Reasons why dogs refuse dry food. Why the dog does not eat, eats poorly or refuses dry food at all Dog does not eat dry food

A dog, like any living creature, has its own food preferences. If some puppies immediately switch to special food and at the same time only lick their lips, others categorically refuse it. Sometimes such a refusal can happen suddenly, which causes bewilderment in the owner. what to do if he used it before, and what kind of diet to prefer in order to raise a healthy pet, we will consider in this article.

Reasons for rejection

To understand why the puppy began to refuse dry food, it is necessary to monitor his condition. It is important to understand if he is sick, or if there are other good reasons.

It is also important whether the refusal occurred abruptly, or the pet did not initially like dry food.

Maybe he got sick?

If the puppy does not eat dry food, what to do in this situation depends on the general condition of the animal. You should find out if the dog is constipated or maybe has diarrhea. Does the pet have unusual lethargy and apathy?

If the condition of the pet during the examination caused alarm and the appetite suffers, then it is necessary to show it to the veterinarian. The specialist will give recommendations on treatment and with recovery, “drying” will again become a familiar diet.

Lifestyle change

Often the animal is healthy and cheerful, but suddenly it began to refuse its favorite treat. This behavior can be provoked by a change in lifestyle or brand of food.

  1. The puppy may stop chewing on the offered food if the owner abruptly switched from one brand of food to another. Sometimes the owner wants to do the best and chooses more expensive packs. The failure in this case is because economical options are often supplied with flavor enhancers and flavors. In a situation where, on the contrary, wanting to save money, the owner offers the puppy cheaper food, the refusal occurs due to the large presence of soy and the small amount of meat. A person cannot determine this by smell, but his pet can easily do this.
  2. A puppy may refuse dry food if he is addicted to food from the table of people. Do not spoil the animal if you do not want to transfer it to such a diet.
  3. If the owner rarely takes the puppy for walks, does not play with him, then mobility decreases. Accordingly, the animal may lose its appetite.
  4. It happens that dry food is poured into a bowl uncontrollably. The dog does not eat the entire portion at the same time and gradually finishes it during the day. As a result, the puppy simply does not feel hungry for the next feeding.
  5. The time of year must be taken into account. In the summer heat, dry food is required in smaller quantities.

An animal can be cheerful and cheerful, but at the same time refuse to “dry”. If this situation does not last more than one day, then you should not worry.

Getting used to dry food

If the puppy is planned to be fed with ready-made dry food, then his training should take place strictly and without concessions. It is necessary to make it clear to the pet that the owner of the house is a person, and his word is authority. It happens that a pet deftly manipulates the owner's feelings, and then food from the table becomes a common occurrence.

Do not worry and succumb if the puppy looks tenderly into the eyes and begs for a tidbit. If he is hungry, he will come to the bowl and eat.

When a puppy does not eat dry food, what to do depends on the situation. If he is simply spoiled, then it is necessary to add dry pieces to homemade food. Gradually, the food from the table is reduced to nothing, and the pet is completely transferred to “drying”.

It is advisable not to let the animal into the kitchen during training when the household is eating there. If the pet continues to ignore the offered food, you can hold it on the water for 2-3 days. But be sure to be gentle with him at this time, play and walk. Then, after the time has passed, he will greedily pounce on the food you offer.

However, this method is contraindicated in puppies who are not yet 3 months old, adults, but weakened individuals and pregnant women.

Sometimes the rejection of dry food is due to its rigidity. In animals, gums may become inflamed or microcracks may form on the teeth. If you add a little water to the food, then the problem can be solved.

Preventing Rejection

In order for the pet to consume the offered food with pleasure, the choice of food should be taken responsibly. All manufacturers produce products for animals of different classes.

When deciding which food is best for puppies, it is worth choosing premium packs. They contain only meat products and no artificial flavors.

You should also take into account the calorie content of the product. If the breed of the puppy is active, then he will spend more energy than small decorative dogs.

If you need to transfer your pet from one brand of food to another, then you should do it gradually. The necessary food is gradually added to the usual food.

Sometimes the refusal of dry food occurs due to low activity. Some people think that walks are necessary for the puppy to learn to urinate outside the home. However, he also benefits from movement so that his appetite does not suffer.

