Fresh water and regular meals are essential for all pets. The only time pets should go without food is before a medical procedure, according to your vet’s instructions.
When dogs don’t eat, this can quickly become a medical emergency. If a healthy dog goes more than about two days without eating food or a day without drinking water, you’ll want to contact your vet right away, says Dr Danielle Bernal, a veterinarian at Wellness Pet Company.
Depending on your dog’s size, health, and water intake, a vet visit could be more urgent. It’s never a bad idea to contact your vet as soon as you notice any changes in their eating or drinking habits, especially if there are other concerning health symptoms.
Read on to learn what to do when your dog won’t eat, important signs to pay attention to, and when to involve your vet.
Factors That Affect How Long Dogs Can Go Without Food
Most healthy dogs can go about 48 hours without eating.
You’ll want to contact your vet sooner if your dog won’t eat and also has any of the following additional risk factors:
Health conditions
If your dog has a health condition like diabetes or cancer, a sudden loss of appetite that lasts more than a meal or two calls for a trip to the vet.
A smaller size
Dr Bernal explains that small dog breeds have a faster metabolism than larger ones. This means they burn through calories more rapidly and can develop hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, if they skip just a meal or two.
Signs of low blood sugar in dogs include:
- restlessness
- confusion or disorientation
- seizure
- fainting
- muscle twitches
- lethargy
- tiring easily when exercising
- shaking
- trouble walking
- vision problems
Older or younger age
A dog’s age can play a big role in the way their body reacts to missing meals.
- Puppies. Puppies need a lot of food to support their rapid growth. Dr Bernal recommends three meals a day for puppies under five months. If your pup hasn’t eaten in 24 hours, call your vet, she says.
- Adult dogs. Healthy adults are more resilient than puppies, but you should still get in touch with your vet if they haven’t eaten for 24-48 hours.
- Senior dogs. As dogs get older, they may develop health issues that affect their eating. Senior dogs are also more likely to get dehydrated. If your senior dog stops eating or drinking, take them to the vet or emergency vet right away.
Low water intake
Dogs can go without eating for a longer time than they can go without drinking water.
If you don’t think your dog has had water for a full day, contact your vet right away.
You may also notice some signs of dehydration, including:
- excessive panting
- dry nose
- dry gums or mouth
- lethargic behaviour
- dry, sunken eyes
- slow response time
- decreased urination
- dark urine
- general weakness, especially when walking
Pro tip: Dr Alex Crow, veterinary surgeon, says you can check if your dog is dehydrated with the skin tent test.
First, gently pinch the skin on the back of your dog’s neck, between their shoulder blades. Then release the skin.
“In a well-hydrated dog, the skin should snap back quickly. If the skin remains tented or returns slowly, that’s a sign of dehydration,” he says.
Signs Your Dog Isn’t Eating Enough
If your dog isn’t eating enough, you may notice the following signs of malnutrition:
- weight loss
- reduced energy and general weakness
- changes in behaviour, including irritability or withdrawal
- changes in their coat, like dull hair, excessive shedding, or a dry, brittle coat
- digestion issues, including vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation
Pro tip: weighing your dog at home is a good practice, but the body condition score (BCS) is a more accurate way to track your dog’s health, says Dr Michelle Dulake, veterinarian and co-founder of Fera Pets. The BCS helps evaluate muscle mass, fat reserves, and body shape to determine if your dog is overweight, underweight, or at a healthy weight.
You can check your dog at home using these BCS evaluation points:
- Ribs, spine, and pelvic bone. Your dog’s ribs should feel similar to the knuckles on an open palm, but they shouldn’t stick out. “If the ribs, spine, or pelvic bones are easily seen, the dog is likely underweight,” Dr Crow says.
- Waist. You should see a visible waistline when looking at your dog from above.
- Stomach. A dog’s belly shouldn’t sag. Instead, it should tuck up slightly toward their hind legs.
- Muscle mass. A well-nourished dog will have good muscle tone and won’t appear skinny or weak.
Tips To Make Sure Your Dog Eats Enough
All dogs have different nutritional needs, depending on their body weight, age, lifestyle, and health. The tips below can help you keep track of your dog’s day-to-day eating habits.
- Know your dog’s ideal daily calorie intake. Your vet can tell you how many calories a day your dog should eat.
- Create a feeding schedule. Unless your vet recommends free feeding, dogs should eat two to three scheduled meals a day. If food consistently remains in the bowl after meals, this could mean they’re getting too much at once and would rather have smaller portions more often.
- Weigh out your dog’s food. Rather than scooping food out with a measuring cup or simply eyeballing it, experts recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh your dog’s food for the most accurate serving sizes.
- Check for signs of malnutrition. Review the above signs of malnutrition and routinely monitor your dog’s BCS for any significant changes.
- Talk to your vet. If you think your dog isn’t eating enough, keep track of their food intake and ask your vet about adjusting their meal sizes or schedule. Your vet can also help determine possible reasons why your dog won’t eat.
How To Keep Your Dog On A Feeding Schedule
A set feeding schedule can help you keep track of your pet’s eating habits. Plus, pets love routine. Knowing when to expect meals can help reduce anxiety and may prevent begging between meals.
Try these tips to stick to a regular feeding schedule:
- set reminders on your phone
- hire a sitter for drop-in visits if you have to leave early or stay out late
- try an automatic feeder
- portion out food ahead of time
- subscribe to a pet food delivery service that offers pre-portioned meals
When To Consult Your Vet
A small decrease in your dog’s appetite may not be a reason to worry, but it’s always a good idea to discuss any changes in your dog’s eating habits with your vet.
Even if there’s nothing wrong, your vet can offer some signs to pay attention to that will help you recognise a possible health concern right away.
It becomes an emergency if your dog hasn’t eaten for 48 hours, but some dogs may need medical treatment sooner. If your dog hasn’t eaten or drunk water for a full 24 hours, contact your vet right away. They can offer guidance on next steps.
They’ll most likely want to examine your dog and review their health history. Dr Bernal says your pup’s exam may include:
- blood tests to check overall health and organ function and rule out diseases
- faecal exams to identify parasites, infections, or gastrointestinal problems
- urinalysis to assess kidney function and urinary tract problems
- X-rays to reveal any abnormalities in the digestive system or other areas
End-of-life considerations
No one knows your pet as well as you do. If you begin to notice a decline in their quality of life, like a loss of energy and appetite or signs of pain, you can talk to your vet about the next steps that are best for your dog. Together, you and your vet can explore all of the options available.
In some cases, additional medical support may improve your dog’s quality of life and health. However, sometimes comfort measures and compassionate euthanasia may be the best choice for your pet.
How To Encourage Your Dog To Eat
If your dog won’t eat, you can do a few things to encourage their appetite.
Dr Bernal says the first step is making sure they’re in a comfy environment. Simply being around you, or another friendly face, may ease some of their anxiety and help them regain their appetite, she says.
If they’re already at home and getting their favourite foods, these vet-recommend tips can also help:
- warm up their food
- add low-sodium chicken broth, dog-safe gravy, or meal toppers to dry kibble
- try a different food brand or flavour
- offer baby food with dog-safe ingredients
- try hand-feeding them.
Should you ever force-feed your dog?
It’s entirely natural to worry when your dog won’t eat, but experts caution against force-feeding your dog.
“It can cause stress and potential injury to both you and your dog,” Dr Dulake says.
Instead, try the above feeding techniques. If those don’t work, your vet can offer more guidance.
