Loss of appetite in dogs: what are we talking about?
The term "loss of appetite" can actually refer to three things:
- anorexia, that is to say a total loss of the dog's appetite. The animal then no longer feeds at all,
- dysorexia or hyporexia, that is to say a decrease in the dog's appetite. The dysorexic dog continues to eat but very little or much less than before,
- a pseudo-anorexia. The affected dog has not lost his appetite but is physically unable to eat due to pain or a neurological disorder.
Causes of loss of appetite in dogs
A dog can "lose his appetite" for several reasons:
Because he's sick
The absence or decrease of a dog's appetite is a non-specific symptom of various dog diseases such as:
- kidney failure,
- liver failure,
- heart failure,
- hypocorticism,
- certain tumor processes,
- distemper,
- parvovirus,
- ehrlichiosis,
- piroplasmosis,
- depression,
- various respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological or immune conditions,
- a poisoning of the dog.
Loss of appetite can also be indicative of pain, anemia or fever in dogs.
If the loss of appetite is secondary to a dog's condition, it is usually associated with other symptoms. It is then necessary to consult a veterinarian without delay so that he can identify the pathology at the origin of this symptom and put in place an appropriate treatment.
Because he is unable to feed himself
Sometimes the dog does not eat because he finds himself physically unable to eat properly or to eat at all.
This is the case when the dog suffers from lesions that prevent him from chewing his food and/or swallowing it during:
- of stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa) or dental abscess that causes severe oral pain,
- neurological conditions, lesions of the esophagus or oropharynx which lead to dysphagia (swallowing disorders),
- conditions that affect the masticatory muscles such as myositis of the masticatory muscles or the jaw itself.
There again, run to your veterinarian so that he can set up an appropriate treatment.
Because he doesn't like his food
Your dog may simply eat less because he doesn't find the kibble you give him to his liking. Several solutions are then available to you:
Check that the bag has not been open for too long
Your dog may simply no longer like his croquettes because they are expired or altered. Then give him kibble from a freshly opened package to check this possibility. If this test is positive, prefer kibble in small packaging to avoid inconvenience in the future.
Test new croquettes
Test new kibbles to see if your dog doesn't prefer them to his current kibbles. Some kibbles prove to be unpalatable for the dog because they are too rich in vegetable raw materials and not enough in meat ingredients towards which dogs have a natural inclination.
Also read: How to choose good kibble for your dog?Make her croquettes “sexier”
If you don't want to or can't change it, try to make your current croquettes more palatable by sprinkling them with a little bit of brewer's yeast, grated cheese, a little bit of oil rapeseed or fish oil, gravy in short, anything the dog might like.
Change to a wet diet
Wet food such as mash is generally more appreciated by "fussy" dogs than kibble. So test your dog's taste for canned food, or better yet, try cooking a homemade bowl for your dog. In the latter case, ask your veterinarian to create a menu adapted to your dog's particular nutritional needs.
Also read:
- Prepare your dog's meals yourself
- Calculate a household ration for your dog
- BARF diet
Don't forget, however, that any change in a dog's diet must be preceded by a food transition period.
Because your dog is not hungry
A dog can lose interest in the contents of his bowl simply because he is not hungry. This case can arise if:
The dog is fed too often
If you give him too many treats, leftover food outside of his main meals or if he has self-service food all day, then your dog may not be hungry anymore .
To fix it:
- No longer give access to ad libitum food and distribute your dog's food in 1 to 2 meals a day,
- Only leave your dog in the bowl for 15 to 20 minutes. Beyond this time, his bowl must be removed whether he has finished his ration or not,
- reduce or eliminate all treats outside of meals.
If your dog is in good he alth, these simple measures should be enough to restore his appetite. If not, ask your veterinarian for advice.
The dog receives too much food compared to its needs
A dog's hunger can also decrease due to a decrease in its energy needs: an athletic dog who stops or reduces his physical activity or an aging dog can naturally put himself at less eat without worrying. Be sure to consult a veterinarian all the same, especially if you notice that your dog is losing weight.
It's too hot
A high outside temperature in summer can also be enough, as in humans, to reduce the dog's desire to eat. In this particular case, a normal appetite should return along with a return to cooler temperatures.
Because one of his medications is cutting his appetite
Several drugs can have anorectic effects in dogs. This is particularly the case with certain psychotropic drugs. If you suspect such a side effect in your dog, do not stop your animal's treatment without the advice of your veterinarian, but talk to him about it!
Because your dog is afraid of his bowl
A dog can also stop eating because his bowl scares him. In this case, we invite you to discover the solutions available to you in our article entirely dedicated to this subject.
Also read: My dog is afraid of his bowl: what to do?Because your dog is stressed
Any change in the life of your four-legged friend is likely to cause stress and may be accompanied by a loss of appetite.
Moving, arrival in a holiday home, arrival of a new animal in the house, change of master, death of a fellow householder are events that are quite destabilizing for an anxious dog and have repercussions on his appetite.Just give him time to adjust and his appetite should return to normal on its own.
On the other hand, if your dog does not eat at all for more than 24 hours and/or his loss of appetite lasts too long, consult a veterinarian without delay. There is then a risk that your pet will not only suffer from a temporary depression but a real depression that affects his appetite and his general condition and that only a veterinarian can treat.