PUPPIES!! They are a great joy, the best evidence of unconditional love, and one of the greatest stresses there is. Show
Puppies provide us with so much that when they aren’t quite themselves, we get pretty stressed out. We know how important it is for growing puppies to eat, and when they don’t want to eat, we get more worried. If your dog is older than 8 months and not eating, click here to read more age-specific reasons they might have lost their appetite and how you can help your dog. Skip to Section: Besides the long-term risks of puppies not eating as they should, there are some immediate risks to take into account when your puppy refuses to eat. Puppies, unlike older dogs, don’t have fat reserves. Therefore, they can’t go longer than 12 hours without food. This is particularly true for toy breeds that are prone to hypoglycemia (a drop in blood sugar), which can lead to serious complications. Puppies are also more susceptible to dehydration than older dogs. This seems especially the case if their main diet is canned food, as pups eating the "wetter" canned food tend to drink less. Reasons Why Puppies Stop EatingYour puppy’s loss of appetite or anorexia may be sudden, or they may gradually eat less over a time period. There are several things that may contribute to your puppy’s loss of appetite. Here is a list of the more common reasons. Finicky EaterBeing a picky eater isn't all that common in puppies. After all, your puppy has two qualities that should make them happy to eat just about anything: they're (1) a dog and (2) a puppy! However, in some cases, puppies can become picky eaters and have certain preferences in their eating habits. To be on the safe side, you always want to have your puppy's veterinarian evaluate them to be sure they are healthy if they show signs of not wanting to eat. If your puppy is given a clean bill of health by their veterinarian, consider whether they are happy to eat other things besides their meals, such as healthy dog treats or dog-safe fruit. If they are happily eating those things, it may be that they are getting a bit picky with their regular food. You have a couple of options here:
If a puppy is truly being picky — again, this is rare — the usual recommendations from canine behavior consultants are to put the food down for 15 to 30 minutes and then put it away if uneaten after that time. It doesn't reappear again until their next mealtime. HOWEVER, because it's extremely important for a puppy to get enough calories from a balanced diet, this isn't recommended for young puppies or toy breeds that are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Be sure to rule out other causes for their lack of appetite first, and then speak with your veterinarian about whether they are old enough to try this method. Stress and AnxietyJust like it can for humans, stress can suppress your puppy’s desire to eat. Maybe you brought them home very recently. If you have children, maybe they have just gone back to school, and the puppy is experiencing separation anxiety. Or maybe the kids are spending more time at home. Maybe you’ve got a full house for the holidays, which can stress out anyone! Or maybe your pup is being “bullied” by other pets in your home — don’t underestimate the cat! Although puppies don’t have bills to pay or life-draining jobs to rush off to, it’s important to recognize that they can still experience stress. All puppies (and adult dogs) can go through a bit of an "adjustment period” when they first come home, having just left a familiar environment (and possibly their mother or siblings) for an unfamiliar one filled with strangers. Keep an eye open for potential sources of stress for your pup. High TemperaturesMost people don’t have a desire to eat when it is hot. Well, the same can hold true for puppies. When the temperature outside is up, your pup’s appetite may be down. If you think this might be the reason, check out some ways to help keep your pup cool. Teething or PainJust like babies become fussy about eating when they are teething, so can puppies. The discomfort and soreness they experience in their mouth can make them reluctant to eat their food, especially if it is dry food. The pain could be from an injury — after all, puppies can be quite accident-prone! Pups can also experience inflammation of their pancreas (pancreatitis) or growing pains from their developing bones. They could even have something stuck in their mouth — like a splinter or piece of wood from chewing on a stick — or a broken tooth from a bad chew toy. Check for any external or obvious sources of pain. If you don’t see any, it might be time for a quick check-up at the vet. See below for some teething toy suggestions and alternatives to dry food. Digestive Upset or ObstructionPuppies are notorious for eating things they shouldn’t, and unfortunately, many puppy owners intentionally give their dogs snacks and “treats” that they shouldn’t. Some snacks and treats, whether stolen by your puppy or given freely by you, can cause digestive upset as well as obesity and begging later in life. They may even cause your puppy to reject the healthier and balanced dog foods they should be eating! You can greatly decrease the chance of your pup sneaking their own treats by puppy-proofing your home and teaching them not to counter surf. And even if neither of you is doing anything “naughty,” some puppy foods can just be too rich for some dogs, and every puppy will handle certain foods differently. If your pup is having diarrhea for more than 12 hours, they are at risk for dehydration. The risk for dehydration increases if your puppy is also vomiting. It is time to seek medical attention if:
