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Dr.Tail

Loss of Appetite in Pets: Why Did My Pet Stop Eating?

Loss of appetite in cats
Photo by Tim King on Unsplash

If your pet suddenly starts refusing food, pet parents start to worry. Is my pet bored of this food? Is my pet not hungry? Or is my pet sick? And if food remains uneaten in the bowl, pet parents will start looking for answers on the internet.

Loss of appetite can signal underlying health problems for your pet.

It could be caused by recent vaccination, environmental changes, dislike of new food and dietary changes, or other stress. Though the loss of appetite does not require immediate medical attention, it’s important to monitor for changes or abnormalities because it could be a sign of various diseases.

The following are methods recommended by WebMD to stimulate a pet’s appetite.

Dog

  • Walking your pets before eating.
  • Cutting back on treats.
  • Planning a feeding schedule of at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart.

    • Cat

  • You can not let them be a picky eater, especially with food items such as tuna. Appetite stimulants should be only given in small portions because familiarization with stimulants causes a nutritional imbalance.
  • Let your pet try out various food items. Feed them from cooked food to fresh food and sometimes mix raw items. (Egg, meat, and fish must be cooked)
  • We recommend changing the brand of the food two to four times a year.

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    References

  • https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety
  • https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/my-cat-wont-eat#2

    • CareAppetiteDiet