What to Do When Your Dog Won't Eat: How Long Can They Go Without Food?

If your dog is refusing to eat, you should start by giving them a suitable dose of probiotics to help regulate their gut. Then, carefully observe if they show any other unusual symptoms. After this observation, you can tailor your approach to the specific problem. There are many reasons why a dog might lose their appetite, mainly falling into two categories: physiological and pathological. Therefore, identifying the root cause is essential before taking action to tackle the issue of your dog's refusal to eat.

1. Physiological Anorexia

If your dog is simply not eating without any other unusual symptoms, it is likely due to physiological anorexia. This can occur during pregnancy, teething, heat cycles, when the food doesn't suit their tastes, after excessive exercise, extreme fatigue, if they are thirsty, or during hot weather. Generally, these dogs show no other worrying symptoms, their bowel movements are normal, and they might show some mild discomfort. In these instances, you can often solve the issue by feeding high-quality, nutritious canned food or meat products.

Note: When feeding your dog, make sure you provide food at regular times in proper amounts to prevent gastrointestinal problems caused by overeating. Also, try not to feed your dog too much raw meat or human food to prevent pickiness.

2. Pathological Anorexia

Illness can cause a dog to refuse to eat. For example, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, colds, gastroenteritis, and endocrine disorders can all lead to a loss of appetite. If your dog shows symptoms besides refusing food, like lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or an unusual body temperature, it is more than likely that their anorexia is due to an underlying medical problem. It is recommended to take your dog to the vet immediately for a check-up and begin treatment as soon as a diagnosis is given.

3. Anorexia Due to Mood

A dog's mood can greatly impact their well-being. For example, if a dog doesn't get enough attention from its owner, or is left in a lonely or frightening environment for a long time, their mood will suffer. This can result in a lack of appetite, general lethargy, and a depressed state. In this case, you can help your dog by giving them more attention and playing with them frequently. Their appetite should eventually return.

How Long Can Dogs Go Without Food?

The maximum amount of time a dog can go without food is typically 15-20 days, as long as they have access to water. If they don't eat or drink, their limit reduces to 7-10 days. Dogs are quite resilient to hunger and can go for a long period of time if they are otherwise healthy. However, if they are suffering from an illness and also refuse food and water, their body will not be able to cope, and this can accelerate their decline.

Bonus resource:Pet Knowledge