How to Help Your Pet With a Loss of Appetite

How to Help Your Pet With a Loss of Appetite

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It is not uncommon for pets to lose their appetite, and it can occur due to many reasons. Sometimes, pets just become picky eaters temporarily, and especially so, if you have fed them with food that is more appealing to their palate. Other times, they could lose their appetite for days, and it does not have anything to do with their picky eating habits. This can be due to something more serious, and calls for a vet visit. It could be anything from a gastro-intestinal upset to stress, tooth decay, cancer or others that may be causing your pet to not eat. It is always best to consult a vet if your pet has not been eating for 1-2 days, so they can diagnose the problem and address it at the earliest. In the meanwhile, here are some steps that you can undertake to get your pet's appetite back on track.

Don't reach for those treats, get flavor enhancers instead

Some pet owners resort to feeding pets


when they are distressed by the fact that their pet is not eating, as they would rather have them eat something than nothing. However, this is the wrong way to go about it. Feeding your pet only treats can lead to diarrhea, while it does not solve the problem at hand. You can instead try enhancing the flavor of the food with a few additions, you just need to know what your pet likes. For instance, cats like yoghurt and peanut butter. On the other hand, honey or applesauce is said to do magic to a dog's appetites.

Warm/chill the food

It may sound silly, but you'll be surprised how much good warm food can do to your pet's appetite. Pets have a strong sense of smell, and when you warm up the food, the enhanced scent of the food naturally draws them to it. Of course, if your pet is showing signs of nausea, then you probably want to do the exact opposite. Chill the food, so the scent is not as overpowering, and they find it more appealing.

Switch the food

Try swapping your pet's usual food with something else- canned food, kibble, even fresh food if you please. Of course, it is important to make sure that the

new food

that you are giving your pet has been approved by the vet. Also, don't just drop the new food into your pet's bowl and expect them to lap it up in no time. Your pet runs at a chance of developing an upset tummy if not introduced to new foods the right way. You want to slowly incorporate the new food into your pet's diet, if they take a liking to it.

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