Almost all dogs look forward to feeding time more than anything else. Don’t panic right away if your dog doesn’t show his normal delight at eating. Typically, a healthy dog can go 3-4 days before you need to worry.
There are a number of reasons why your dog doesn’t like to eat his food, aside from a health issue. Some dogs eat less during the summer months. Sometimes we feed them too much… and they know it! Are you leaving food out too long? Maybe they have an upset stomach? Has there been a drastic change in your environment? Has there been a loss of a loved one…human or canine? New home? Is there a new baby in the house? Perhaps they have been spoiled by too many table scraps!
Whatever the reason, there are a number of tricks for a healthy dog to stimulate its appetite. Here are suggestions to help regain your pet’s attention at mealtime.
1. Do not leave food down for more than 20 minutes. If your dog hasn’t finished in that amount of time, chances are you’re feeding him too much or he’s gone “herbivorous.” It may seem like they are not eating as much as usual.
2. Add something new and interesting, like a tablespoon or two of plain yogurt or cottage cheese.
3. Add warm water to your dry food to make a sauce for dogs.
4. Heat canned dog food that has been refrigerated. You can also add a little water to it to make a delicious stew for dogs.
5. Add a soft-boiled egg. Coating your food with something different often gets their attention.
6. Soak your meal in some low-fat, reduced-salt chicken or beef broth… or if you’re feeling ambitious, you can make your own!
7. Change or reduce feeding time. Maybe once a day is enough. Older dogs tend to eat less.
8. Add one to two tablespoons of cat food with fish. Most dogs love stinky food and/or fish…nothing stinks more than fishy-smelling cat food!
9. Speaking of stinky food, mash up some garlic, soak it in water, and then add the garlic and water to your food.
10. If all else fails, try a new brand. The general rule of thumb; the worse you smell, the more likely they are to like it!
Bottom line: If your dog hasn’t eaten for more than 4 days and you’ve tried to motivate him by making mealtime more interesting, it’s time to see your vet. Even if he’s not eating, always make sure he has plenty of fresh water…a dog can become dangerously dehydrated in less than 24 hours!
