What to do if my senior dog won’t eat?

You should prioritize going to the vet to have your dog checked. Most of the time, senior dogs not eating is caused by dental issues. You can also check if they feel anxious when going to their feeding area. Changing their food to something more appetizing can also help increase their appetite.

What causes older dogs to lose appetite?

The older your dog gets, the more their needs change, especially regarding their diet and feeding routine.

You might have to do several extra things to address the potential causes of their loss of appetite. We’ll discuss some common causes of poor appetite in senior dogs.

Dental issues

Remember how hard it was to eat when you had your first toothache?

This might also be the case for your dog. Having problems with their teeth and gums can cause your dog to eat less.

If this is the case, you can try first to check their mouth and look for signs of dental problems such as:

• Inflamed gums.
• Bleeding gums.
• Excessively bad breath.
• Tartar build-up (yellowish or brownish deposits).

These are all signs of poor dental hygiene, which can occur in older dogs.

Anxiety and fear

Another common reason for dogs to lose appetite is if they feel anxious.

Sadly, senior dogs tend to feel anxious more quickly than their younger counterparts. The feeling of being weak and not being able to see and smell properly all contribute to your dog feeling anxious.

If this is the case, you can accompany your dog while they’re eating.

Some pet owners even go to the extent of hand-feeding their dogs so they’ll feel safe again.

Another solution would be to transfer their eating area to somewhere new. Preferably, this new place would be somewhere quiet and isn’t a pathway where people walking past them can disturb them.

Lack of food variety

You read that right - dogs get bored with food, too!

No matter how much they love a certain brand or type of food, canines can still feel food fatigue.

Giving them a mix of different dog foods, such as fruits, treats, and meats, can make them appreciate their meals even more. 

You can also try to heat their food since dogs like their meals when they smell good. Cold food lacks the aroma that warm food brings.

In some cases, older dogs also don’t like to drink water on top of not wanting to eat. This can lead to dehydration and complicate things more.

If this happens to your furry friend, you can give them a few small chunks of ice. This way, your dog can have a refreshing treat while getting their daily hydration needs.