11/11/2025
Didn't Eat Their Tucker?
Should I Worry If My Dog Hasn't Eaten?
All living creatures require food to survive; without sustenance, we would become ill and eventually die. Your dog is no exception; they need an adequate and balanced diet to stay strong and healthy. However, what if your dog won't eat dinner and may even refuse a treat?
Well, don't worry too much! Dogs survive for a while without food. Before panicking about a skipped dinner, think about what they have eaten in the past 24 hours. Have they been getting human food or lots of treats? Today, we will look at how long they can go without food before visiting the Vets, why they may not be eating, and some ideas to help restore their appetite.
As long as our dogs keep their fluids up with access to water, a healthy adult dog can typically go 3 to 5 days without food, although personally, I wouldn't want to leave it that long without seeking medical advice. Typically, their ancestors and today's wild dogs would go days between hunts with intermittent fasting.
Three to five days is the average for a healthy dog; however, if you have a small dog, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek advice if they go longer than three days.
Puppies have higher metabolisms than adult dogs and must eat several times daily. If your puppy isn't eating after 24 hours, it is best to consult a vet, as they can become dehydrated or hypoglycemic.
There can be health-related reasons your pup is not eating, which could be a symptom of severe conditions like cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, pain, or systemic infections.
Reduced appetite can also be a sign of;
Dental pain: They may have gum disease, tooth decay, or a broken or loose tooth; all of these can give them pain while eating.
After Vaccinations: All vaccines carry a risk of adverse side effects, including appetite loss. Usually, this is minor and brief, but if appetite loss persists, contact your veterinarian.
Medication: Frequent antibiotic use can lead to loss of appetite. It usually takes a day or two for adverse effects to appear, so pay close attention to your dog if they are on prescription medication like antibiotics.
Depression or Anxiety: If they feel uncomfortable or stressed. There can be many reasons for dog anxiety, such as a new home, travel, house guests, a new dog in the family or a family member not at home for some reason; they may go off their food and need time to adjust.
Recovery from surgery:
Occasionally, pups won't eat but will continue to act normally. They don't show other symptoms and will continue to drink water, eat treats, and have their usual energy for activities and play. In this case, your pooch may be suffering from temporary digestive issues. A dog with a digestive upset will naturally fast for a couple of meals; it's perfectly normal for a dog that doesn't feel well to give its digestive system a break by fasting for 12-24 hours.
Consider the possibility they may not like the food. For example, have you recently added something new to their dinner bowl, or have the ingredients or formula changed if you feed them commercial food? Has the oil sprayed on kibble (dry food) become rancid because the bag is opened for too long (it only takes a couple of weeks)? Your dog may be telling you something!
Tips to try to increase the fur child's appetite:
Change your hound's food. If you feed Fido homemade raw, try lightly cooking their meal; if you provide cooked food, swap to raw. You could try a different recipe with different proteins. If you feed premade, try another brand or protein. Or, if you feed processed food like dry or tinned food, consider adding meat to their bowl or switching to a different brand.
Exercise; a good walk before mealtime will stimulate their appetite.
Cut back to one meal a day if you feed them two. This way, they will be hungry for dinner and more inclined to eat it all.
Add pre-and probiotics, bone broth, or raw goat's milk to their meal to support good gut health.
Experiment with changing meal times or where you feed them. They may be more comfortable eating in a quieter place at a different time of the day.
Just heating your dog's dinner can increase the smell and overall palatability. The more robust and fragrant aroma may tempt your pooch to take a bite. Then, the improved taste will encourage them to continue eating.
If things are desperate, try hand-feeding your pup a bit at a time. After a few pieces, it may encourage them to finish the bowl themselves. But even if you hand-feed them the entire serving, at least they ate.
Healthy dogs will not starve themselves, so if your pup is picky, it is OK to let them skip meals until they feel hungry. Obesity in dogs has become a significant problem primarily due to overfeeding and a lack of exercise. If your dog is overweight, missing a few meals could be good.
If all you've tried doesn't entice them and they continue to refuse their food, a holistic vet or animal nutritionist's advice is an excellent place to start.
