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In this lesson, we're going to cover what you should do if your pet suddenly stops eating.
If you notice your dog suddenly loses her appetite, take note; it could be important. But the first thing you should do is ask yourself: is my pet normally a voracious eater or more of a picky eater?
If you have a picky eater who suddenly stops eating, it's probably less of a concern. But if you have a voracious eater that will eat whatever you put in front of her, this may be more of a concern.
Pro Tip: Regardless of the answer to that question above, if your pet stops eating, this is something you should investigate, and by now, you know exactly how to do that – Check vitals and ask yourself if your pet is behaving, and otherwise doing, normally.
A Problem with the Food?
If everything else is normal with your pet, her refusal to eat may be a sign that something is wrong with the food. Just as you would know if you took a drink of sour milk that had long ago expired, your dog would also know if something is wrong with what she's eating or drinking.
For this reason, assuming her vital signs and other behavioral signs are normal, try offering her a different type of food and see how she responds. Make sure it's a treat she loves or a favorite food. If she eats that food, then your dog or cat food may have something wrong with it.
You could try calling the company to see if there have been other complaints or maybe even a recall. But regardless, you should definitely buy some new food. Your new food can be the same food as before, but make sure it comes from a different batch, perhaps with a different lot number than the current pet food you have.
When You Should be Concerned
You should be concerned if your investigations revealed more problems with your pet's vital signs and behavior, obviously, but you should also be concerned if your pet's lack of appetite persists and if you have already ruled out the food being the issue.
Any number of things could cause your pet to stop eating. Some of those things are nothing to be worried about. But some of them are. Err on the side of caution. A trip to the vet is never a bad idea.