For $1, you can connect with a veterinarian to discuss your puppy's eating issue and get help for your dog's specific situation. Connect now Digestive InfectionsUnfortunately, there are plenty of viruses (Parvo), intestinal worms (like roundworms), bacteria, and other “creepy crawlies” that can set up shop in your puppy’s gut and cause a range of problems. Many puppies have roundworms or other parasites in their gut before you get them home. This is a big part of the reason why we vets usually deworm puppies at their puppy visits, recommend fecal (poop) testing, and vaccinate to prevent Parvo and other devastating diseases. Organ Disease or DysfunctionPuppies can suffer from problems in their liver, kidneys, endocrine/hormonal system, and pretty much any other organ or part of their body. It can be the result of problems they were born with (like a liver shunt), an infection, toxic injury, or something else they’ve picked up. For example, puppies with liver shunts will have stunted growth, poor muscle development, abnormal behavior such as head pressing, seizures, circling, etc. They may also have vomiting, diarrhea, or abnormal appetites. Acute kidney failure due to a toxin or infection can cause decreased appetite, abnormal urination, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, etc. Respiratory InfectionOne of the more common respiratory infections, kennel cough, can be mild and self-resolving, but it can also spread and reach the lungs. Additionally, some puppies can get so congested that they can’t smell. For some, this can be another reason not to want to eat. What to Do When Your Puppy Isn’t EatingRemember, puppies don’t have the same fat reserves as adult dogs. Therefore missing a meal or two can be problematic and be a cause for concern. Always err on the side of caution and call your veterinarian for advice in these situations. Below are some things you can do to try and tempt your puppy’s appetite at home. Tips to Increase a Puppy’s AppetiteIf Feeding Dry Food:
If Feeding Canned Food:
Safe Dog Food Toppers for Both Dry and Canned Foods:
Change Up How You Feed Your Puppy:
If Your Puppy Is Teething:Teething can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful for your puppy. Providing puppy-safe teething toys can give them some relief. A cooling teething stick can help soothe gum irritation and feel good to gnaw on, and the softer rubber in puppy teething toys is gentler on your puppy's sore mouth. Petstages Cool Teething Stick Dog Toy Available at:
Kong Puppy Teething Stick Dog Toy – Pink or Blue Available at:
Help Your Puppy's Stress:If you suspect your puppy is experiencing any type of stress, you can try plugging in an Adaptil diffuser – natural calming pheromone – to help calm your pup. These pheromones mimic the scent of a mother nursing her puppies, encouraging a sense of safety and security. Adaptil Pheromone Diffuser Available at:
Hyper Pet IQ Treat Lick Mat Available at:
You can try spreading a bit of your dog's wet food, peanut butter, pureed pumpkin, or low-fat greek yogurt on this mat to provide a soothing enrichment activity. If you feel really desperate, you can attempt hand feeding. Just be warned, this could become a habit your puppy starts to rely on! Start by feeding from your hand and then work towards holding the bowl for them instead of feeding straight from your hand. From there you can build them up to eating from the bowl on the floor while you're further away Don't Over Treat:Be sure that you are not giving too many treats and spoiling meal time. A puppy that is full of yummy treats won't eat their regular meals because they just aren't hungry. There are a couple of options here to help mitigate extra treat calories and to ensure your puppy is getting a complete and balanced diet during intensive training.
Signs That It’s Time to Take Your Puppy to the VetDon’t hold out for too long. If the above methods don’t work, or your puppy is displaying the following symptoms, you should bring them in for veterinary evaluation.
Questions? To chat with a veterinarian about why your puppy might not be eating, Click here Why It Is Critical For Your Puppy to Eat Properly?For a growing puppy, a good, well-balanced diet is extremely important. Puppies have unique nutritional requirements and therefore need diets specially formulated for their optimal health and growth. When they are not fed appropriately, there is a risk that the puppy’s long-term health could be compromised. You are laying the foundation of a healthy adult when you properly feed your puppy. A well-balanced puppy diet will help:
When you are looking for the right diet, you want to purchase food with the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Official) certification. This is the organization that supervises the entire pet food industry. An ideal diet will also have completed a feeding trial before it is marketed. You want to feed a diet formulated for puppies based on their size (small breed versus large breed formulations are different). A good puppy diet should contain the proper levels of DHA. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is critical in the development of the puppy’s brain and eyes. Can a dog go 10 hours without food?How long can a healthy dog go without eating? Most healthy dogs can go up to five days without food, though that number is only true if your pet is still drinking plenty of water. Some can even go up to seven days without, though you should never let things get that far without taking your dog to the vet.
How long is too long for a dog not to eat?Most dogs can go three to five days without food, while in some cases they can survive seven days or more. However, if your dog won't eat for more than two days, we recommend that you talk to a vet. A bigger issue is water intake. Dogs can go far less without water than without food.
Can a puppy go 12 hours without food?Puppies, unlike older dogs, don't have fat reserves. Therefore, they can't go longer than 12 hours without food. This is particularly true for toy breeds that are prone to hypoglycemia (a drop in blood sugar), which can lead to serious complications.
Can a dog last 12 hours without water?The short answer is that dogs can survive between 48 and 72 hours without drinking, but that doesn't really capture the whole picture. Survival is a minimum and a dog allowed to drink only once every 2 days would be the subject of cruel abuse.
|