Your dog may not want to eat sometimes, but it’s worse when it won’t eat at all. This might not be very nice, and you might wonder how long your furry friend can go without food. Most of the time, your dog won’t eat for a short time, but if it does, it will lose weight very quickly. But if this problem keeps happening for a long time, it’s a sign that something is wrong, and maybe very wrong.
Find out why your dog isn’t eating and what you can do to make a change in your pet’s eating habits in this comprehensive guide.
How Long Can Your Dog Go Without Eating?
Every dog is different, & there is no “safe” number of days that a dog on a hunger strike can go without eating. However, most healthy dogs can go three days without eating as long as they drink water. Please keep in mind, though, that a change in appetite can be a sign of something very serious, so if you’re not sure, make an appointment to see your vet.
How Long Can An Unhealthy Dog Go Without Eating?
If your dog isn’t in the best of health, going five days without food will probably make him sicker. Yours might only last three days without food and even less without water.
Why Your Dog Isn’t Eating
The most important question for a dog owner is why their dog isn’t eating. Your pet might not be eating for a lot of different reasons. Some of these causes may be easy to fix by changing your diet, while others may be much harder to fix than you think. So, here are some things that could make your pet not eat as much as usual.
Your Dog Is Choosy
Dogs are sometimes picky eaters. You might want to give your different dog kinds of food until you find one he likes. This might mean you have to be more patient with your furry friend and spend more money on dog food.
Medical Issues
Some health problems can make your dog lose its appetite, so he or she won’t eat. Some of the most common medical problems are gingivitis, stomach upsets, and other infections.
Cognitive Problems
Some dogs have conditions that make it hard for them to think and understand things clearly. This can change how they eat. For example, depression and anxiety are known to make dogs lose their appetite, just like they can make people lose their appetite.
Read more: CAN DOGS EAT TOMATOES?
What To Do If Your Dog Won’t Eat?
Numerous factors were previously mentioned as explanations for why your dog can refuse food, and it’s different for every dog. You need to carefully look at your dog to figure out what’s wrong and find possible solutions. Keeping that in mind, here’s what you should do if your furry friend fasts for a long time.
Finding Out Why Your Dog Is Not Eating
To figure out why your pet dog might not want to eat, you should look for signs of illness in any changes in their behavior, dog food, and body. If you can figure out what caused the problem, it will be easier to find a way to fix it.
Get Their Favourite Dog Food
Some problems, like being picky, are easier to fix. For example, you can try to buy your dog’s favorite food, and if it starts to eat, make sure you have enough. At Iams, we try to make the best dog food in the world, and you can be sure that your dog will love the food we make just for them.
Take It Easy
You shouldn’t freak out when your dog doesn’t eat one meal. Just like people, your pet may lose its appetite for a short time without necessarily being hurt in the long run. As long as the dog doesn’t do anything strange, you shouldn’t worry about the problem. If you don’t eat for one or two days, it could be a problem. But if you’ve been fasting for more than two days, you should act right away.
Take Your Dog To A Vet
If nothing else works, the last thing you can do is take your dog to the vet. So, you’ll know what’s wrong with your dog.
FAQs
How Long Is It OK For A Dog Not To Eat?
It is estimated that a dog may spend three to five days without food and, in extreme situations, even seven days. A vet should be consulted if your dog hasn’t eaten in more than two days. The consumption of water is a more serious problem. Dogs have a far shorter endurance without water than they do without food.
When Should You Worry About A Dog Not Eating?
If your dog stops eating and there is also vomiting or diarrhea, you should take them to the vet within 8-12 hours. In the absence of these signs, emotional concerns are among the most plausible explanations for your dog’s lack of appetite.
Why Won’t My Dog Eat All Of A Sudden?
A dog may refuse food and drink if it is suffering from any condition that makes it uncomfortable, including but not limited to kidney disease, pancreatitis, intestinal parasites, liver illness, cancer, infection, intestinal obstruction, etc. Dogs, like people, can’t survive for more than a few days without water. Therefore this is a severe problem.
Should I Force My Dog To Eat?
After 48 hours without food, you can use a syringe to force-feed your dog. Only after your vet has checked your pet and given you the all-clear should you resort to force-feeding.
Do Dogs Get Bored Of The Same Food?
No. When compared to humans, dogs really have fewer taste receptors. Consequently, they are less likely to feel the need to constantly experiment with new foods. For variety’s sake, so Fido doesn’t get sick of his meal.
How Long Can A Dog Safely Go Without Eating
While the “safe” number of days for a dog on a hunger strike varies depending on the breed and individual circumstances, most healthy dogs may survive without food for up to three days, provided they are given access to water.
How Long Can A Dog Go Without Eating Or Drinking
Dogs can naturally go longer without eating, but their tolerance for going without water is significantly lower. A dog can only go three days without drinking water but can survive without food for at least five to seven days.
Parvaiz Yousuf is a senior SEO writer and editor with an experience of over 6 years, who also doubles up as a researcher. With an MSc zoology degree under his belt and possessing complete Search Engine Optimization (SEO) knowledge, he works as a science journalist for a US-based website and Asian Scientist (A Singapore-based magazine). He also works as Director of Wetland Research Centre, Wildlife Conservation Fund YPJK since 2018. Besides, he has several publications to his name on cancer biology and biochemistry in some reputed journals such as Nature & International Journal of Molecular Sciences, & magazines such as Science Reporter, BUCEROS BNHS, and has an abiding interest in ornithology. He also worked as a Research Associate for JK Policy Institute.
