your dog get older are at an all time high. When your dog gets older, there are chances that there will be those health disorders that will take over and pose problems for him....
- Appetite Stimulant For Dogs
Dogs are not naturally averse to food, as they are found to relish even garbage and other waste food products. But sometimes, you may find your canine getting disinterested in food, without any apparent reason. In such cases, you may try some appetite...