To avoid unmotivated refusals, you should not pour a large amount of food into the bowl. Sometimes the answer to the question of why a puppy does not eat dry food lies in its excess. If after 10-15 minutes the bowl is still not empty, then the food should be removed before the next feeding.

Puppy Diet Basics

The puppy gets to new owners at the age of 1-3 months. If a shepherd breed pet is already ready to eat on its own by one month, then decorative dogs are only capable of this by three.

Therefore, what to feed a puppy at 2 months depends on its pedigree and previous diet. You don’t need to increase the stress of moving with new food. It is advisable to offer the same foods that the breeder had for the first week in a new place.

When the adaptation period has passed, you can accustom to the necessary food. It is important to learn how to feed a puppy at 2 months old. The pet is still very small, so you should clearly follow the recommendations of the dog handlers and offer food 4-5 times a day. The debate about which food is best for puppies is still ongoing. Feeding only dry requires certain knowledge and financial costs. But the option is preferable if:

  1. There is no way to diversify the dog's menu and feed it with natural products.
  2. The puppy suffers from allergic reactions.
  3. Congenital disorders in the digestive system were found.

In this case, you can be sure that the pet gets everything it needs, and prohibited foods are excluded.

Feeding a puppy according to the rules

The basis of the diet of a small pet should consist of lean meat. It is supplemented with cereals. From the age of two months, fermented milk products should be offered to the pet. It is advisable to give cottage cheese and stewed vegetables.

At about 3-5 months, the natural change of teeth begins in the pet. Therefore, how to properly feed a puppy at 4 months depends on their condition and quantity. In order for the jaws to develop and the bite to be correct, it is recommended to offer soft bones to the animal. It is at this age that it is best to accustom to dry food.

If the puppy is not on ready-made food, then special vitamins and supplements should not be neglected. The basis of the diet of a puppy who is 3-4 months old should be chopped meat, broths, and cottage cheese. For the jaws, it is useful to gnaw on cartilage.

At the age of 6 months, the pet is in dire need of a complete protein food. Fiber, vitamins and minerals are important. So the diet looks like this:

  1. Meat should make up at least 50% of the total diet.
  2. Vegetables - 15-20%.
  3. Cereal crops - 30-35%.

Ready-made dry food is designed taking into account the age of the animal and its activity. Veterinarians recommend that by the age of six months the pet is gradually transferred to such food. It is important that the brand chosen matches the needs of the animal and is a premium product.

How much should a puppy eat per day

The schedule is usually strict, but may vary depending on the breed and diet chosen. In any case, the younger the puppy, the more often he is fed.

  1. Pets from 1 to 2 months old should receive food six times a day.
  2. Puppies from 2 to 3 months - five times a day.
  3. Animals that are already 4 months old can be fed four times a day.
  4. Pets from six months are gradually transferred to an adult diet. At first, food is offered three times, after 8 months - already twice a day.

Overfeeding syndrome is a tight, like a ball, stomach. Such a situation should not be allowed.

Diet of small breeds

A big problem with small breed dogs is their predisposition to heart disease. For this reason, lapdogs should be offered vitamin and mineral supplements from a very young age. The diet must be complete and fully balanced. But it is categorically impossible to compensate for poor food by increasing the number of feedings or in large portions.

Among the minerals in the first place are fluorine and calcium. This is due to the fragility of the spine. With quality nutrition, the bone skeleton should form in a short time.

Sometimes breeders complain that a Chihuahua puppy does not eat dry food. This may be due to the wrong choice. The pet is too small to handle large pieces. He may not like the presence of soy additives, which are easily identified by animals. In order for the pet to eat “drying” with pleasure, it is necessary to select a pack that is designed specifically for dogs of small breeds.

Prohibited Products

There are not too many completely banned products. But you need to know them in order to avoid misses in the diet. You should also learn how to properly care for a puppy so that he grows up healthy and active.

So, one-month-old puppies should not be offered cow's milk, cereals on it, pasta and potatoes. Moreover, regardless of age, the list of prohibited foods includes:

  • raw river fish;
  • raw chicken meat and bones;
  • sausage and sausages;
  • various pickles;
  • fried foods;
  • sweet and savory foods.

