Dog Anorexia (Anorexia in Dogs)

Being a dog owner is a rewarding experience. Having a dog is like having a child. You have to take care of all of your dogs needs from feeding to bathing and even flea and tick control. When your pet is happy you’re happy but what do you do when you find that your pooch is not eating? How do you know if your dog has anorexia?

An anorexic dog.

First Things First

While it is common for your dog to skip a meal here and there, it is also a clear warning sign when he is not eating at all. The first thing to do is make sure that your dog is happy with his current Dog Diet. You can try a few different types of food but don’t go overboard with this as you can cause him to get an upset stomach and Dog Diarrhea if it is food he is not used to. You can try something easy for him to digest such as some boiled hamburger meat or chicken mixed with a little bit of rice. This is very bland and easily digestible, not to mention very appetizing as dogs love meat and chicken.

Signs to Look for

• Sudden changes in his eating habits or a Dog Loss of Appetite. There may be a gastrointestinal obstruction if he ate something he wasn’t supposed to such as a toy or a piece of clothing, such as a sock. This can also show if he has a chronic illness. If there is an obstruction, most often this will resolve on its own but in some cases the obstruction is too large and surgery may be required.

• Vomiting or nausea: If your dog is gagging this can be a sign of nausea. If this is the reason for your dog not eating, then you will need to find out what is causing the nausea so a trip to the vet will be in order to do a series of tests.

• If your dog has eaten a large amount of food earlier, then it may take his body longer to process all of it therefore he will not be hungry until he digests everything he ate.

If your dog has not eaten for 1 full day, at least 24 hours, then you should take him to the veterinarian. The vet will run a series of tests in order to find the cause of anorexia. Be prepared for blood work, x-rays and maybe even an ultra sound. This will help the doctor diagnose the problem and get your pooch back on track. Keep a close eye on your dog when you notice signs of distress or a change in his eating habits. While you don’t want to run him to the vet with every little thing, you also don’t want to let things go for too long as this can result in serious complications for your pet, especially if he has eaten something he shouldn’t have and he has an obstruction of some kind.