02
Nov
Your dog may have difficulty digesting dry food. There are many reasons that can cause an older dog to stop eating.
Some of the common reasons I see for my elderly dog patients to stop eating include.
Old dog stops eating. Again your dog is the same. So if your dog is eating more or eating less and its an occasional thing it is probably not a cause for concern. A total loss of appetite is.
The following are some of the most common reasons why a senior dog doesnt want to eat. He isnt getting as much exercise as he used to. Medical Reasons an Old Dog May Stop Eating.
I lump medical reasons into one possible cause 12 that your old dog wont eat but in reality there may be meany medical reasons for your dogs lack of appetite. Liver issues Kidney issues. However excessive sleeping andor your old dog not eating is a cause for concern and warrants a phone call to your veterinarian.
A complete tip-to-tail exam and lab work will usually yield answers. Increased sleep and decreased appetite due to heart or lung disease. He stops eating completely.
His water intake drastically increases or decreases. He is panting and drooling excessively. He stops defecating and has a distended belly.
These can be signs of a serious condition not only in old dogs but dogs of all ages. Why Older Dogs Stop Eating. Its impossible for me to list every reason an older dog might stop eating.
Its usually due to some underlying disease and you will need a veterinarians help to get a diagnosis. Some of the common reasons I see for my elderly dog patients to stop eating include. Medication especially antibiotics and NSAIDs.
Some old dogs stop eating anytime they are experiencing stress. Senior dogs become extremely accustomed to their regular routine meaning any change in their environment can result in serious anxiety. Something as simple as a change in your work schedule can cause a major stir in your old dogs life causing them to go on a food strike.
The discomfort associated with constipation may in itself reduce your dogs desire to eat. Your dogs body will start to shut down as the end of his life draws near. Not only will he stop eating and drinking but his bladder and bowel control will.
A dog will often stop eating if this is the case. Other causes of loss of appetite in dogs include illnesses such as kidney failure cancer liver disease or even infections. If theyre sick refusing to eat is one of the telltale signs of their discomfort.
So if your older dog it not eating and keeps losing weight you should have him checked out by your vet. When older or chronically ill dogs eat too little over a long time they lose not only body weight but also lean mass muscle. Youll want to avoid this by offering them small meals with a high protein and fat content.
ExpertOften times when older dogs drink a lot of water and wont eat it is because of kidney failure. The kidneys cant excrete the waste products in the blood so they build up and make the dog feel nauseous and thus not wanting to. How Long Can An Old Dog Go Without Eating.
Older dogs can generally go three to five days without food but you will probably want to speak to your vet if they have not eaten anything for 24 hours. More concerning than not eating can be not drinking. Dogs can die of dehydration within less than two days.
What To Feed A Senior Dog Who Wont Eat. Similarly when a pet stops eating it means that something is wrong. Dental disease causes or has been linked to a huge number of problems in cats and dogs.
However unless a tooth has abscessed. There are many reasons that can cause an older dog to stop eating. Disease or illness should be your first suspicion.
Bad teeth If you dont clean your dogs teeth regularly your dog could be in a great deal of pain due to periodontal problems. Aggression to family members can occur following changes in the family makeup such as marriage or divorce death or birth. Aggression to other pets can occur when a new pet is introduced to the family as a younger dog matures or as.
Some dogs are just picky or their refusal to eat may be caused by feeding them in situations where they arent comfortable such as around an aggressive dog or from a bowl at an uncomfortable. If your dog is lethargic vomiting or having diarrhea in addition to not eating see your veterinarian right away. If you dont see any of these here are some ways to try to entice your dog to eat.
Add water or no-sodium chicken broth to the dog food and let it soak for several minutes to soften it. This may help your dog to find some curiosity towards the food and excite his palate enough to encourage them to begin eating. If you have followed these recommendations above and you are still having troubles getting your old dog to eat it may be time to take your furry companion into the vet for further examination.
A Sign of Old Age. A dog thats sleeping a lot more and not eating simply could just be going through changes related to aging. Metabolism slows down as a dog gets older and this could lead your dog to sleep more often instead of being active and playing.
Aging brings physical changes that affect appetite and your dog will be eating less as. Also sometimes older dogs may not want to eat due to aches and pains in their bodies. A dog may stop eating when he experiences stress boarding at a kennel moving to a new house etc.
If you suspect stress is the cause of your dog not eating spend more quality time with him. Take him out for long walks and play his favorite games at the park. Tooth and gum disease such as tartar lose or broken teeth sore gums and abscesses can cause enough pain to stop your dog eating.
Your dog may stop eating if they are hurting somewhere it may not be obvious what is hurting them and you may only notice vague symptoms such as being grumpy or quiet. Some fussy dogs may refuse to eat because they. Why Not Eating Dry Food Occurs in Dogs.
Problems with dry food consumption may originate in three parts of your dogs body. Your dogs refusal to eat dry food can stem from a general systemic failure in which the need for hydration drives your dog to seek moist food. Your dog may have difficulty digesting dry food.
As is the case with humans loss of appetite in dogs is a common symptom for lots of serious diseases and conditions. There are many causes that can lead to your dog or puppy not eating or drinking. For example pyometra cancer and kidney or liver problems can cause an animal to eat less or stop eating altogether.