To prevent the dog from experiencing health problems, these products should not be given to the animal.

Conclusion

For the convenience of breeders, ready-made, fully balanced feeds are now freely available. Their development takes into account the needs of the animal. You can choose an option for a puppy, an adult large individual or a weakened pet.

If the puppy does not eat dry food, what to do depends on the conditions in which he is kept. The considered causes and methods for their elimination usually act on the animal. In any case, if you have problems with nutrition, you can consult a veterinarian.

Nutrition is a very important condition for the normal life of any animal. It is necessary to correctly compose a diet, choose food suitable for the pet, do not forget about the addition of vitamins. Some owners are faced with the fact that their dog does not eat dry food well. What should be done in this situation?

Why won't my dog ​​eat dry food?

First you need to identify the source of the problem. Not always the reason for refusal of food may be the harmful nature of the animal or the quality of the feed. Veterinarians are advised to pay the attention of the owner to:

  • dog lifestyle (dogs that do not walk and do not train, consume much less food);
  • feeding regimen (if the animal takes food too often, it will refuse part of it);
  • vaccinations or medications (some drugs cause temporary loss of appetite in a dog);
  • poor food (if the food is spoiled or of very poor quality, the dog refuses to eat it);
  • stress (the first walk, moving, the appearance of a new animal in the house cause stress in the pet and a temporary unwillingness to eat);
  • change in feed (perhaps you have previously given the animal a different brand of food, previously mixed vitamins or supplements into the granules);
  • switching from natural to dry food (it will be simply unusual for a dog to eat food of a different kind);
  • illness (one of the alarming signs of illness is refusal to eat).

Solution

Having found out why the dog does not want to eat dry food, you can begin to take action.

If the problem arose due to the health of the animal, then it is necessary to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible. Often a dog does not eat dry food when he has problems with his teeth and oral cavity:

  • tartar;
  • caries;
  • cheilitis (inflammation of the lips);
  • malocclusion;
  • deviation in the development of teeth (polydontia, or polydentation);
  • gingivitis (inflammation of the gums);
  • plaque;
  • stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth);
  • pulpitis (inflammation of dental softness);
  • periodontal disease (deep tissue damage near the tooth);
  • periodontitis (inflammation of the supporting apparatus of the tooth);
  • wounds in the mouth.

In this case, it is necessary to urgently undergo the necessary treatment.

If the owner decides to transfer his pet to another brand of dry food, you need to take into account the developed habits of the animal. You can not too abruptly replace the former food with a new one. This can lead to a situation where the dog does not eat food due to food stress. Breeders are advised to gradually add new food to the already familiar one, increasing its amount over time and replacing the old one.

Attention! Consider how much dry food your dog needs. The packaging always says how much food you need to give your pet, depending on its age, condition, weight, breed. Many inexperienced owners, when switching from natural food to dry food, continue to give the same amount of food, which leads to overeating, and then to obesity.

It will be a little more difficult for those who need to transfer the animal from natural food to dry factory food. The fact is that the rush to change the diet can result in health problems for the pet. Many owners don't know how to get their dog to eat dry food. It is also recommended to mix natural food with factory food. In everyday nutrition, this is not worth doing, but in order for the pet to get used to new food faster, you will have to give him such a “strange” assortment for some time. Increase the proportion of dry food very slowly. If the dog has brittle teeth, the granules can be pre-soaked in milk, kefir or yogurt.

It is far from always that a dog eats dry food badly because of its harmful nature. Pay attention to the behavior of the pet, the state of his health and the quality of the food you offer.

What to do if the dog does not eat, how can you find out the true cause and not miss the symptoms of the disease? Below we will analyze all these issues, but we will immediately indicate that we will talk about a sharp refusal of food. A gradual decrease in appetite, leading to a complete refusal to eat, most often indicates a developing disease.

A very common scenario that causes true panic among owners is when the dog has stopped eating or has had an illness. The owner sees that the dog is on the mend, looks active and abruptly refuses to eat ... a really alarming sign. However, before you panic, make sure that the reasons for ignoring food are not related to your behavior.

