My puppy won't eat! What's the correct way to feed him?
When your beloved pet stops eating, you may be worried because you don't know the reason. This is especially true for pet owners who have just gotten a puppy for the first time.
This time, we will explain the reasons why puppies don't eat their food and the correct way to feed them dog food in such cases.
My puppy has stopped eating! First, find out if he's sick.
Puppies are prone to getting sick, and there are many possible reasons why they may stop eating.
Especially at around 2 months of age, they are in their prime eating period. Whether or not they get the right nutrition during this period and grow properly will have a big impact on their health after they become adults.
Identify the cause and take appropriate action.
First , determine whether you have a disease
The reasons why a puppy won't eat can be broadly divided into two categories: "poor health or illness" and "selfishness."
Especially if your pet is feeling unwell or has an illness, it is important to take action early.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be due to an illness:
Puppies with weak immune systems are more likely to develop symptoms, so if you notice any of these symptoms, please take them to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
・Not only is your pet not eating, but it is also not drinking any water. ・The color of its urine or stool is different than usual. ・Other symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting are occurring at the same time. ・It seems listless and clearly not in good health.
When your puppy is still eating, even a slight decrease in appetite can cause them to suddenly lose strength and develop symptoms such as hypoglycemia. On the other hand, you should also be careful if your puppy is not gaining weight even though he is eating normally.
Congenital diseases and parasitic infections require treatment, so it is important to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
What are the possible causes other than illness and how can they be treated?
When your puppy is young, even the smallest things can cause him to suddenly stop eating dog food that he had been eating without any problems up until now.
Even if your pet is not sick, it may stop eating in the following cases:
◆ Feeling stressed due to changes in the environment
The change in environment from the pet store will bring about big changes for puppies, including new smells and other changes.
If your dog becomes stressed due to a change in environment, he may lose his appetite and stop eating his dog food.
In this case, your only option is to either remove the direct cause of stress or wait for your partner to get used to the change in environment.
If you can think of any reason, remove them.
◆ The food they ate at the pet store has changed
Some puppies move to a new home and are given a different dog food, which can make them stop eating it.
Be wary if your pet smells the food but doesn't eat it, or if it seems to be eating reluctantly.
It is effective to ask the pet shop or breeder what dog food your pet has been eating in the past, but there is no guarantee that the dog food given at those places is safe.
Some pet owners continue to feed their pets food recommended by pet shops without fully realizing that the food contains many inferior ingredients.
Check the ingredient label, and if you find that it contains inferior ingredients, gradually switch your pet's old food to the new food in small amounts.
◆ Dog food is hard to eat
For puppies aged between 5 weeks and 2 months, this may be due to them having difficulty eating. They may not like the size or hardness of the pellets and may stop eating them.
The timing and method of switching from milk or baby food to puppy dog food is important.
When switching foods, do so gradually and in small amounts. If your pet is not eating the food well, soften the food in hot water before giving it to them.
◆ I'm tired of rice or it doesn't taste good
If your dog happily eats treats but refuses to eat dog food, it may simply be that he is bored with the food or does not find it tasty. If you frequently give your dog treats that it likes, feed it human food, or immediately replace the food it does not eat, your dog will become increasingly selfish.
Also, just because a food is easy for your pet to eat does not necessarily mean it is healthy.
Even dog foods that are made using poor quality, cheap ingredients often contain artificial additives whose sole purpose is to make them more palatable, making them more appealing to dogs.
Once a dog develops a picky eating habit, it takes a long time to correct the habit, and it could even be a factor that hinders your dog's health in the future.
In this case, if your pet has not eaten within a few minutes of having been fed, take the food away.
No food is given until the next mealtime.
Being strict with your dog and praising him when he eats treats, but making him wait when you give him food, can sometimes be the cause of his selfishness.
It's also important to praise your dog when he finishes his food.
What if they still won't eat it?
◆ At BAUWAW, you can return or get a refund within 90 days!
If your pet still won't eat it, one solution is to drastically switch to a food that your pet will enjoy.
Don't worry if you're worried that "Even if it's a food that your dog will eat, you won't know until you give it to them..." BAUWAW offers a service where you can return and get a refund if your dog won't eat the food. Even if you have opened the food once, it is eligible for return and refund within 90 days.
For pet owners who are worried about whether their dog will eat their food, we recommend BAUWAW, which offers returns and refunds!
BAUWAW also carries a wide range of highly palatable dog foods that are easy for dogs to eat. We do not stock foods that contain artificial additives to enhance the smell and make them appealing, but only premium foods that do not contain dangerous additives and are made with a focus on the deliciousness of the ingredients themselves.
List of appetite stimulating foods
I want to give it to my puppy! For safe and secure additive-free dog food, come to Bow Wow Place!
In this article, we explain the reasons why your puppy won't eat and what to do about it.
Because this is an important period for building your puppy's body, it is important to pay close attention to what they eat.
At Bowwow Place, we carefully select nutritious and delicious dog food that you would want to feed your puppy. If you are looking for a reliable food for your puppy, please use BAUWAW.
