But a decreased appetite may also be a sign of a sick dog.
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How Long Can a Dog Go Without Eating?
However, this is not ideal by any means.
This means they cannot go as long without food.
It should also be noted that young, growing puppies need to be fed more frequently than adult dogs.
A decreased appetite is a sign that something more serious might be going on.
This is especially true if your dog has additional symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Monitoring your dogs appetite is important because, without treatment, anorexic dogs can quickly become dehydrated and malnourished.
Like humans, dogs cannot go as long without water when compared to food.
Readthis articleto learn what else dogs can safely drink besides water.
Potential Reasons Your Dog Isnt Eating
There are many possible reasons your dog may not be eating.
Additionally, an abrupt diet change can lead togastrointestinal symptomsincluding a decreased appetite.
If your dogs anorexia is due to an abrupt diet change, he will often also exhibitvomitingor diarrhea.
To prevent these symptoms, any diet change should always be gradual.
Expired or Spoiled Food: Like human food,dog food has an expiration date.
For example, open canned food is usually only good for a few days when stored in the refrigerator.
In addition to being unappetizing, spoiled food can cause foodborne illness in your dog.
Even dry food contains fat which can become rancid over time.
Examples include a fractured tooth or gingivitis resulting from tartar and plaque accumulation.
Ingestion of a foreign body can lead to a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract.
Illness: Numerous types of illness can negatively affect a dogs appetite.
Examples range from infectious diseases like intestinal parasites to more chronic conditions like kidney disease or cancer.
Anxiety or Stress: Anxiety or stress may cause a dog to stop eating.
Some dogs are more sensitive to changes in their routine or environment.
neck or back pain).
Vaccinations: Just like humans, dogs may feel slightly under the weather for a day or two followingvaccination.
These symptoms are usually mild and should resolve in a couple of days.
Medications: Some medications have unwanted side effects such as nausea and may cause a lack of appetite.
Examples include certain antibiotics, pain medications, and chemotherapy drugs.
Picky Eater: Some dogs occasionally refuse to eat because they are picky eaters.
In fact, dogs can get bored of eating the same food every day.
To learn more about this and how to keep your dog engaged with his meals, readthis article.