While the pet is sick or recovers after the operation, the owner surrounds him with care, pampers, regrets. Dogs are very smart, they can build logical chains and draw conclusions. So, when you feel sorry for the dog and persuade him to eat a treat, he concludes that if you give up the usual porridge, you can get a treat. Of course, the pet needs to be pitied and supported, but moderation is important in everything.

Many owners fall into such a vicious circle when a ward develops a conditioned reflex (habit) to extort goodies through manipulation. We’ll make a reservation right away, if this has already happened to you and your ward, you need to solve the situation gradually. You yourself taught the dog this trick, so punishment and rudeness are inappropriate here. If you decide to overcome the situation with pressure, then in the future, the dog is unlikely to agree to be trained under your supervision.

Have you noticed that the dog does not eat well, are you sure that the pet was not sick and you did not spoil him, what is the reason? In any manual for the content of dogs there are recommendations for compiling a daily routine. Are you following these guidelines? If you do not understand what is at stake, answer the following questions:

  • Do you walk your dog at the same time?
  • Do you feed your dog at the same time?
  • How many treats do you feed your dog during a walk? More or less than half the weight of a normal serving of food?

If the answers to the first two questions are negative, and the third is positive, you are completely ignoring the recommendations for observing the daily routine. Let's look into it right away the question of treats. The daily food intake is calculated taking into account everything eaten. If the dog does not eat from the bowl, but gets a pound of cookies on a walk, he compensates for more than half of his daily food intake and this must be taken into account. You had a good walk with the dog in the evening, fed her sweets and she refused porridge - quite naturally.

Now oh walking and feeding schedule. The digestive system of a dog, without exaggeration, works by the clock. It takes about 6-8 hours to digest meat porridge, if the dog eats dry food, the time increases by about 2 hours. If you feed your dog in the evening, after a walk, and in the morning, after waking up, his digestive system starts up. Digested food residues move from the small intestine to the large intestine and the dog wants to go to the toilet. After the elimination of need, the small intestine is completely freed and ready to digest the morning meal.

If the schedule is violated, that is, if the dog has to endure or you feed him out of hours, the gastrointestinal tract may not be ready to digest a new portion of food. The body is designed so that the dog will not feel hungry as long as there is food in his stomach.. If the pet cannot go to the toilet, he will be worried about more tangible problems - intoxication and pain. Naturally, in such conditions, there can be no talk of a good appetite.

Read also: Orijen dog food

You may notice that a dog eats little if food is always available to him, no, this is not a paradox. All homemade animals tend to eat out of boredom, especially if they are at home without an owner. You, as a caring owner, leaving for work, leave treats or dry food for your pet in case the pet gets hungry. In fact, you are pushing the ward to constant snacking out of boredom, which fundamentally violates the recommendations for regimen feeding. Snacking, as well as constant access to food, negatively affects appetite, since the dog does not feel true hunger, he just eats when he wants to.

There is another reason that many owners miss. If the dog does not eat anything (we are talking about a male), perhaps he met or simply smelled a bitch during estrus. A hormonal surge can deprive a male of his appetite for several days and these are not the most tangible consequences. If your pet is not of breeding value, for the sake of maintaining his health and sanity, it is better to resort to castration at an early age. Note that a male is guaranteed not to respond to females if neutered during adolescence and prior to (spontaneous) mating.

There are also more banal reasons for refusing food, more precisely, not banal, but obvious. For example, the dog needs to feel confident and stable, so the bowl should be placed on a stand, and the feeding area should be covered with a non-slip mat. A bowl that is too deep or too high can feel intimidating or uncomfortable. Some, especially dogs rescued from the street, may afraid to eat in the presence of humans or other animals. It passes, but at first you need to show understanding. There are a lot of similar examples and they are all obvious if you watch a pet.

Adult dogs can go hungry for several days without good reason, arrange the so-called fasting days. If the pet remains alert, drinks water and willingly walks, you should not worry. For a puppy, a fast is harmless if it lasts up to 12 hours; for an adult dog, this period ranges from 24 to 48 hours, and sometimes longer. Hunger is really dangerous in some diseases, for example, diabetes, in which case the dog should be under the supervision of a veterinarian.

