## The Drama of the Full Bowl

Your dog usually eats with enthusiasm. Today: he snubs the bowl. Tomorrow: the same. On the third day: nothing. Worry starts.

**When is it a whim? When is it illness?**

Let’s see the 7 main causes, from the most harmless to the most serious.

## Cause 1: temporary whim (rare)

There are **selective** dogs that sometimes refuse food:
- Change in kibble brand.
- Not fresh food (open bag for too long).
- Competition with another animal.
- Mild stress.

**Characteristics**:
- Active dog, plays normally.
- Drinks regularly.
- No other symptoms.
- Eats if you offer something he likes.

**What to do**:
- Check the food (expiration date, storage).
- Offer the same food for a few days (no treats).
- No extra snacks (keeps normal hunger).

**When to worry**: if it persists for more than 24-48 hours without an apparent cause.

## Cause 2: stress or change

Dogs are **creatures of habit**.

**Common triggers**:
- Recent move.
- New family member (human or animal).
- Change in owner’s schedule.
- Mourning.
- Home renovations.
- Change in routine (vacation).

**What to do**:
- Identify triggers.
- Restore routine.
- Patience.

**Recovery time**: typically 3-7 days.

## Cause 3: oral problems

**Common in older dogs**, but also in young ones.

**Problems**:
- **Periodontitis** (chronic gingivitis).
- **Broken teeth**.
- **Advanced tartar**.
- **Dental abscesses**.
- **Stomatitis**.
- **Oral tumors**.

**Additional signs**:
- Excessive drooling.
- Bad breath.
- Pulling food out of the mouth.
- Eating only from one side.
- Dropping kibble.

**What to do**: veterinary visit for oral inspection.

**Treatment**: depending on the cause (professional dental hygiene, extractions, antibiotics).

## Cause 4: gastrointestinal problems

**Various causes**:

- **Acute gastritis** (spoiled food, unsuitable snacks).
- **Pancreatitis** (common in dogs that have eaten fatty foods).
- **Intestinal obstruction** (ingested foreign body).
- **Gastric torsion** (emergency).
- **Viral infections** (parvovirus in unvaccinated puppies).
- **Intestinal parasites**.

**Additional signs**:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Painful abdomen on touch.
- Lethargy.
- Blood in feces.

**What to do**: **veterinarian immediately**. Some cases are emergencies.

## Cause 5: systemic diseases

Conditions that alter metabolism:

- **Kidney failure**.
- **Diabetes**.
- **Tumors**.
- **Liver diseases**.
- **Addison's disease**.
- **Heart conditions**.

**Characteristics**:
- Progressive anorexia (not sudden).
- Associated weight loss.
- Other specific symptoms (increased thirst, vomiting, lethargy, ascites).
- Older age (common).

**What to do**: veterinary visit with complete blood tests.

## Cause 6: pain

A dog in pain often stops eating.

**Types of pain**:
- **Arthritis** (old age).
- **Recent trauma** (falls, bumps).
- **Internal injuries**.
- **Back pain** (herniated discs).
- **Bladder stones** (urinary).

**Signs**:
- Reluctance to move.
- Strange postures.
- Vocalizations.
- Aggression to touch.

**What to do**: veterinary visit to identify the source of pain.

## Cause 7: fever or infectious disease

**Causes**:
- **Bacterial infections**.
- **Viral infections**.
- **Parasites** (heartworm, Leishmania, Babesiosis).
- **Autoimmune diseases**.

**Signs**:
- High body temperature (>39.5°C).
- Lethargy.
- Tremors.
- Swollen lymph nodes.

**What to do**: veterinarian with complete tests.

## The Timing Rule

**Healthy adult dog**:
- **24 hours without eating**: generally normal, monitor.
- **48 hours**: veterinary visit recommended.
- **72 hours**: emergency, mandatory veterinarian visit.

**Puppies**:
- **12 hours without eating**: already concerning.
- **24 hours**: risk of hypoglycemia (emergency).
- **Never wait** in puppies.

**Senior dogs**:
- **24 hours**: investigate immediately (more fragile).

**Dog with known conditions** (diabetes, epilepsy, etc.):
- **Never wait**: contact a veterinarian.

## The "red flags" that require immediate vet visit

Go to the veterinarian right away if not eating is accompanied by:

- ❌ **Repeated vomiting**.
- ❌ **Swollen and tense abdomen** (suspected torsion).
- ❌ **Blood** in vomit, feces, urine.
- ❌ **Profound lethargy**.
- ❌ **Breathing difficulties**.
- ❌ **Pale or bluish gums**.
- ❌ **Seizures**.
- ❌ **Dehydration** (skin does not return to position when lifted).
- ❌ **Yellow mucous membranes** (jaundice).

## What to do at home (healthy dog, initial symptoms)

### Step 1: verify the situation

- When did he eat last?
- Is he otherwise well?
- Is he drinking?
- Any other symptoms?

### Step 2: try with appealing food

Offer something safe that he loves:
- Boiled chicken + rice.
- Boiled fish.
- Natural yogurt.

If he eats with pleasure: the problem is with the usual food.

If he doesn’t eat: it's a more serious problem.

### Step 3: hydration

Water is more critical than food.

- Check that he drinks.
- If he isn’t drinking: emergency.

**Tips to encourage drinking**:
- Unsalted chicken broth.
- Fresh water changed.
- Adding yogurt to the water.

### Step 4: remove food after 30 minutes

If he doesn’t eat in 30 minutes:
- Remove the bowl.
- Offer at the next meal.
- No snacks between meals.

This strategy works for "whims". **NOT** effective if there is illness.

### Step 5: 24 hours of observation

If a healthy adult dog with no other symptoms:
- 24 hours of careful observation.
- If it persists or worsens: veterinarian.

## Tricks to stimulate appetite

**For truly "picky" dogs** (not sick):

**1. Change temperature**:
- Slightly warm wet food (not hot).
- More appetizing.

**2. Add flavor**:
- Chicken broth.
- Tuna (in water, no salt).
- Yogurt.
- Fish oil (a little).

**3. Change texture**:
- Switch between wet and dry.
- Add pâté.

**4. Eat together**:
- Some dogs eat if you are nearby.

**5. Clean bowl**:
- Dirty bowls discourage eating.

## When NOT to force

❌ **Never force** a sick dog to eat.

❌ **Never use syringes** with food (risk of aspiration).

❌ **Never punish** for not eating.

❌ **Never give snacks** if they don’t want a meal (teaches to wait for snacks).

## The "pickiest" breeds

Some breeds are notoriously more selective:
- Toy breeds (Chihuahua, Yorkshire, Maltese).
- Pugs.
- Bulldogs.
- Brachycephalic breeds in general.

For these breeds, **small frequent meals** (3-4 a day) of quality work better.

## The Truth

A dog that **doesn’t eat for 24-48 hours** is almost always a sign.

**Whim**: 20% of cases.
**Temporary stress**: 20%.
**Medical problem**: 60%.

**Don’t wait** too long. Especially with older dogs, puppies, or those with known conditions.

**Always visit the veterinarian** if it persists beyond 48 hours or if there are other symptoms.

Better to have an "extra" check than a late diagnosis. Your dog cannot express his discomfort in words: not eating is one of his few ways to tell you that something is wrong.

Listen to him.