| When a pet dog refuses to eat, the problem is | | | | Chronic underweight or a sudden weight loss |
| either physical or psychological. When a pet | | | | may be due to a physical malfunction and is |
| dog refuses to eat, his owner pleads with him | | | | definitely a danger signal. A voracious |
| and tries to tempt him with food fed by hand. | | | | appetite combined with a loss of weight is |
| If the dog is sufficiently neglected and | | | | one of the symptoms of internal parasites. |
| bored he may try this to get attention. An | | | | All of these symptoms require the attention |
| intelligent owner will counter this common | | | | of your veterinarian, for he alone is |
| canine play by giving his dog companionship | | | | competent to diagnose the cause and to |
| by playing with him and taking him for a | | | | prescribe the treatment. |
| daily walk. | | | | |
| | | | A young puppy that refuses to eat should |
| How can you handle the problem of a dog that | | | | cause immediately concern. A healthy diet is |
| refuses to eat not because he is neglected, | | | | vital to his future well-being, and since his |
| but spoiled? Simply remove his food bowl | | | | tiny stomach holds very little at a time, a |
| after half an hour, and present it again only | | | | missed meal is nourishment lost forever. |
| at the next meal time. Spoiled dogs are often | | | | Before you alert the vet or your puppy's |
| obese too, so it will do no harm to skip one | | | | breeder, you should verify that his loss or |
| meal. Please do not serve him the same food, | | | | appetite is not due to one of several easily |
| as it may be spoiled. It never occurs to some | | | | remedied causes: |
| owners that their dog's lack of appetite may | | | | |
| be caused from unappetizing meals or just a | | | | - Your puppy misses his brothers and sisters |
| dirty bowl. | | | | or mother. (Try keeping him company and you |
| | | | may try hand feeding him for a while, but do |
| Food that is unfit for humans is unfit for | | | | not make a habit of it, especially with toy |
| your dog too. Dogs also eye with suspicion | | | | breeds.) |
| any new food and they have marked individual | | | | |
| preferences for meals that are dry or moist, | | | | - His feeding times do not coincide with his |
| finely chopped, or chunky. You can add taste | | | | hunger. (Adjust your schedule to suit his |
| appeal with a little chopped onion or garlic, | | | | appetite.) |
| or a beaten egg yolk. Most dogs love liver | | | | |
| and bacon, which either can be mixed into | | | | - He is too nervous to eat. (Avoid the |
| their regular feed in small amounts. | | | | excitement of play and visitors, just before |
| | | | nd after his meal times.) |
| The most effective appetite stimulant is | | | | |
| aroma. If you have given your dog dry food | | | | - His food is too tough or chunky for his |
| and raw meat, it may smell better if the mean | | | | baby teeth to handle. (Chop it finely, or |
| is seared or the dry food is moistened. A | | | | soften it by soaking. Teething puppies often |
| spoonful of brewer's yeast sprinkled on his | | | | go off their feed and need a softer diet |
| meal, is another good appetite awakener. Many | | | | during this period.) |
| dogs skip their noon meal entirely during hot | | | | |
| weather. Let your pet follow his natural | | | | - He has problems with his food dish. (Young |
| instinct. Fasting is an instinctive animal | | | | puppies eat most easily from a flat dish, |
| remedy for minor digestive disorders, however | | | | like a pie plate. Later on, long nosed breeds |
| if he refuses food for more than 24 hours, | | | | should be given a deeper dish. For long eared |
| you should have your veterinarian examine | | | | breeds, there are special deep tapered bowls |
| him. | | | | which prevent their ears from dragging in |
| | | | their food. |