How to increase your dog's appetite

A dog's refusal to eat may be due to poor appetite or the development of an illness. If your pet is lethargic, whining, won't drink water, vomits, or she's losing weight fast or lying down, you can skip this section. This is not a matter of reluctance, but of discomfort that prevents the pet from eating. A clear sign of poor health is the refusal to walk, even if earlier the pet was not too happy to walk, the complete disregard for the street speaks of apathy. The first thing to do is to take the pet outside in your arms. If the dog is standing still or lying down immediately, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Refusal of food does not affect the mood of the pet, is he cheerful and happy to go for a walk? In this case, you need to try several methods to improve your appetite. Start by skipping one feeding, such as the morning one. In the evening, offer your pet the usual portion of the usual food. If the treat is eaten with pleasure, the reason is a violation of the feeding schedule. We talked about this above, the dog has a poor appetite, because he really does not feel hunger.

The second method is not to skip feeding, but cut the portion in half. If the dog ate the offered food, behaved normally all day and licked the bowl again in the evening, the reason is overfeeding. Carefully check yourself if you are not exceeding the daily feeding rate for your pet. Consider all snacks, treats, follow the dog, it may be begging for treats from other family members.

Read also: How and what to feed a Yorkie puppy: healthy eating rules

One important nuance: before accusing a dog of overeating, make sure that you feed it well. The reluctance to eat the entire portion offered may be due to the fact that dog doesn't like the taste of food, for example, a dog does not eat porridge because it is stale. The second option is an allergy, a pet may refuse food that harms him. You may not realize that porridge causes a pet to experience abdominal pain or bloating, but the fact remains that the dog feels discomfort. If the dog does not eat dry food, there are several possible reasons:

  • Abrupt change in diet- you have always fed your pet natural food, but decided to transfer it to drying in one day. The dog is likely to refuse food, because for her the food looks inedible, unusual, not appetizing. Dry food does not have the aroma of natural food, and this is a very weighty argument. If the dog has always been fed a natural diet, the refusal of dry food may be due to the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is not able to digest the granules. In any case, the transition to a new type of feeding should be carried out gradually.
  • Poor feed quality- cheap drying is made on the basis of beans, soy or corn. All these products are useless for the dog, so they do not cause a clear appetite. Manufacturers of cheap feeds go to the trick, flavoring their products with flavors and flavor enhancers. This does not make the food more useful ... quite the opposite, but this condition allows you to force a hungry dog ​​to eat pellets.
  • chewing problems- we are not talking about diseases of the oral cavity, but rather about the conventions that you missed. It is difficult for puppies to chew on the pellets because their teeth are a little loose. Older dogs may refuse drying due to thinning of the enamel and discomfort when chewing hard food.

Active walks help increase appetite. Naturally, the dog does not need to be exhausted to the point of exhaustion, but if you have not paid attention to active loads, it is worth a try. All dogs love to play, the type of activity and motivation may vary, meaning you will need to find an approach.

Even older dogs, which, it would seem, are not interested in anything, are happy to accompany their owners on leisurely, but long walks. Your pet may not play with a ball, but he will enjoy the search tasks. With a properly selected load, the dog returns home tired and hungry. Usually the pet drinks, eats and goes to rest. After that, it is advisable to take the dog for a short walk to empty the intestines and bladder. Just like people, it is bad for dogs to tolerate.

Dogs are distinguished by their constancy in tastes, but it happens that they get bored with the taste of familiar food. There are several ways to check this assumption and make sure that the refusal to eat is connected with it in several ways:

  • Offer the dog frozen or boiled meat (without porridge). If the treat is eaten willingly, the dog is tired of porridge, or it has a protein deficiency.
  • Replace cereals with buckwheat, and if you feed buckwheat, then in rice. In the first case, the food will have a more attractive smell. In the second, if the dog is tired of buckwheat, rice will be more readily accepted, since it is neutral.
  • Add stewed vegetables to the porridge - grate the vegetables on the track and simmer with plenty of water. You should end up with a small stew or sauce. Season everything with a little oil and add to the porridge. Vegetables give the porridge a seductive aroma and enhance the taste of meat (if its ratio is sufficient).

In this article, I will look at the reasons why a dog does not eat dry food. I will consider important points when feeding a dog with dry food. I will tell you how to properly transfer a dog from natural food to dry food without harming the health and psyche of the animal. Why does a pet eat poorly or stop wanting dry food after a natural, and what to do or how to force it.

