Owners of four-legged pets often encounter a situation where a dog eats nothing. In a caring owner, such a pet's behavior causes fear and additional anxiety. When the dog eats nothing and lies staring at one point, of course, this raises fears. It seems that the worst has happened and the consequences can be terrible. Some particularly impressionable owners immediately mentally begin to say goodbye to their favorite. Of course, one should not go to such extremes; you will not help this, but just be upset. In reality, everything is not as tragic as it seems at first glance. No need to aggravate the situation with negative thoughts. Do not pre-configure yourself for the bad.
If the dog does not eat anything, this does not necessarily occur due to illness. There are other reasons. In fact, there are a lot of reasons to refuse your favorite food: problems with teeth, ear diseases, pain of various etiologies, stomach ulcers, the consequence of long-term use of certain drugs. To understand why the dog does not eat anything, you need to watch it for a while, and if necessary, visit a veterinarian.
Eye and nose condition
This is the first thing to check if the pet refuses the usual diet. Typically, problems are visible to the naked eye. If there are any inflammations and disorders, it will be necessary to treat them, and not try to cause appetite in the animal by all means. If all the signs indicate the development of the disease, you should consult a veterinarian, and not invent additional anxieties for yourself. Otherwise, you can cheat yourself so that you have to save the owner, not the dog.
Oral health
Sometimes a four-legged friend simply cannot chew food well for the reason that there are numerous sores and wounds in the mouth. Unhealthy teeth also do not allow you to fully enjoy life. The animal suffers, suffers, but cannot say aloud to the person about its ailments. If the dog does not eat anything for this reason, it is necessary to find out the state of the oral cavity as soon as possible. As a rule, such ailments are treated easily and simply. There is nothing terrible and deadly in them.
Period
You should not immediately sound the alarm if your beloved pet simply refuses food and at the same time feels normal. When motor activity and other signs of health persist, and during a visual examination, nothing suspicious was revealed, then nothing serious was happening. Perhaps the dog refuses food due to excessive heat.
Do not forget to give your pet drink as much water as possible - it should always be fresh and kept within the animal's reach. Worry should begin when a furry friend misses the second or third feeding and at the same time his condition rapidly deteriorates. But, as a rule, serious violations become apparent in less than six hours.
Behavioral symptoms
When the dog eats nothing, observe the other features of its manifestations of life. Does the animal express a degree of anxiety? Does his thirst, tension in his stomach torment him? If these symptoms are present, symptomatic treatment should be initiated. In each case, the approach to getting rid of the suffering of the pet should be his own. But do not rush things or make premature diagnoses. So you will not help your pet. You can eliminate behavioral symptoms when you know exactly what it is.
Change nutrition
If you notice that the dog is sluggish, eats nothing after certain industrial feeds, think about it. Perhaps it is worth changing the brand or even choosing natural products. High-quality feeding is the key to a pet’s health. Change your dog’s diet if you know that you are giving her not very fresh food. Do not save on the health of your friend who is so selflessly devoted to you! Do not feed the animal leftovers from your table. Much of what a person quietly consumes is contraindicated in tailed friends.
Buying cheap food sooner or later will lead to irreparable consequences. They contain too many dyes and preservatives, lacking natural ingredients. Having reviewed the issue of nutrition, you can confidently say that feed your pet correctly and balanced.
When to contact a veterinarian
If the situation repeats more than one day, and the dog eats nothing, only drinks, then, in fact, there are serious violations. The animal needs help as soon as possible. Pet health can be shaken by various factors. What really needs to be remembered is that you cannot procrastinate with veterinary help. It is extremely undesirable to make the animal suffer and not take any decisive steps in order to correct the situation. After all, would you not allow your child to suffer from fever? Then why should the animal be tormented? Remember that having taken a tailed pet into your home, you have already taken responsibility for it.
The veterinarian should be consulted when the dog eats nothing, just lies and drinks. If all your attempts to bring a pet to life, it does not respond properly, then the matter is really bad. You need to immediately visit a specialist and the sooner the better. Remember that it is much more difficult to treat the consequences than to eliminate the cause of the disease. If you can’t get to the doctor right now, try to alleviate the condition of your four-legged friend. You should give him a drink as often as possible, since dehydration of the body threatens with serious consequences.
Blood analysis
This simple medical procedure can show if your pet is really sick. Turning to a veterinary clinic, insist that the dog do a blood test. This action for a competent doctor will take less than a minute, but it will show the real state of the animal. It is from a blood test that you can determine the underlying diseases, including infectious ones.
Do not leave the clinic until you achieve a satisfactory result. If for some unknown reason you were denied in one place, then you should try your luck in another. Do not give up, fight for the health of your furry friend.
X-ray of internal organs
They resort to this manipulation when there is reason to suspect something is amiss. Sometimes young dogs accidentally swallow some objects on the street. In case of problems with internal organs, an x-ray will also show any changes. This procedure should not be afraid, you only need to prepare your pet for it, do everything necessary so that he does not have to feel additional discomfort. As a rule, the dog is kept on a leash and is present nearby while the study is undergoing. If the dog is too nervous, you should calm her down first. Otherwise, due to constant movement, the diagnostic results may be inaccurate.
Ultrasonography
It passes quickly and allows you to identify any violations in the work of internal organs. Ultrasound is usually performed on an empty stomach. If the dog refused food for twelve hours or more, then special training is not even required. The results of the study can be considered fully reliable if you contacted a qualified specialist. Believe me, it’s better to once again go to the veterinary clinic, pay money and make sure that there are no any pathologies, than suffer in ignorance and constantly worry about the animal’s health.
Attentive attitude
When the dog falls ill and eats nothing, the caring owner begins to worry. Indeed, in many cases there is every reason for anxiety. The most disappointing thoughts immediately begin to creep into the head. To overcome them, it is necessary to make significant efforts on yourself. After all, I want to give the pet everything you need so that he will please you for many years.
Attentiveness to your four-legged friend can create a miracle. Just be near, often say kind, kind words. Be sure to pet your pet, look into his eyes. Let him feel your care and support. There are cases when, even in the presence of serious diseases, the animals recovered, having felt sincere love and care of the owner.
Do not force feed
When a dog is not feeling well, the worst thing you can do is try to shove food into her mouth against her will. Nobody will like this attitude to oneself. Most often, the animal tries to free itself and escape, collecting the remaining forces. Do not force-feed, this can only make it worse. If the dog doesn’t eat anything, and you don’t know what to do, it’s better to leave it alone for a while. No one will like it if they are treated like an inanimate object. Listen to the condition of the dog. As a rule, this helps to find the right solution. Sometimes sleep promotes recovery: strengthens the nervous system, significantly relaxes. In some cases, improvement occurs after only a few hours.
Thus, there are many reasons why a dog can categorically refuse food. The owner should be vigilant, but not cheat himself in vain. It is better to visit a veterinary clinic once again than to hope for a happy event. Remember that in some cases, procrastination can adversely affect your pet’s health. Having made a fourth friend, a person should take full responsibility for his health, nutrition and overall well-being.