It can be extremely frustrating when your dog refuses to eat their food, especially if they continue to accept the behavior. is your dog a snob? Do they look sick? Can you do anything to convince them to eat again?
Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why is my dog not eating his food but will eat treats, how to find out what’s causing it, and how they should be eating again.
You can try a small quantity of a different dog food brand to see if your dog will eat. If your dog gobbles down the new brand to the last bit, this could mean there is a problem with the food.
Possible Reasons Why Your Dog Refuses To Eat
There are many reasons why your dog may stop eating a regular diet but continue to treat. Some of the most prevalent reasons why dogs refuse to eat are listed below.
1. Emotional Stress
Psychological stress can affect your dog’s appetite, believe it or not. Despite their carefree public persona, dogs, like humans, are prone to anxiety. This is a fascinating part of dog psychology that very few people know about.
Your dog may be upset for many reasons. It all ultimately depends on your dog’s sensitivity. What can upset one dog can bring great joy to another.
Visitors, new pets, children, noisy storms, and many other factors can all cause stress in dogs.
When those triggers begin to affect your dog, he will most likely pull back on his crate or bed. They may be unable to eat because of their fear and anxiety.
2. Mouth Pain
If you’ve ever had a root canal or had a tooth extracted, you know how hard it is to eat when your mouth hurts. From gum disease to cracked teeth, a variety of mouth problems can make it difficult to eat.
Because many dog treats are smoother than dry food, a dog with a sore mouth may prefer treats instead of their normal food.
3. They Are Not Familiar With Their Kibble
Like humans, dogs have a variety of taste preferences. you have recently changed your dog’s food, he may not like it. Then you’ve opened a new bag of your dog’s favorite treat and they won’t eat it, the recipe may have changed.
Nothing about the food has changed, but your dog has been eating it for a long time, it is likely that they are sick of it and will appreciate the change in taste.
4. Food is Spoiled
While it doesn’t seem like crunchy brown pebbles can go bad, they can.If your dog stops eating after opening a new bag, check the expiration date.
Although warehouse and store workers must rotate products, this is not always the case, and you may end up with expired food.
Keep dog food in a tightly sealed container at all times. Moisture, mildew, or insects could get into the food, causing it to spoil.
Fish, in particular, has a short shelf life, so you may need to buy smaller bags in order to feed your dog the entire bag before it spoils.
Your dog’s food may be spoiled if it looks or smells different than usual, causing him to reject it.
5. Gastrointestinal Problems
This is one of the most common reasons. Dealing with gastrointestinal problems is never fun. Consider the last time you had to treat someone like this! You probably didn’t have much desire to eat yourself.
The problem with gastrointestinal issues is that they are not always visible.
It may seem that your dog is acting normally, which will lead you to believe that there is no problem.
Sadly, their stomach is extremely sensitive. They may have allergies, insects, or any other problems.
Monitoring your dog’s stool is the best way to check their gastrointestinal health. It is not a pleasant task, but it is necessary.
Must be managed to avoid discrepancy in material, texture, smell, or color.
If you have worms, you will see them in your stool. Parasitic worms, hookworms, and roundworms all pass through the intestinal tract when they leave the body.
If you are seeing strange colors then there could be internal bleeding, organ failure, or any other problems.
Your dog may be suffering from diarrhea if the stool is soft and runny. This problem usually goes away after a few days.
Other signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting, should be taken into account.
6. Medical Diseases
Unfortunately, a variety of diseases can spoil your dog’s appetite. These illnesses have a significant impact on your dog’s energy level.
As a result, you may notice an extreme lack of energy as well as a lack of interest in food.
Lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting are all symptoms of liver disease. Symptoms of pancreatitis include nausea, lethargy, general weakness, and loss of appetite.
Blood diseases, lung disease, neurological disorders, and kidney disease are some other diseases that you cannot rule out.
Your dog’s appetite can be affected by something as simple as arthritis pain.
7. The Stress
Like humans, dogs are also sensitive to stress. Has your family made any significant changes recently?
If you have introduced a new baby or roommate, or if a family member has moved out, your dog may become upset and stop eating.
Even something as simple as moving your dog’s food and water bowls can stress them out and stop eating.
What Can You Make Your Dog Eat?
When you identify the problem, you can improve your puppy’s appetite, or at least get a good idea of what’s going on. Here are some tried and true methods.
Make a Visit To The Vet
First and probably most important, see your vet. Any medical problems that may be present can be ruled out by your vet.
They can run tests to make sure your dog’s loss of appetite is not a sign of something more serious.
If there is a serious problem, you can take the necessary steps to treat or manage it. Your veterinarian may be able to restore your dog’s appetite, even if there is no medical problem to blame.
For dogs who have lost their appetite, prebiotic and probiotic treatments work wonders. They are often used after surgery. The gastrointestinal tract is flushed by anesthetic agents.
These probiotic treatments help your dog eat again by restoring healthy bacteria.
How To Change Your Dog’s Food
If you think your dog isn’t eating because he dislikes his food, it’s time to change things up. When you’re switching up flavors, it’s a good idea to check the quality of your regular dog food brand as well.
Here are some pointers to help you choose high-quality dog food and replace them without an upset stomach.
Behavior Should Be Limited
Dogs will sometimes avoid eating their food in balance in favor of treats. If so, you’ll need to retrieve the order.
You can’t let your dog starve just because fatty treats are their personal hobby! Put a break on feasts for a while and be a strict boss.
When your dog recognizes that he has no treats to fall back on, he can return to eating the kibble.
Follow a Feeding Schedule
Once your dog has started eating, maintain a consistent feeding schedule. When your puppy makes those puppy-dog eyes, stay away from the stray treats you love giving them!
Following a routine teaches your dog what to expect. This lets them know that they can’t wait for treats or hope you come up with something better later.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we have provided you with all the information you need to find out why your dog is refusing to eat their regular food and how they should be eating again.
When all else fails, a trip to the vet is always the best option. Sometimes a dog can show us that it is not feeling well, that is by refusing to eat.
