My dog is not eating: when to wait and when to worry
Appetite loss is the most common complaint we hear. How to tell a fussy day from a real emergency, and the checks to run at home.
"My dog has refused food since yesterday" might be the single most common message a vet receives. Sometimes it is nothing. Sometimes it is the first visible sign of something serious. Here is how to tell the difference.
When waiting a little is fine
A healthy adult dog that skips one or two meals but still drinks water, moves normally, greets you at the door and shows interest in treats is usually fine to watch for 24 hours. Heat is a common cause in Lagos; many dogs simply eat less on very hot days. A sudden diet change, a new environment, or leftover stress from a noisy weekend can also flatten appetite briefly.
When to call a vet the same day
- Refusing food AND water
- Vomiting or diarrhoea alongside the appetite loss
- A puppy or senior dog skipping more than one meal
- Lethargy: not just uninterested in food, but flat and withdrawn
- A swollen or painful belly, pale gums, or laboured breathing
- Any female dog recently on heat that stops eating (pyometra risk)
Quick checks you can do at home
Look at the gums: they should be pink, not white or yellow. Feel the nose-to-tail body for swellings or pain reactions. Check the mouth itself; a broken tooth, a wound or something stuck between teeth stops many dogs from eating while everything else looks normal. And ask yourself what changed: new food, new bag of the old food, new environment, new medication?
Do not force it
Force-feeding a dog that refuses food can make things worse, and switching frantically between foods teaches fussiness. Offer the normal food, remove it after twenty minutes, and try again later.
If the appetite does not return within a day, or any red flag above appears, book a home visit and let a vet examine your dog where it is calm. Appetite is a vital sign; treat it like one.
Seeing these signs at home?
Don't sit on symptoms. A licensed vet can examine your pet at home, often within days.
