Why is my dog not eating?

[PinkFlamingo888]

We have a 15 month, male GSD who was neutered 5 weeks ago. He’s always been a good eater but yesterday he suddenly decided he wasn’t going to eat his kibble. He has Tails.com food and it does seem that they’ve recently changed his blend but he’s still been eating it for the past week. Yesterday I made him eggs instead and he’s eating his wet food fine but just won’t touch the kibble. We’ve tried not giving him an alternative so that he has no choice but he still won’t eat it and this morning was sick from hunger (he throws us foamy bile very very occasionally when he has an empty stomach, the vet knows but isn’t concerned as it’s so infrequent). I’m wondering if he’s becoming a fussy teenager or if it’s to do with his body changing due to neutering (the vet said it takes about 6 weeks for the testosterone to leave his body and we are starting to see an improvement in his behaviour). Or perhaps it’s something else? Any advise would be gratefully received! Thank you!

[BiteyShark]

If the vet isn't concerned that it's a health issue I would say he's just not that fussed with kibble.

Kibble is dry and really boring for dogs in my opinion. When we swopped to wet due to health reasons dinner stopped being a battle of wills and he now eats it, although we do have to get certain types and I do rotate flavours as again the same thing day in day out is boring to him.

I think there are two approaches. First is to put it down and don't give anything else as they will have to eat when starving (although mine was really underweight and still refused kibble) or accept that dogs have preferences just like we do and give them something more tasty and better smelling.

[PinkFlamingo888]

Thank you for your reply. The vet knows that he throws up occasionally but he’s only just started not wanting his food so the vet isn’t aware of that. It was more that we’re confused with the sudden fussiness considering he’s always eaten anything and everything!

[StillMedusa]

Mine periodically refuses food..and I genuinely think she's just telling me she's bored with it.
I feed raw in the evenings but kibble in the morning..with a topping of value mince (zapped in the microwave for 2 mins)..it takes no time at all and means she eats it happily.

It might be worth swapping to a nicer kibble for a while ..Tails.com isn't that highly rated and if he's gone off it, a bag of something tastier might just reset his taste buds, especially if he's feeling a bit off post op! We alternate between cheaper kibble and really expensive stuff and it seems to keep it all a bit more appealing.
(I'd rather feed all raw but it's not practical freezer space wise!)

[PinkFlamingo888]

I would definitely prefer to feed raw but we just can’t afford it. We’ve got him a different bag of kibble now but won’t eat that either. I know kibble must be boring for them so if that’s all it is then I can live with swapping the food around. I was just worried it may be something more. I’ll see how we get on and call the vet if he changes at all. Thank you.

[BiteyShark]

If you swop foods rather than binning any of the old kibble I would feed him 75% new food that he likes with 25% old then you haven't wasted any money and I find they will typically eat it as it then smells of the new stuff.

I recommend millies wolfheart as you get lots of different flavours of kibble and the same in wet so you can mix it up a bit.