It can be difficult to know the difference between a dog being fussy and sick, especially if they are picky about their food. How long can a dog go without eating? When should you call a vet, and when is a reduced appetite an emergency?
In this article, we’ll answer all of these questions and discuss potential reasons that your dog isn’t eating their food.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Eating?
A healthy dog can go around three to five days without eating, so long as they’re still able to drink water. Of course, doing this on purpose would be abuse–but sometimes, dogs stop eating on their own, and we worry about them as pet parents!
That said, you also shouldn’t wait this long to bring your dog to the vet. We recommend scheduling an appointment if your dog refuses more than a single meal. If they haven’t eaten in more than a day, they’ll need to see the vet more urgently.
Bring your dog to an emergency vet clinic if they experience additional symptoms such as pale or blue gums, weakness, lethargy, a swollen abdomen, or excessive vomiting. We’ll discuss how to spot an emergency illness below.
Why Isn’t My Dog Eating?
Pickiness
Some dogs are picky about their food. They may grow bored with their food easily and want a change, or they may prefer sticking to the same food rather than trying something new you’ve bought. (This can also happen if you try to switch foods too quickly, rather than using a gradual process.) However, you shouldn’t assume your dog isn’t eating due to pickiness unless you’ve ruled out other causes. There’s usually an underlying reason your dog isn’t eating their food, and ignoring it can lead to more severe symptoms.
Anxiety
Anxiety in dogs can cause symptoms like stomach upset or lack of appetite, which can make it difficult or uncomfortable for your dog to eat. Anxiety can be a temporary emotion, such as when your dog is afraid of fireworks going off during dinner time. It can also be an illness, such as separation anxiety or generalized anxiety. If the anxiety is temporary, it’s okay to wait it out and feed your dog later. But if your dog is regularly becoming so anxious that they won’t touch their food, it’s time to speak with your veterinarian or a dog behaviorist.
Digestive Issues
Your dog may be experiencing tummy troubles that make them unwilling to eat. These may be due to something they ate, an illness, or anxiety, as mentioned above. Some signs that your dog is having digestive issues include vomiting, diarrhea, or discomfort when their stomach is touched.
Allergies
If your dog is allergic to something in their food, they may start to feel unwell after eating. This can make them avoid eating meals to avoid their allergy symptoms.
Symptoms of food allergies in dogs include digestive problems and skin issues such as redness, itching, or dryness. Other indicators include frequent ear infections or changes in your dog’s energy levels, such as increased or decreased activity.
Spoiled Food
It’s also possible that your dog’s food is stale or spoiled. This can happen when it’s left out for too long–even with kibble! Dog food may also go bad if it is improperly stored, if the packaging is damaged during shipping, or, more rarely, if it contains spoiled ingredients from the start.
If you’re feeding wet food, you can often tell whether it’s spoiled by the smell. Canned food should only be left out for a maximum of two hours. Once opened, it can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Kibble can be left out for 24 hours, but some dogs won’t eat it after it’s sat out for too long. Most dogs prefer fresh kibble.
For most dogs, it’s best to serve meals that they can eat in one sitting, even if that means feeding smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Free feeding can pose a variety of problems, including obesity and difficulty monitoring food intake (which can make changes in appetite more difficult to spot).
Health Problems
Often, one of the first signs of a health problem in our pets is a change in appetite. That’s why it’s important to take it seriously when your dog doesn’t eat their meals and to see a veterinarian quickly. Health problems that can cause decreased appetite range widely and include dental disease, kidney disease, liver problems, cancer, and pancreatitis.
When to See a Veterinarian
It’s fairly normal for dogs to skip a meal or two throughout their lives. Perhaps they’ve eaten something bad and lost their appetite, or they’re too nervous to eat but will be ready later. You don’t need to panic if your dog refuses to eat breakfast, but is hungry by dinner–unless this happens frequently.
If your dog refuses to eat for a full 24 hours, it’s time to see a vet. If your dog has a lowered appetite but is still eating, you can wait 48 hours to see if their appetite improves. These rules apply even if your dog is acting normally otherwise, as changes in appetite often indicate a larger issue. Not eating for an extended period can also make your dog weak and less able to recover if they do show symptoms of illness later on.
Emergency Conditions
Sometimes, a dog not eating can be a symptom of a serious condition that warrants immediate veterinary care. If your dog shows the following symptoms alongside their inappetence, call your nearest emergency vet clinic:
- Swollen abdomen
- Hunched back
- Excessive drinking
- Excessive vomiting
- Retching
- Pale or blue gums
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Collapse
- Rapid breathing or heart rate
- Excessive drooling
These can be signs of pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, or bloat. These conditions progress quickly and are deadly if left untreated.
