Why Is My Dog Not Eating?

This is a frequent question among dog owners, but the reasons a dog suddenly stops eating are not always clear.
We need to ask ourselves if it is due to a psychological condition or a medical one.

Psychological reasons

Boredom
It could be as simple as boredom. If you dog has become bored with his food he will stop eating it, especially if he is fed treats and other foods in between meals.

We have seen some frustrated dog owners hold the dog’s bowl in front of their pet to “help” them eat. This is not a good idea as your dog could get use to it and you will only re-enforce his behavior.

Switching his food or adding goodies to it (tiny piece of chicken and vegetable for example) may help.

Stress
You might have moved or added a child or another canine friend to your family. Some dogs, especially older ones, do not cope very well with such life changes.

Medical Reasons

Pain and/or canine arthritis
If your dog has pain in the neck, shoulders and /or arthritis you might need to feed him from an elevated dog feeder rather than a floor level regular bowl. Raising the food will make your dog much more comfortable, as he does not need to bend to reach the food.

Elevated Dog Bowls & Dog Feeders

They are many style of elevated dog feeders on today’s market to accommodate your dog specific eating and drinking habits. We like Whiner and Diner raised dog bowls and dog feeders: They are stylish, eco-friendly and healthy for all dogs as they come in heights from 4" to 27" tall. These dog feeders also come with stainless steel dog bowls which are more sanitary than ceramic or plastic ones and will not scratch or break.

Digestive problems
There may be vomiting and diarrhea. Monitor the dog closely. If the vomiting and diarrhea last more than a few days call your veterinarian.

The age of the dog is also a key factor. Is your old dog not eating or do you have a puppy not eating? Puppies have an urge to put things in their mouth. Socks, ropes and other non-digestible items can cause intestinal blockages that prevent a him/her from eating. If your puppy has eaten something he'her shouldn’t have, surgery may be required to remove the blockage.

An older dog might simply have sore teeth or an underlying disease. Again, veterinarian care might be necessary.

Serious diseases
Some dogs will refuse to eat for up to 48 hours and finally eat their food again. As long as the dog's energy level is ok, he'll be fine. Just make sure he is drinking enough water. If he still refuses his food after two days, or develops other symptoms, get him to your veterinarian.

If it is a serious matter such as cancer, pancreatitis, kidney disease, liver disease, etc...Only your veterinarian will be able to help you and your dog.

Caring For Your Older Cat

 

Older cats get more sensitive to noise, are not as playful and are in general much less active. It does not mean that you should leave him alone and let him sleep all day!

An old cat still likes to interact with his humans: You should groom him, play with him without any excess of course, on a daily basis.

An aged cat’s metabolism slows down and he will gain weight. Older cats become lethargic due to over weight. So, try to monitor his diet and keep him active if you can. Older cats fed dry kibble tend to have cleaner teeth, less gum disease and a better weight. If you switch food, make sure to introduce the new one slowly as it could upset your cat digestive system.

He will probably have muscle, joint, neck pain and arthritis. Feeding him from an elevated cat feeder will help with the pain, and it will be easier for him to reach the food itself as it will be elevated.
Keep water accessible at all time, as he needs to be kept hydrated.

Make sure that your cat has a warm comfortable bed on which to rest, as he will be spending more time sleeping. Ensure that he doesn’t sleep on a cold floor. The cold will seep into his bones, which may be arthritic and will cause him pain and discomfort.

If possible, have a cat bed slightly raised off the floor, but not too high so he does not need to jump up to get on it.

Mobility is an important issue for older cats. You should have all he needs on the floor rather than on counters and furniture: His cat feeder or cat bowls, cat bed, and litter box should all be kept on the floor for easy access.

Keep his toys in a special place like a pet toy box so he knows where to find them when he feels like playing with them.

And more importantly, take him to the veterinarian for regular check-ups, and especially if his eating habits or behavior changes drastically.

It is not unusual for older cats older to show signs of confusion, disorientation, get trapped in corners, spacey, aimless wandering, less playful, more irritable as he gets older. In some cases, the problem is the brain itself. This is cognitive dysfunction syndrome or, simply, senility. A form of feline Alzheimer’s disease.

With proper care, many cats live up to 15 to 18 years old, even older.

Would you eat off the floor? Why should your dog….

The healthy benefits of elevated dog feeders are highly acknowledged by veterinarians and other dog experts, and include the following:

Better Posture

If a dog has a back or neck problems, a raised dog feeder will certainly help him/her to eat and drink more comfortably.

 

Swallowing Easily

It is difficult for some dogs to swallow with their head down, especially for those with medical conditions such as mega-esophagus.

 

Health Benefits

Raised dog feeders reduce food and water gulping. They also prevent rare but serious condition such as canine bloat (or vovulvus), mega-esophagus, which presents itself when the food does not descend in the dog's stomach but stays in the esophagus. This can lead to regurgitation and vomiting. So, it important to evaluate your dog's eating habits. If your dog tends to eat too fast, an elevated dog feeder will slow him/her down and you can also add a slow-feed dog bowl to it to make the dog feeder even more efficient.

Elevated dog feeders and dog bowls are much more comfortable for older dogs with arthritis, back, joint or muscular pain. For these dogs, bending down to eat can be uncomfortable and/or painful. An elevated dog dish will help them eat in a more comfortable manner.

 

Functionality & Sanitary Bowls

Elevated dog feeders often come with stainless steel bowls which are light enough to be removed for easy cleaning and filling.

Stainless steel is durable, sanitary, rust-free, and non-leaching. Such bowls will last a lifetime.

Shop for stylish wine crate elevated dog feeders @ Whiner and Diner