Why Is My Dog Not Eating Well?

Does your dog shows signs of dental problems, like inflamed gums and mouth, tooth pain, etc.?

Did you notice your dog’s loss of appetite shortly after you took it to the vet for routine vaccinations?

Does your dog show signs of sickness?

Did the appetite loss happened after a journey or change in your dog's surroundings?

The reason your dog won’t eat may be an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Although vaccines have saved millions of animals, they do cause side effects in some. The majority of these are minor and brief, including a temporary loss of appetite in dogs.

A decreased appetite in dogs is often a sign of sickness, especially if your dog is exhibiting other symptoms at the same time. Although a loss of appetite in dogs doesn’t necessarily indicate serious disease, prompt veterinary attention is important because it could be a sign of significant illness, including cancer, various systemic infections, pain, liver problems, and kidney failure.

If your dog’s appetite was fine until you went on a trip with them or moved to a new location, it may be that your dog won’t eat because of traveling or the unfamiliar surroundings. Some animals may get motion sickness, and others become nervous or uncomfortable in new places.

Some dogs are just picky, or their refusal to eat may be caused by feeding them in situations where they aren’t comfortable, such as around an aggressive dog or from a bowl at an uncomfortable height. Because a decreased appetite in dogs may be caused by illness, never assume that your dog is picky without investigating other possibilities first.