Is Your Dog A Picky Eater Or Has Gone Off His Food
friends of the Dog
friends of the Dog
When a dog’s behaviour suddenly changes, the first question we should ask is: why?
Behaviour doesn’t change in a vacuum. There is always a reason — we just might not have figured it out yet.
If your dog is normally a good eater but suddenly becomes picky or stops eating altogether, the first step is to rule out any physical or medical cause. Even if you only suspect something might be wrong, it’s best to get your dog checked by a vet right away. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of many health issues, including infections, dental disease, kidney or liver problems, and in severe cases, even certain cancers. My vet always says, “If in doubt, check it out,” and it’s good advice for all of us.
Things to Consider if Your Dog Stops Eating
1. Has your dog lost or gained weight recently?
Sudden weight changes can point to illness or discomfort.
2. Any vomiting or diarrhea?
These signs often come with tummy upsets, infections, or other medical concerns.
3. Is your dog acting differently?
A usually happy, energetic dog suddenly becoming quiet, withdrawn, or wanting to lie alone can be a sign something is wrong.
4. Did your dog recently have a vaccination?
Vaccines are essential and protect against serious diseases like Parvo and Distemper. However, some dogs may temporarily go off their food afterward.
5. How does the inside of your dog’s mouth look?
Check for:
6. Check the rest of the body
Look for:
Many dogs hide pain until they can’t any longer. Gently stroke your dog all over and notice if they:
8. Is your dog struggling with stairs or lying down?
This can also point to pain or stiffness.
If Your Dog Has Been Ill
When recovering from illness, a dog may want to eat but not manage a full meal.
You can try:
If Medical Issues Are Ruled Out
1. Are you feeding too much?
Feeding guidelines are just guidelines.
A high-energy dog may need more, while a couch potato needs less. If your dog is overweight, reducing food and increasing exercise often improves appetite — chat with your vet for support.
2. Has anything recently changed?
Some dogs lose their appetite if:
3. Could separation anxiety be involved?
Dogs with separation anxiety often won’t eat when their people aren’t home. Some even learn to wait until they’re hand-fed. A qualified behaviourist can help you with both the anxiety and the picky eating.
Other Possible Reasons (and Easy Fixes)
1 feed 2–3 small meals a day
2. Leave the bowl down for 10 minutes
i3. f not eaten, pick it up
4. no snacks in between
Most dogs (with no medical issues) adjust by day three.
5. Try using enrichment feeders
A Kong or Busy Buddy can make mealtime more fun and mentally stimulating.
6. Try a different food
Ask your vet for samples or buy a small bag to test first. If your dog likes it, transition slowly over about a week. As we mentioned previously, we find the Absolute Holistic excellent.
7. Change the bowl
If you use a metal bowl, switch to plastic or ceramic. Sometimes dogs get spooked if the bowl made a loud noise.
8. Separate feeding areas
Some dogs won’t eat around other pets.
9. Raise the bowl
Especially helpful for senior dogs or giant breeds who may find bending painful.
10. Check the food quality
A walk about an hour before dinner can stimulate appetite.
Paw Note
Dogs pick up on our emotions. Worrying, fussing, or constantly encouraging them to eat can make things worse. If you’re ever unsure, speak to your vet. If you think the issue might be emotional or behavioural, a qualified canine behaviourist can guide you further.
Behaviour doesn’t change in a vacuum. There is always a reason — we just might not have figured it out yet.
If your dog is normally a good eater but suddenly becomes picky or stops eating altogether, the first step is to rule out any physical or medical cause. Even if you only suspect something might be wrong, it’s best to get your dog checked by a vet right away. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of many health issues, including infections, dental disease, kidney or liver problems, and in severe cases, even certain cancers. My vet always says, “If in doubt, check it out,” and it’s good advice for all of us.
Things to Consider if Your Dog Stops Eating
1. Has your dog lost or gained weight recently?
Sudden weight changes can point to illness or discomfort.
2. Any vomiting or diarrhea?
These signs often come with tummy upsets, infections, or other medical concerns.
3. Is your dog acting differently?
A usually happy, energetic dog suddenly becoming quiet, withdrawn, or wanting to lie alone can be a sign something is wrong.
4. Did your dog recently have a vaccination?
Vaccines are essential and protect against serious diseases like Parvo and Distemper. However, some dogs may temporarily go off their food afterward.
5. How does the inside of your dog’s mouth look?
Check for:
- broken or infected teeth
- growths or sores
- pale or unusually coloured gums
- bad breath
6. Check the rest of the body
Look for:
- sore spots
- irritated skin
- areas your dog keeps licking
Many dogs hide pain until they can’t any longer. Gently stroke your dog all over and notice if they:
- move away
- lick their lips
- suddenly sit down
- flinch around certain areas
8. Is your dog struggling with stairs or lying down?
This can also point to pain or stiffness.
If Your Dog Has Been Ill
When recovering from illness, a dog may want to eat but not manage a full meal.
You can try:
- warming their food slightly with hot water
- using prescription canned food (ask your vet)
- gently heating the prescription food to make it smell more appealing
- asking your vet about Bone Broth (some dogs respond amazingly well, but always check first)
- We have found that the Absolute Holistic, featured above, works incredibly well and seems to be irresistible to the majority of dogs.
If Medical Issues Are Ruled Out
1. Are you feeding too much?
Feeding guidelines are just guidelines.
A high-energy dog may need more, while a couch potato needs less. If your dog is overweight, reducing food and increasing exercise often improves appetite — chat with your vet for support.
2. Has anything recently changed?
Some dogs lose their appetite if:
- you’ve moved house
- they’re on holiday
- there’s a new pet or person in the home
- someone in the family is sick or away
- they experienced motion sickness from travel
3. Could separation anxiety be involved?
Dogs with separation anxiety often won’t eat when their people aren’t home. Some even learn to wait until they’re hand-fed. A qualified behaviourist can help you with both the anxiety and the picky eating.
Other Possible Reasons (and Easy Fixes)
- Too many treats?
- Are you sharing your own food with your dog?
- Is your dog secretly raiding the bin?
- Are you begging your dog to eat?
- Are you leaving food out all day - this could result in over eating, even due to boredom. Dogs do better on two meals per day.
1 feed 2–3 small meals a day
2. Leave the bowl down for 10 minutes
i3. f not eaten, pick it up
4. no snacks in between
Most dogs (with no medical issues) adjust by day three.
5. Try using enrichment feeders
A Kong or Busy Buddy can make mealtime more fun and mentally stimulating.
6. Try a different food
Ask your vet for samples or buy a small bag to test first. If your dog likes it, transition slowly over about a week. As we mentioned previously, we find the Absolute Holistic excellent.
7. Change the bowl
If you use a metal bowl, switch to plastic or ceramic. Sometimes dogs get spooked if the bowl made a loud noise.
8. Separate feeding areas
Some dogs won’t eat around other pets.
9. Raise the bowl
Especially helpful for senior dogs or giant breeds who may find bending painful.
10. Check the food quality
- smell the food
- check expiry dates
- make sure it hasn’t gotten wet
- ensure no rodents or insects got into it
A walk about an hour before dinner can stimulate appetite.
Paw Note
Dogs pick up on our emotions. Worrying, fussing, or constantly encouraging them to eat can make things worse. If you’re ever unsure, speak to your vet. If you think the issue might be emotional or behavioural, a qualified canine behaviourist can guide you further.
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