As a dog owner, you only want the best for your canine companion. While you might play with them, take them out for regular walks, and give them plenty of nutritious meals and treats, that doesn’t mean things still can’t impact your dog and cause you concern. One thing that might make you worry about your dog is if you have noticed that they are eating a lot less than usual or perhaps not eating at all. If your dog starts to do this, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible, but here are a few reasons why this could be happening.
Dental Issues
If you have ever had a toothache yourself, you’ll know how painful it can be to eat or drink anything. If your dog is struggling to get through its food or you think can dogs eat caramel, then it could be due to some dental problems that are making it too uncomfortable or painful to eat. If you can, try to look in your dog’s mouth to see if you can see any signs of tooth decay or inflammation of its gums. You can purchase dental chews and even doggy toothpaste to help maintain your dog’s dental health, but if there is a problem, you should take them to see a vet to get the right treatment and prevent infection.
They Have an Upset Stomach
Sometimes dogs can eat things that irritate their stomach and might cause them to feel nauseous or even start to vomit. While it can be tempting to feed your pup table scraps, this should be avoided, as certain foods might irritate their stomach or make them ill. Foods like onions, chocolate, garlic, grapes, milk, etc., can all make your dog feel ill. It might take your dog a day or two to get back to normal, but if they are still struggling to eat or are vomiting or have diarrhea, it’s worth taking them in to see a vet.
Food Allergies
It could be as simple as your dog not being happy with the dog food you’re giving them, whether they have grown bored of it and want something else, or perhaps they have an allergy to a specific ingredient that is making them feel ill. Most vet clinics, such as easyvet.com, can offer you nutritional advice and work with you on diet plans to help your pet stay healthy, but also to identify any food allergies your animal might have. It’s worth looking into this, as then you can eliminate the allergen from their diet if this is the problem.
They Are Stressed, Anxious, or Depressed
If your dog has been under stress or has been anxious recently, this could be another reason why they are not eating as much as they normally would. If something has happened at home that has caused a stir or interrupted their routine, this can make your dog unhappy or distressed. In these circumstances, try to get some normalcy back into your dog’s routine and do what you can to comfort them, whether that’s playing with them, petting them, or taking them for a walk.
There are many other reasons why your dog might not be eating as they normally would, but if this doesn’t get resolved within a few days, you should make an appointment with your vet as soon as you can to find out what’s wrong.