Reasons why the dog does not eat dry

The dog crunched food yesterday with pleasure, and today she returned from a walk and lies sadly by a full bowl? Or there are circumstances when the dog needs to be transferred to dry food, but the animal refuses to eat granules generously poured into his bowl instead of the usual food? Let's try to deal with each case.

The main thing in all situations is to immediately find out whether the dog's refusal to eat dry food is due to health problems or the food itself.

Watch the dog, remember how she behaved on a walk, and what the chair was like the last time. Check for sores and inflammation on the gums and tongue, a specific smell from the mouth or purulent discharge from the eyes? Look into your ears. Comb the coat, are there any mites or irritations?

If something worries you, then be sure to consult with your veterinarian.

The most likely causes of an eating disorder are:

  • diseases of the teeth and oral cavity. In this case, the dog approaches the bowl and tries to chew on the pellets, whines and throws food. Try soaking dry granules or suggest soft.
  • stress. Reassure the dog and surround him with attention, a small piece of treats does not hurt at all.
  • vaccination. May have side effects such as lack of appetite.
  • diseases of the internal organs. You will need to adjust your diet with the help of a veterinarian.
It is categorically impossible to start feeling sorry for the dog and start feeding it from your hands or a common table

What to do if the animal refuses dry

If there are no signs of disease, the dog approaches the bowl, sniffs the contents and goes to the dining table, checking what you eat there, then most likely the problem is with the food.

Important points when eating dry food:

  • the diet should be balanced in nutritional value. If the dog's food does not contain the necessary substances, then this may cause the animal to refuse food.
  • The food has been stored for a long time in an open package. It could be both on your shelf and in the store in the case of hanging types. Aromatic additives could disappear and, conversely, the food could absorb foreign odors. Offer food from the new package at your next meal.
  • substitution of one type of food for another. Read the ingredients of the new food carefully. Pay attention to the order of the ingredients. What is indicated at the end of the list is in the feed in the minimum amount. Smell the package. The smell of dyes is not allowed.
  • check the manufacturer's recommendations for daily food intake. Reduce your serving size by up to 70% if you have a sedentary lifestyle. Clean up leftovers after meals. Walk more often, normalize your pet's daily routine.
  • there is not enough water in the bowl or it is stale. This is especially true in summer, when the pet is hot, appetite is reduced and the need for water increases.
  • The dog likes the food from your table much more and your family members are happy to feed everyone's favorite.

The pet's plaintive eyes and begging for goodies does not mean that he is hungry.

How to teach to eat dry food

If the dog is healthy, and you are determined to switch to dry food, then we begin to act:

  • food should be selected taking into account the age and health of the animal and be as close as possible to the usual natural diet, with a sufficient content of meat, cereals and vegetables;
  • Buy a small package of food in advance and offer it as a treat for walks, games and training. If the pet is happy to eat pellets, then the food is chosen correctly, if not, then try another variety;
  • the transition is carried out gradually, within 10 days. If the pet refuses to eat, then try soaking the granules and mixing it with your usual food. Increase the amount gradually, allowing the dog to get used to the new taste. By the end of the week, when the menu will consist of more than 50% of ready-made food, then already dry granules can be added;
  • keep the two meals a day. A dog should not have food in the bowl all day. Remove leftover food as soon as the pet has eaten;
  • try to persuade the dog to eat, use words familiar to her, do not lose your calm and maintain a friendly atmosphere;
  • walk more and keep your pet busy with games;
  • put a large bowl of water and keep it fresh;
  • ask loved ones to adhere to these rules and not feed from the table, especially during the transition period.

To teach a healthy puppy to eat dry food is quite simple.

And in the case of an adult dog eating from your table or a special menu of cereals, meat and vegetables, it will be much more difficult. You will need to gather all your willpower and mobilize loved ones in order to resist the temptation and not throw a tasty piece to your pet.


It is important to focus on the nature of the pet

If successful, you will breathe a sigh of relief and forget about pots of dog food and running around the market in search of trimmings.

But, if the dog is already old, sick, pregnant or with puppies, then in no case do we conduct such experiments with nutrition.

