Dogs can go from loving their food to turning up their noses at it remarkably quickly, but at what point should owners start to get concerned?
Founder of VetChef Dr Joe Inglis says a loss of appetite could be due to dental problems, pain, stress, infection or a serious illness or disease, reports TeamDogs.
But he advises the best place to start is simply to give in to our pet's fussiness and changing up their diet.
Dr Inglis said: You can approach this in two ways – either try to win the battle of wills with your dog by refusing to give in to their fussiness and hoping they will eventually give in when they are hungry enough.
“Or, more realistically, you can try changing their diet to find a type and flavour of food that they will eat and enjoy.
"Generally speaking, moving away from highly processed foods such as dry kibbles to fresh foods will have a dramatic effect on a dog's appetite, so trying some homemade recipes or good quality wet foods is a great way to go. “
If owners would prefer to persevere with their usual food, Dr Inglis also had some words of advice on how to make it seem more appealing.
He said: "There are other tricks you can try, such as warming food up to body temperature before feeding or adding small amounts of tasty ingredients such as yeast extract (Marmite) or gravy to their food.
“Just be aware that these ingredients can contain a lot of salt so it is best to avoid giving them this every day or in large quantities."
When should owners seek professional help?
Dr Inglis said dogs being put off their food isn’t always a result of them being picky – it could be sign that something more significant is wrong.
At this point, it is important to seek professional help from a vet.
Other related symptoms that could be a cause for concern include:
Weight loss
Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Jaundice
Ultimately, owners are best placed to know when their dog is acting out of character, so Dr Inglis advises anyone concerned to speak to their local vet.
