Shih Tzu - Why Won't My Dog Eat?

There come periods of time where your dog may not want to eat or times where the only thing he’ll chomp on are treats. Some dogs go through a period of coaxing them to eat, believe it or not. It may be difficult to figure out whether he is ill, trying out a new attention getting scheme, or just knows he can get away with not eating his own food and ultimately ends up eating table scraps in the end.

The most common problem that dog owners do is feed their dog “people food”.

They say, “My dog won’t eat his dog food” and, “I eat it. It can’t be bad for him.”

Well, the reason the dog isn’t eating his own food is because he knows can just not eat it and he’ll get something tastier, like a piece of pork chops with gravy. Therefore, it is your job as a caring owner not to feed your dog from the counter. It is unhealthy for him and it only creates poor eating behaviors. There are a lot of vitamins and minerals that your dog needs in his specially formulated and highly digestible dog food. It is also wise to keep your dog in another room while you are eating to prevent begging.

I have seen dogs that will eat nothing but treats all day and this proves to be very harmful to their health, making them overweight which leads to a bevy of problems, disorders, and diseases. In many instances, being overweight is the primary factor leading to poor health. This only underlines that your actions dictate your dog’s health, behavior, and happiness.

There is one exception to the rule, however. I let my dog eat baby carrots, celery, pieces of apple, etc… Some vegetables and fruits are very good for your pup. I always have to give my dog his carrots. He absolutely LOVES them, which is really great and much better than really loving potato chips or something. But, avoid all other “people food” unless your vet or homeopathic vet instructs you. They may actually be able to give you a specially formulated recipe for making your dog homemade dog food and they will tell you or give you the proper vitamin and mineral supplements necessary for your dog’s health. Please do not attempt to do this on your own. Always consult a professional in this area.

I’ve learned that dogs go through times of fasting. It is a way to cleanse their system. Every time my dog was fasting he was his usual self, he just did “his business” a little less (because there was no food going in, so….) and drank water. So don’t worry too much if your dog stops eating for a day or two. He may just be rejuvenating his digestive system.

There are times, however, that you must worry when Fido just won’t eat a thing. If your dog is acting very lethargic, is sleeping all the time, is vomiting, has a change in his stool (color and/or consistency), and won’t drink water call your vet immediately. Above all, if your dog just isn’t acting like himself (usually we fellow dog owners know) do not hesitate to call your vet. After all, in this case, it is better to be safe and take all the proper precautions to keep our dogs the healthiest they can be.

**This advice is not to take the place of a veterinarian’s attention. If there is a problem with your dog’s eating behavior, please seek the advice of your local vet.

The above is general information always ask your veterinarian about the care of your Shih Tzu puppy or dog!