Puppies are the perfect sign of unconditional love, and one of the greatest animals you can have in your home. Puppies provide us with so much that when they're not quite themselves, we get really stressed out, and when they don't want to eat, we get even more anxious. If your dog is over 8 months old and not eating, read on to learn how to treat anorexia in young dogs and how you can help your dog. In our store, you will also find all the dog supplies to provide your dog with an ideal life from a young age, and to protect him from diseases and health risks.
What is the most effective treatment for anorexia in small dogs?
If your puppy stops eating, the best course of action must be determined by you and your vet. Your vet will have the best idea of how to properly and effectively treat anorexia in young dogs. Here are some effective solutions to use to increase your pup's appetite.
Diet modification
The first thing you can do if your puppy is not eating is to change his diet. For example, if you're currently feeding him dry food, try giving him wet canned food or a combination of the two instead. You can also try incorporating a different protein into his food or adding warm water to his food. This will make him enjoy his food better, which will make him eat more.
Limit rewards
When you get a new puppy home, it's tempting to reward him for everything. But this actually does more harm than good. Your puppy can fill up on snacks instead of the important real meals, causing him to not eat when it comes to mealtime. As tempting as it is, give your puppy less treats and stick to real meals instead.
Feeding on a schedule
Focus on establishing a consistent feeding schedule for your puppy so that he begins to get used to it. A consistent schedule creates a routine for your dog, so he knows what to expect. It also trains him to search for food at a certain time.
Improve the feeding environment around the dog
The reason your puppy won't eat may be because he's worried about eating around your other pets. Therefore, if you usually feed him with other pets, try feeding him alone for a change. Also, make sure there are no stressors, and aim to make his meal area as comfortable and safe for him as possible.
Make mealtime more enjoyable
A great way to cure anorexia in puppies and eat more food is simply to make mealtime more engaging and enjoyable. You can do this by incorporating food puzzles or food distribution games to make his mealtime more exciting, especially since puppies love to play all the time. That way, mealtime will be something he actually looks forward to instead of running from it.
Some of the best nutritional supplements we recommend for young puppies are:
How do you help your dog get rid of anorexia? And tips to increase the appetite of small puppies
In case of dependence on dry food
- Add some warm water to the dry food and let it sit for a few minutes. Add about 1 part water to 3 parts dry food. You can also heat it in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to improve the smell, but make sure it's not too hot before giving it to your puppy.
- Add a little canned food. Some pups like it cold, some like it room temperature, and some like it warm. Basically, you'll need to experiment a bit to determine your pup's preference.
- It's best to choose canned food on your vet's recommendation, but you can start by looking to see if the dry food you feed your pup is available in canned form, and stick to the same source of protein. If the dry food your puppy eats is chicken, look for canned food with chicken as well.
- You can try adding some peanut butter to your dog's dry food, just make sure it doesn't contain xylitol.
In the case of relying on wet food
- Try adding a little warm, low-sodium chicken broth to your puppy's food, but avoid broths that contain onions, onion powder, or garlic. It can cause a breakdown of red blood cells in a puppy.
- Some puppies' appetites pick up and return to their usual appetite after they've been lost when you add a little boiled white rice or pasta to their meals, or some boiled and shredded chicken breast, boneless, skinless, and seasoning free.
- Adding some low-sodium green beans can encourage some puppies to eat and increase their appetite. An added benefit of green beans is that they contain essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber.
- Add a dollop of plain cottage cheese or plain yogurt (just make sure the yogurt doesn't contain xylitol, an increasingly popular sugar substitute that's safe for humans but extremely dangerous for dogs).
- Add some warm chicken or baby food to your dog's food, but only if it doesn't contain onions.
- Add some fruit, such as blueberries, cantaloupe, and cranberries to his food.
- Do not give your dog grapes, raisins, or currants, as they are toxic to dogs.
- You can try a very small amount of canned pumpkin. While pumpkin has a lot of benefits, sometimes too much of a good thing can create problems. For example, the extra fiber from pumpkin can inhibit protein absorption if your pup is consuming more of it than in his normal diet. In addition, an excess of it can cause diarrhea, which would be an additional complication.
Changing the way you eat in order to treat anorexia in small dogs
- Use interactive toys to make mealtimes more stimulating and fun.
- If you are feeding your puppy in a bowl, try a different type, such as stainless steel instead of plastic.
- Change where the puppy is fed, as there may be something in the place that makes him feel that it is not safe to eat, or that easily distracts him. Therefore, feeding him in his cage or house is the best way to treat anorexia in small dogs in this case, as it provides some separation from other dogs and cats and the hustle and bustle of the house.
- You may need to stimulate your puppy's appetite by increasing activity before eating. Try taking him for a walk or getting him some playtime before you plan to feed him.
Some of the best pet food bowls we stock and will help your dog regain his appetite and enjoy mealtime:
Now, you no longer have to stress and worry so much when your dog stops eating, how to treat anorexia in small dogs , you know what to do after reading this how-to guide. You can also avoid your dog's loss of appetite by purchasing all its supplies from Petaholic, as we provide your dog with the luxury and healthy life it deserves.
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- To you now.. the cause of anorexia in dogs