One of the most important things for keeping your dog happy and healthy is their diet. If your dog won’t eat his food but will eat treats, it means all is not well in doggy land. There can be various reasons for this common problem. Read on to find out more.
Some of the reasons why your dog won’t eat his food but will eat treats include:
Boredom
It’s not unusual for a dog to become bored with their routine food. Imagine eating the same thing for every meal every day, and you’ll know what we mean. You can try mixing up his diet (read tips on choosing the best dog foods) and see if that solves the problem. Just make sure you don’t give your dog potentially dangerous human foods that can be harmful to our canine friends.
Stress and anxiety
If your dog is anxious or stressed about something, it can affect their appetite. They may refuse food and accept treats because treats are comforting. If you’ve recently started going away to work for a few hours a day or just added a second dog to the family, those could be potential sources of stress.
Behavioral issues
Your dog may be refusing to eat food but eating treats because of behavioral issues, such as attention seeking behavior. When your dog doesn’t eat, you worry, and give them more attention, talking to them in a soothing tone while you wonder what’s up. Sometimes, dogs will crave this attention from you and will learn to stop eating in order to get it. Or they will get into the habit of refusing healthy foods and holding out for their favorite treats. If you have multiple pets in the household, power dynamics with another animal may be playing a role. Once you get to the bottom of the cause, you can come up with ideas on how to deal with your dog’s loss of appetite.
Disruption of routine
Dogs do well with a daily routine, including mealtimes. If you’ve had disruptions to the usual routine, for example, while moving houses, it could result in your dog having a poor appetite. Or if you’ve just bought a new food bowl, the material, height, or location may be causing your dog to abandon food but still accept treats. This refusal of food is usually temporary and abates once the dog adjusts to the new routine, surroundings, or equipment.
Over-treating
If you or other members of the family have been spoiling your dog with treats, it could result in him refusing food but accepting treats. Like humans, dogs are not the best at controlling food cravings, and treats are delicious. Make sure you don’t give your dog treats or snacks around mealtimes, and limit the number of treats per day to a healthy amount.
Medication side effects
If you have recently started your dog on a new medication, the side effects may be causing a decreased appetite. Check with your vet if you suspect this is the case. The vet may change the dose or type of medicine your dog is taking.
Medical issues
Sometimes, the reason for your dog not eating his food but eating treats is more serious. It can include medical problems such as dental issues which make it painful for your dog to chew certain types of food. Other serious illnesses such as liver disease, kidney disease, gastrointestinal conditions, and cancer can also cause a dog to stop eating. Your dog may continue accepting treats for comfort while refusing to eat food. If this continues for more than a day or two and you can’t identify any other reason for it, talk to your veterinarian.
Dog trainers and experts recommend that you take away any uneaten food within 10 minutes. This helps to lock-in mealtimes and prevents grazing outside of mealtimes. Sticking to mealtimes helps your dog develop a routine and get used to it.
If your dog hasn’t eaten for more than 12-24 hours, it could be something serious, especially if the lack of appetite is accompanied by lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian or take your dog to the emergency room as soon as possible.
You should stick to a daily routine and give your dog a balanced, healthy diet at regular mealtimes at least twice a day. Cut back on treats so that they don’t mess with your dog’s appetite. Especially avoid giving treats just before mealtimes. Maintain consistency in the type of dog food you give your pooch, but if boredom is a possible reason for his poor appetite, try mixing things up. You can also try taking your dog for a walk before mealtimes to help work up an appetite. Try feeding them alone, away from other animals in the home. Change the food bowel or its height or location. These changes will help you identify why your dog is not eating his food but will eat treats.
24 January, 2024