One of the most asked questions that you`d expect from pet owners is: Why has my dog stopped eating or my dog isn't eating but acting normal – what to do? In general, that's pretty good that this question interests you! Because, as you know, pets, especially dogs, commonly have a big appetite and when they won`t eat their food, this is a cause for concern. 

Of course, you don't need to worry so much, but at the same time, you shouldn't ignore this problem. In case you see that your four-legged friend won't eat, you should keep an eye on him to understand the reason of such an unusual behavior because knowing the reason can really help you to address the problem. By the way, there are a lot of reasons why dogs don't want to eat from the misbehavior of your pet to the serious health problems. Below you'll find the 5 most common reasons why a pet can stop eating.

Very often a lack of appetite may be caused by the offending snack. Unfortunately, even the most well-trained pet dogs never miss the opportunity to eat things from the trash, steal food off the table or gobble up other things that are tasty only to dogs. And as a result of this offending snack, your dog can probably experience stomach pains and stop eating. The main signs of such temporary gastrointestinal upset are diarrhea and vomiting. This state of your four-legged friend often makes him avoid food until he expels the offending matter from his system. It usually takes 24 hours. But if the symptoms of the stomach upset last more than 24 hours, you have to take your dog to the vet.

Of course, you should realize that dogs are the creatures of routine. Well, even the smallest changes in their routine can upset a lot of dogs and make them turn down food! For example, if you unexpectedly change the time you feed your pet or the time you walk him, adding a new family member or moving to a new home, all these changes can make your dog stop eating. But don't worry, it's only temporary until he feels secure again. But you can avoid this problem at all if you make changes slowly or gradually to ensure that your pet is comfortable.

Vaccinations or medications can also often cause a loss of appetite. But this is a temporary loss of appetite in dogs and this is considered by the specialists as a normal reaction. But if your dog doesn't eat a few days, it'd be better to get him to the vet.

With age, dogs really may stop eating because the older they get – the more changes occur with their body and senses. For example, senior dogs often have dental problems and that's why they stop eating their ordinary food. They may want to eat or even be hungry, but the food hurts their teeth. In this case, you should immediately take your dog to the vet because only a professional can reveal the issue and fix it.

Most pet owners start to worry about a loss of appetite too early. If your dog skips his breakfast, don't panic. You need to monitor him for some time. Maybe he hasn't been hungry yet or has spoiled his appetite before the food. And if so, he skips one or two meals and will start eating again!

Here are the main reasons why dogs can stop eating. Well, be attentive to your pet and watch his eating habits in order not to miss the serious health issues. Anyway, it's always useful to take your dog to the vet and check him once again.

Written by Andrew Guerra https://catspurfection.com/