14
Jan
If you notice your senior dog is having a hard time eating his kibble you may be wondering what to feed an old dog that wont eat. But it may not be his diet at all.
Just like us yep again your senior dog may gain weight more easily than they did as an active adult.
Can old dogs forget how to eat. Many of you are dealing with a pup who has lost his appetite and are struggling with how to get an old dog to eat. I know from my own experience how challenging and worrying that can be. Dementia medications and some health issues can be blamed and were left trying to figure out how to ensure our pets are getting the nutrients they require.
Older dogs with cognitive dysfunction doggie Alzheimers may also eat less or not eat at all. They may forget eating or they simply do not know where to go for food. Older dogs are more prone to have problems with their teeth and gums which may cause them pain when eating.
Your dog can go a few days without eating but in an old dog that may already have health issues the sooner hes back to drinking and eating better. Maintaining hydration is also very important for older dogs because their kidneys are not as efficient with purging toxins from the body when they do drink. How Long Can a Dog Go Without Eating.
Your dog can go a few days without eating but in an old dog that may already have health issues the sooner hes back to eating the better. I would not wait more than 24 hours before calling the vet and that is from my experience. A very big concern is whether or not your dog has stopped drinking as well.
Why Older Dogs Dont Want to Eat. Your dogs appetite like your own can fluctuate. You probably have days when you have very little interest in food and just eat to stay alive.
You also have other days when you could happily go to an all you can eat buffet and stay there all day. It has to do with normal fluctuations in your hormone levels. Address Any Dental Issues.
If you notice your senior dog is having a hard time eating his kibble you may be wondering what to feed an old dog that wont eat. But it may not be his diet at all. Dental disease and tooth pain may very well be.
When your old dog is sick and wont eat this means the body is either too acidic or too alkaline. In order to overcome any sickness healthy pH levels are a must for your senior dog. Disease and sickness are typically secondary to unhealthy pH levels in a dogs body.
Urine pH determines whether the food your dog is eating is working or not. Not eating can be a sign of something really being wrong and if you suspect something is wrong take your dog to the vet. Nothing Im going to suggest is going to make much difference if something is medically wrong with your dog.
That being said I do know that there are times when older dogs just get finicky. A supplement of coconut or salmon oil with meals can go a long way to solving the problem. But the dogs skin can also become more thin so injury may be more likely.
Its important to take extra care when the dog is playing or out on a hiking trail that he isnt hurt. Meanwhile the dogs nails can become brittle. This can depend on how old your dog is and what the previous living situation was.
Generally relocating your dog to a new home under a new owner is a traumatizing and stressful experience for the dogs. They can go through anxiety as well as depression especially if they are coming from a home where they were really happy. They will miss the old owner a lot and this sadness.
It can be difficult for a dog to feel like eating if they are in pain. Some types of medication can affect a dogs appetite. If you think this might be the reason for your pet eating less discuss alternative medications with your vet.
Older dogs sometimes find it difficult to eat from bowls on the floor. Here is why. Use caution when feeding your dog turkey skin.
Its great for a treat but too much can cause a case of canine pancreatitis. This causes severe diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration. Severe pain refusal to eat crying weakness and irritability.
For particularly picky dogs this process can take some time and it could take a month before your dog is completely transitioned onto their new diet of your choosing. An example of this program would be. 80 old diet 20 new diet.
60 old diet 40 new diet. 40 old diet 60 new diet. If he wont drink try adding 1 tablespoon of low sodium beef or chicken broth to his water dish.
Dogs are enticed by a strong scent and adding a. If your old dog is not eating but is still drinking water he could go even longer without food possibly up to a couple of weeks. It also depends on how much body fat and muscle a dog has.
If your dog is already very skinny when he stops eating he will probably not survive longer than a few days. Owners of old dogs often report that the dog will do nothing during outside potty breaks but will soil the rug as soon as he comes inside. Many older dogs like a softer food that is easier on their teeth.
If you notice your dog leaving kibble in the bowl or losing interest in food you may need to soak it in some warm broth or add a quality soft food. Just like us yep again your senior dog may gain weight more easily than they did as an active adult. Keep your dog at a fit weight.
Unfortunately this is a problem for many elderly female dogs. Often control of the neck of the bladder deteriorates with age so the exit is not fully closed when it should be and there is leakage of urine. Sometimes elderly dogs get a little senile and forget their house training.
Dogs with these problems often wet where they are lying. Frequently older dogs wont eat because they have dental or gum problems and when chewing the kibble food causes a lot of pain. A lot of dogs develop oral cavity problems after the age of three and senior dogs are very likely to have a dental problem.
However even if your dog is not ill he still may eat less or refuse to eat due to old age. Digitalis which is given for heart problems is an appetite suppressant. If your dog is put on Digitalis and suddenly refuses to eat then ask your vet to lower the dosage.
That is what we did with Lady. You can only give as much Digitalis as will still allow the dog to eat. Starvation will kill a dog faster than most heart problems.
If that doesnt work make some real yummy food for him. For example get some ground chicken or turkey and cook it with rice. Add some fresh or powdered ginger to the mix.
Ginger has anti-nausea properties and can help settle the dogs stomach. Help Your Old Dog Relax. If the dog is stressed out and cannot relax try using Bach Rescue Remedy.
As some dogs get old they can develop certain cognitive changes similar to people with Alzheimers. This condition is called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. In addition to the restlessness they may be up all night pacing or they may forget their normal potty training and have accidents in.
Senior dogs who are fed a meaty bone diet will need to eat slowly to chew and be safe. A senior who is missing teeth can be fed a balanced ground diet or a commercial raw very safely. Added vegetable roughage may be necessary to help any pet on raw to avoid constipation.