What To Feed A Sick Dog With No Appetite: We Are Here To Help You

We all know that having a dog is a beautiful thing. However, with everything nice, there comes a moment where things get a bit difficult.

Dogs do tend to get sick, which is especially difficult since they don’t talk.

Since they can’t take care of themselves, we as dog owners are here to provide everything needed for their recovery. Even though they don’t speak, they for sure tell us in different ways if there is anything wrong.

One dog’s behavior that may indicate that something is wrong is a lack of appetite. When it comes to this, it’s perfectly normal to ask yourself, ˝What to feed a sick dog with no appetite?˝

Luckily we are here to help you with that. We will also bring up some potential reasons for why your dog may have lost its appetite and how to deal with it.

What To Feed A Sick Dog With No Appetite

Loss of appetite in dogs can be caused by different factors, which we will discuss later, but the most common one is sickness. In most cases, a dog’s diet needs to be changed and adapted to your dog’s needs at the time.

When talking about a healthier diet, human food is usually what is used. Some people even tried cat food, which is not that bad of an option for smaller dogs. Bigger dogs may not get enough nutrients from cat food.

We made a list of foods you can and cannot give your dog when they have a problem eating.

The Dos

We need to emphasize that you can not add any spices or seasoning to these foods. A bit of salt and olive oil is acceptable.

Here are some foods that may help your dog gain its appetite back, and ease the health issue that it’s facing.

Chicken

Chicken, especially chicken breasts, is the number one ingredient used in the sick dog diet. It comes with a lot of health benefits, so giving your dog chicken may bring it up onto its feet again.

Chicken contains a lot of protein which is good for healthy dogs, not only sick ones. You can put a bit of olive oil on it for extra taste, but not too much.

Make sure to cut the chicken into small pieces, or shred it, so the dog can easily chew and digest it.

Rice

Plain white rice is the second ingredient that your dog can easily eat when having some medical issues. It is often combined with chicken.

You can mix it with kibble, broth, and even wet food of your choice. It is very light so it is rarely given by itself. It is mainly used in extreme digestive system medical conditions.

Brown rice is sometimes suggested, but it was found that some dogs have problems digesting it, so the best thing to do is to consult with the vet.

Wet Food

Wet pet food, or in other words canned food, is one type of food your dog’s stomach will be happy to receive. Because of its texture, it is more appealing than dry food.

It is a lot easier to digest. It has a more intense smell so it may appeal to your dog and it may raise their appetite a bit.

Canned food can come with extra vitamins, like vitamin A, and minerals that can boost your dog’s immune system.

For more advice on wet food for dogs, read our tips on how to make puppy mush.

Human Baby Food

This may sound odd. Don’t worry, veterinarians also use human baby food when they have a dog in hospital care. This type of food is very healthy and mild and it might boost the appetite of your pooch.

Since this is probably going to be new food for your dog, try to start with small amounts. Mix the baby food with a bit of your dog’s food. After that you can use it as a small portioned meal.

Bone Broth Or Chicken Broth

This is an amazing option when your dog has problems with vomiting or food allergies. It gives them the fluid they need especially when they are vomiting, and, more importantly, the nutrients your dog needs to compensate for when not eating.

You can buy it already prepared in a store or you can make it yourself at home. When it comes to store-bought broth, make sure to check the labels. It can contain traces of onion and garlic that can be toxic to dogs.

When making broth at home, the more you cook the beef bones with marrow in the center, or a chicken carcass, the more nutrients will be released into the water. Don’t forget to strain the water before giving it to your dog. There may be a piece of bone left behind that can harm your dog.

Broths are usually used mixed with other food such as rice or dry food because it increases the flavor and nutrients of dry food or whatever else you’re mixing it with.

Pumpkin Or Sweet Potato

These vegetables are amazing if your dog has problems with diarrhea or constipation. They are rich in beneficial nutrients like vitamin A, C, B6, potassium, iron, carotene, and fiber.

Pumpkin seeds are good as dog treats, and they are full of antioxidants. We suggest you use canned pumpkins rather than fresh ones because they can sometimes upset the dog’s stomach if not prepared properly.

Fish

If you buy a whole fresh fish you need to really open your eyes since the small bones that fishes have can stick in your dog’s throat.

The best options are cooked salmon and tuna (light tuna fish) since they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They boost the dog’s immune system and are beneficial for the skin and allergies.

Other fishes that are safe for your dog are flounder, whitefish, whiting, cod, catfish, and herring. Fishes that aren’t safe for your dog are tilefish, swordfish, shark, and albacore tuna fish.

The Don´ts

We’ve listed the foods here that are good for your dog, but you have to know that there are some foods that you need to avoid at all costs. Keep in mind that these foods shouldn’t be fed to a healthy dog, let alone a sick one.

Dry food

As we mentioned before, wet food is a better option when your dog has stomach and dental problems. Dry food isn’t as appealing as a wet meal. For a dog that has a dental problem, it can cause even more damage.

Spicy Food

Dog’s stomachs aren’t used to spices like we humans are. They don’t digest them properly so a dog that has stomach problems may end up with even more problems.

Garlic And Onions

They can cause red blood cells to rupture, and are the reason why dogs get diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain in the first place.

Grapes And Raisins

They can potentially be very bad for dogs. They’re full of sugar that really can cause your dog even more stomach problems than they already have.

Besides stomach problems, grapes and raisins can cause your dog sudden acute kidney failure.

Reasons Why A Dog’s Appetite May Decrease

There are a couple of reasons why your dog might not want to eat. We’ve listed the most common ones. Whatever the reason may be, if your dog refuses food for more than 48 hours, make sure to take them to the vet.

• Health Problems
• Pickiness
• Depression And Separation Anxiety
• Diet Changes
• Environmental

Inclusion

Even though there are many reasons why your dog may not be eating, unfortunately, the most common are health issues. It can really get scary and sometimes frustrating seeing your dog weak and not eating.

By reading this article, you have already made a step in the right direction. If any issue goes on for longer than 48 hours, we advise you to see the vet, who can put both you and your dog at ease.