Without a moment's hesitation, dogs can eat anything and everything. Some dogs don't show any interest in food even if it is kept in front of them. It can be concerning if your dog walks away from food. Let's look at a few reasons why your dog won't eat and also how to provide them with the right nutrition.

Make Sure Your Dog is Healthy

If your pooch has always been a good eater but suddenly stops his/her appetite, it might be of concern and should immediately be looked after. It is time to visit the veterinarian if your pet has lost weight recently.

Eating difficulty can occur with problems of teeth and/or problems in the mouth can make for even the hungriest of dogs. Check the mouth for sores, growths, bad teeth or foreign objects that might be causing pain or discomfort for your dog. This would be another cause to visit the veterinarian for an examination. Your dog’s appetite should return quickly, once any problems have been diagnosed and treated.

Preferences and Bad Habits

Acquiring bad habits from owners or some other company can be a reason for not eating or any food disorder. Feeding your dog extra treats during the day that are tastier and more interesting than his normal dry diet can cause a finicky appetite to develop over time. Serious issues like Obesity can occur if treats are provided in more than the usual amount.

In cases of excessive table scrap feeding, some dogs will tend to hold out until they are given something that just tastes better than dry dog food. Table scraps and excessive treats only cause weight gain and don’t provide balanced nutrition. Your dog needs to eat nutritionally balanced food in proper amounts every day to maintain health. So, in this case, making changes is vital.

Stop feeding extra foods and treats and stick to a daily scheduled feeding routine. It won’t hurt for a day or two to go by without him eating, as long as he’s in good health and not a very young animal (or diabetic). This will help encourage his appetite for his dog food, and after a short while he should learn that this food is the only food he will be getting every day.

Feeding Methods

Check the dog food you are offering to make sure it’s not spoiled or out of date. This may be a reason why your dog suddenly doesn’t want to eat his food. Make sure the food you are offering is safe, nutritious, and consistent. Don’t keep changing the food constantly because this can upset your dog’s digestive system. If you do want to try a different flavor or dog food brand, make the switch gradually and mix some of the old food with the new food over time until he is only eating all new food. A new flavor might just be enough to stimulate the appetite.

Try a few tricks to entice them to eat all their food. 

• Try changing the brand of food, maybe the usual food quality is not right for your pet. 
• You can give a flavor boost to your pet's daily food with canned food. Canned food can be warmed slightly in the microwave, or warm water or chicken broth can be spooned over dry food to give it some warmth and extra aroma. 

Your dog can also increase his appetite with a good walk before mealtime. If you can schedule a daily walk around regular feeding time, this will help your dog to associate the walk with the upcoming mealtime.

Stay Positive and Patient

Look for gestures that your dog shows during mealtime. He may be enjoying the attention given to him/her when they are not eating. By keeping feeding time positive, the overall experience will also provide positive reinforcement for your dog. Praise the dog when he eats his food, and give him attention only after the meal is gone.

Another useful tip might be to leave your pet alone or maybe aloof from any sort of competition and giving him/her ample amount of quiet surroundings and a safe space. Offer his food for a short period and then take it away, this will teach your dog to eat at certain regular times and will provide a comforting routine that the dog can rely on.

Noticing symptoms of illness is very important, so please stay alert and calm with your pet, patience is the key. Time, self-discipline and flexibility will do much to cure a finicky eater. 

Eventually "my dog won't eat" will become a thing of the past, with the right products from BonBeno. Visit www.bonbeno.com for more information.