Puppies are one of the greatest stress relievers that a person can have. They provide happiness and joy to those that have them and it does not take long for them to become a big part of the family. As pet owners, we want the best for our puppies and that includes making sure they have healthy options for mealtimes. It can be worrisome when a puppy won’t eat their food. Here are some common reasons that a puppy may not eat their food.
Fussy Eater
Most puppies and dogs will eat anything that is placed in front of them. Some puppies, however, will become fussy about their food and will refuse to eat what they don’t like. If this happens, there are a couple of things you can try to get them to eat.
- Add Some Flavor- You can add flavor by adding a little wet food to the dry puppy food, or by adding a flavor such as hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, or some ground burger or turkey. You do not want to do this too often as they will get used to the added flavor and may not eat without it.
- Switch It Up. Sometimes it is necessary to switch the brand or type of food entirely. There are times when a puppy may not like the flavor, or even the texture of the current food. This will cause them to refuse to eat.
You may also want to try to enroll them in a dog boarding service to help train your dog. Socialization may help them to get to eat if they’re seeing other dogs eating the same thing. You may also consider switching to other food brands, Show animal Feed, etc., which might help your pets regain their appetite.
Sickness
When humans get sick, they often do not feel like eating. Puppies are no different when it comes to losing their appetite when they feel bad. If your puppy is vomiting, has diarrhea, or otherwise shows signs that they are sick, then it’s time to visit an animal hospital for a check-up. If they are simply laying around and choosing not to eat, give it a day or two to see if their appetite picks back up. If not, here are a few things you can try:
- Hand Feeding. Sometimes puppies and dogs will gladly eat out of a hand. Do not make this a habit however or you may find that you must continually feed them by hand.
- Flavor. Add some flavor such as beef or chicken broth or small pieces of warm meat to entice the puppy to eat his puppy food.
- Wet food. Try to wet the food with a little warm water or try a small amount of wet puppy food.
Nerves
Stress can cause a puppy to not want to eat. Some puppies have separation anxiety while others may be nervous around people altogether. It may help to feed the puppy when you are home rather than just leaving a food dish sitting around when you leave the house.
Growing puppies need a well-balanced diet. If your puppy refuses to eat after a couple of days, and you have tried to help them on your own, the best way to help is to speak to a licensed veterinarian.
