Why is my dog not eating?

If your dog is not eating, you may be wondering whether they’re just no longer enjoying the taste of their regular food or if it’s an indication of an underlying health issue. Dogs can go off their food at different points in their life, and there are different reasons why your dog may be turning their nose up at their food. It isn’t always a sign of something serious, but there are a few things we can look out for and do to try and help them.

Reasons why your dog has lost their appetite

There are varying reasons why you may be seeing a change in your dog’s appetite or eating behaviour.

Medical

A change in appetite is an early indication that your dog may be ill, including:

• Dental Issues or tooth pain: A broken or decaying tooth or gum disease could be causing pain while your dog eats
• Stomach problems: Potentially caused by inflammation, or if you’re dog has picked up a virus, infection or eaten something they shouldn’t have.
• Illness: If your dog is feeling generally unwell or in pain from a possible infection or virus, this may be causing them to be off their food
• Medicine side effects: Some medication can affect a dog’s appetite

Behavioural

Like humans, emotions and mental health can affect dogs and their appetite. We know that many dogs thrive on regular routine, and so changes in their day-to-day may be causing stress and anxiety. Some behavioural reasons that can decrease appetite include:

• Changes in environment: Such as a new home, new pets/kids, death in the family,
• Separation anxiety: Some dogs may be reluctant to eat until they are home with their owners, causing them to put off eating until then.
• Fear & phobias: Such as fireworks or storms

If you think it may be a behavioural issue that is causing a loss in appetite in your dog, contact your vet who may recommend some medications that can help them manage this, as well as some practices that you can implement in your dog’s routine to help tackle any anxiety triggers.

Age

As dogs get older, you may notice that their eating habits and appetite change too.

• Lower Metabolism: With their lower energy levels, senior dogs don’t require as many calories as younger dogs, which may be why food is behind left behind in the bowl.
• Decline in cognitive ability: Commonly seen in older dogs as stimulation is reduced, senior dogs may lose engagement at meal times, causing them to leave food.

Take a look at our senior dog food recipes for meals that are lighter and easier to digest, and packed with health benefits for older dogs.

Problems with the food itself

Sometimes your dog’s lack of appetite could be an indication that there are issues with the food itself, such as a change in food formula, the food being off or stale. Check the use-by date on the food and make sure you’re storing food correctly to prevent it becoming spoiled. While as humans we may not be able to smell it, but if your dog smells something that isn’t right with the food, it may explain why it’s not being eaten.

If your dog isn’t eating, trying wet dog food could be a more enticing offer to fussy eaters, thanks to its stronger taste and smell and its more easily-consumable texture.

Dog not eating: different scenarios

If you are noticing that your dog isn’t eating, keep an eye out for other behavioural signs too as these combined may indicate a specific issue or problem.

My dog isn't eating but is acting normal

Loss of appetite shouldn’t be ignored, even if your dog appears to be behaving entirely normal otherwise. If you’ve tried to encourage them to eat by varying your dog’s food, offering up small amounts of food at a time, or warming the food gently and are still seeing the same behaviour, contact your vet. If your dog is not eating but is drinking water, it may indicate a health problem such as diabetes, liver disease or an infection and so make an appointment with your vet to discuss this further.

My dog’s stomach is gurgling and he won’t eat

A gurgling stomach may be a sign of an upset stomach and excessive gas moving around your dog’s gut. If your dog is upset, hasn’t eaten and the gurgling continues, contact your vet.

My dog is lethargic and not eating

If your dog seems unusually inactive, weak and uninterested in eating their food, it may be a sign of infection, disease or pain. They may also be reacting poorly to new medication. It’s best to speak to your vet who will help you identify what might be causing this behaviour.

My dog is vomiting and not eating

If you notice that your dog is not eating but is also vomiting frequently, it may suggest digestive or gastrointestinal problems. It is best to speak with your vet who will be able to address the cause.

My dog is not eating or drinking

If your dog isn’t eating or drinking, it’s important that you call your vet straight away - dehydration could cause your dog to become further unwell.   

What to do when your dog is not eating

If your dog isn’t eating, there are a couple of things you can try to incentivise eating.

Feeding a dog that won’t eat

Tempt your dog to eat by:

• Warming the food up (to body temperature) to bring out the smells and make it more appealing to your dog’s senses
• Adding lukewarm water to their dry food pellets to help the food soften and become more easily consumable
• Offering strong-smelling foods
• Handfeeding small amounts of food
• Considering a different type of dog food

My puppy is not eating

If your puppy is displaying a lack of appetite or is skipping meals, contact your vet. Puppies cannot go as long as adult dogs without food and the lack of eating may be the sign of a virus or infection, especially if they are also vomiting. Our range of puppy food includes both dry food and wet food options, and could help you entice your puppy back to eating.

When to call your vet

Your dog’s lack of appetite is something that shouldn’t be ignored, and as we’ve highlighted here there are actions you can take to encourage appetite and eating. However, if you’re seeing any of the following indications, you should contact your vet immediately:

• If your dog isn’t eating or drinking
• If your dog is losing weight
• If your dog hasn’t eaten anything in 24 hours
• If your dog hasn’t eaten in the last 12 hours and is sick/has diarrhoea
• If your dog is showing signs of illness in other ways e.g. signs of dental issues, coughing or constipated