Having Problems Feeding Your Beloved Pooch? Here Are Some Tips To Help You Out

As a dog owner, you need to ensure that you are giving your furry friend the proper nutrition that he needs to thrive. Aside from this, you also need to exert the effort to ensure that they feel cared for and loved. However, there are instances wherein your dog may lose his appetite, resulting in a significant weight loss. This article tackles what you need to do in case you encounter problems feeding your beloved pooch.

Observe the behavior of your dog

One of the primary things that you need to do when you notice that your dog loses their appetite or you encounter any feeding challenges is to observe the behavior of your furry friend. In this case, what you need to scrutinize whether your dog refuses to eat only a certain type of food or he won’t eat anything at all. To help you in tracking their feeding, you can rely on apps that you can install on your phone.

Aside from the food that your dog refuses to eat, you should also observe any changes in his daily routine, as well as anything unusual with his urine or stool. You should also take note if your dog prefers to sleep all day or whether he seems to lose interest in play and his usual activities. Nevertheless, in case you deem that everything seems to be fine, perhaps it will be alright to let your dog skip a couple of meals. However, if your pet is vomiting or suffering from diarrhea, you may need to see a vet immediately.

Inspect your dog’s teeth and body

Apart from observing the behavior of your dog, you should also take the time to inspect his teeth and entire body. There are instances wherein your dog may have trouble eating because of a broken, loose, or bad tooth. Otherwise, he may be suffering from inflamed gums. In this case, make sure to take your dog to the vet to ensure that his oral problems are addressed appropriately.

In parallel to checking your dog’s mouth, you should also inspect your dog’s entire body. The first thing that you should look for in this stage is the presence of any parasites as well as changes in their fur or skin. You should also check for any signs of lumps or injuries that may be the reason why your pet lost his appetite. Raise anything that you find to the vet so that the proper treatment may be done for your furry friend.

Evaluate any issues with their food

Sometimes, there may be nothing wrong with your dog at all. Rather, there might just be something with the food that seems to be off. For this reason, you should also inspect the food that you are giving your dog. Make sure to check the dog food’s label for its expiry date and you can also inspect the color and smell of the food. It can be that your dog’s food is already spoiled which is why your pooch refuses to eat it.

As much as possible, take the time to ensure that you are giving your dog fresh and nutritious food. This means that you should be meticulous when it comes to checking the label of the dog food, making sure that you are getting the right variant based on the size and weight of your dog. In this case, you can also consider searching for the best suppliers of dog food for Chihuahuas and other breeds of dogs for you to acquire the right nutrition for your furry friend at a reasonable price, without having the fear that the supply is nearing its expiration date. The reason behind this is that the best dog food suppliers ensure that their supplies have a long shelf life.

Assess your dog’s environment

You should also check your dog’s environment because there are instances wherein your furry friend will refuse to eat due to something that he shouldn’t have. For instance, he may have ingested a certain type of houseplant, or perhaps he may have swallowed a small toy. This can make your dog uncomfortable, or worse, lead to a more serious condition that needs to be addressed immediately.

Thus, assess your dog’s surroundings time and again to ensure that there are no hazards, such as medications, within your dog’s reach. In case you deem that small things around your home are missing, and your dog suddenly loses his appetite or begins vomiting, then this could be a sign that he swallowed something that dogs shouldn’t have access to.

Also consider the age of your dog because if you have a puppy or a new dog that refuses to eat, perhaps the reason why is the unfamiliar environment that they are in. This can also be the case if you have just recently moved to a new place. In the same manner, if your dog has been spending time with other people, then check with them if they have already fed your pooch.

Examine your actions

Finally, if your dog has problems eating, you may also need to re-examine your actions. For instance, if you have been giving your dog a lot of treats lately, then perhaps they are already full during meal times. This is also true if you have been used to giving your pet some table scraps. This can explain why your dog suddenly loses his appetite. Otherwise, maybe he is just after food that is tastier like the doggy treats that you often give.

When you are having problems feeding your dog, the first thing that you need to do is to observe his behavior and inspect his teeth and body. After this, make sure that you take the time to inspect their food and assess any issues with your dog’s environment. You may also want to examine your actions because you may be unconsciously doing something that affects their appetite. All these are geared towards helping you figure out the reason why your dog may have a problem eating.