The answer to this question depends on the reason why the animal refuses to feed. And once you've identified it, you need to take action. All situations when a dog does not want to eat dry food can be divided into two groups. The first category includes cases when an animal already accustomed to “drying” suddenly refused it.

To the second - when a pet is accustomed to wet food or natural food from an early age, and all attempts to transfer it to a dry diet end in failure.

Situation number 1: the dog ate dry food, but suddenly refused it

It is very important to immediately understand whether the dog has lost its appetite at all or simply does not want to eat dry food. The first may indicate health problems, including serious ones.

Checking health

If food refusal is accompanied by other alarming symptoms - lethargy, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, fever, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. Often the reason why a dog does not eat dry food is oral diseases: cracked teeth, tartar, inflamed gums, mouth ulcers.

These problems are easy to notice: the dog wants to eat and even tries to chew on the food pellets, but the pain makes him drop them from his mouth, make several approaches to the bowl and, in the end, refuse to eat at all.

Examine the dog's mouth: the gums are bright red, white purulent sores, cracks are visible to the naked eye. It is necessary to immediately contact a veterinary dentist for help, and soak the granules with water during treatment. Sometimes, but not always, puppies who have not yet had their permanent teeth in their milk teeth do not do well with dry food, so they can also soak it in warm water.

stressful situations

It happens that outwardly healthy dog ​​refuses to eat dry food - what to do in this case? Loss of appetite may be related to stress-related changes in your pet's lifestyle.

A visit to the clinic, a change of home, a long absence of the owner, the appearance of another animal in the house - all this can affect the psychological state of the dog, which makes it lose interest in the usual joys of life. Every effort should be made to eliminate the causes of discomfort, and if this is not possible, give the dog more attention.

Normalizing the mode

Appetite may also be absent because the dog is simply elementary full, so analyze the feeding regimen and lifestyle of the pet. The most common mistakes owners make are:

  • Too frequent and abundant feeding. Usually, two meals a day are enough for an adult dog (this rule does not apply to pregnant and lactating bitches, weakened animals). Adhere to the norms indicated on the food package and keep an eye on the shape of the dog.
  • Constant access to food. It is not uncommon to observe that dry food lies in the bowl around the clock, and the owners complain that the dog "does not eat anything." In fact, with this approach, she simply does not have a chance to work up a normal appetite.
  • Insufficient walking. With a decrease in energy costs, appetite naturally decreases. If you want your dog to eat better, try walking with him longer and more actively, and feed him immediately after the walk.

Situation number 2: the dog is not accustomed to dry food

If your pet is an adult and has never been fed dry on a regular basis, 90% of the time he will turn up his nose at a bowl of pellets and prefer his usual natural or canned food. However, this situation can be reversed with a little patience.

We accustom to a new diet gradually

You should not drastically change the diet, it is better if the transition is gradual, within 5-7 days. If the dog flatly refuses dry food, first mix it with his usual food - canned food or natural food in a ratio of 75% to 25%, and then every day add a portion of the food until you switch to it completely.

At the same time, during the transition period, you can soak the granules with warm water so that their consistency is more like familiar food.

Follow the same gradual transition scheme in the case when you decide to transfer the dog to another brand of dry food, of better quality, and the pet refuses it simply out of habit.

We do not retreat halfway

What to do if the dog does not eat dry food, despite all your efforts? First of all, be calm. If the dog does not want to eat what you have given, wait 2 minutes and remove the bowl until the next feeding.

And be firm, because everyone knows that not a single dog in the world has died of starvation in front of a full bowl. Sooner or later, she will start eating, and given that in nature, dogs can starve without harm to health for up to two or more weeks, then you have a lot of time.

Another thing is that the owner's heart is not a stone, and not every one of us can endure the pleading look of a dog, especially when he sits down to dine. Therefore, most often, a malicious refusal of dry food is observed when something constantly falls from the owner's table to the dog. Perhaps one of the household could not stand the character and fed her the usual food.

Remember that there should be no such exceptions during the transitional period. Warn loved ones not to give anything to the pet: even a small piece of chicken or a tiny cutlet can negate all your efforts. A reasonable move is simply not to let the animals into the kitchen during the owners' meal, and to accustom the puppies to this order from the first days of life in the house.