How long without food before you worry

[Foodrefusingpup]

8 month old pup. Usually ravenous and always ready for his meals, eats a good quality kibble that suits him really well. For a treat we gave him a wet dog-food turkey dinner for Christmas dinner and he has been a real pain with food ever since.

First couple of days he just left it a couple of hours, then ate it, yesterday he did the same, although ended up skipping a meal because it took him so long. Today he has just flatly refused to eat. He’s still taken the treat he gets for having his paws and stomach cleaned each time he’s been outside and is merrily begging for anything we are eating, but has flatly refused his own meals.

He’s usually fed three times a day and has missed two whole meals today now. I’ve put fresh down each time and taken it up after an hour, but he still refused to eat it.

Drinking, eating, playing normally, full of beans, normal poo and wee, doesn’t seem ill at all, but his stomach is actually growling and he’s still refusing his dinner!

We’re thinking he’s most likely had a taste of better things and is now of the opinion that his kibble is the most boring food on earth. (He doesn’t only get kibble normally, he has eggs, sardines, sardine paste on his licki-mat and various bits of veg and fruit regularly, but this was the first time he’s had actual wet dog food.)

I don’t want a battle where I persuade him to eat with some tasty morsels, then he continues to demand a gourmet menu and refuse his normal meals. So, with that in mind, how long can we go on like this? We are just coming up on his third meal of the day, I can hear his stomach growling really loudly and I am pretty sure he’s going to refuse to eat that as well. He’s only tiny at just under 4.5 kg, though and I know blood sugar can become an issue in tiny dogs.)

It doesn’t feel like a vet trip is in order yet, as everything seems to be in working order in terms of weeing and pooing and he’s not acting ill or lethargic in the slightest, he’s never out of our sight either, so extremely unlikely to have eaten something he shouldn’t. BUT it’s NYE weekend, so if I do need to take him without it becoming an OOH appointment it’s going to have to be tomorrow morning.

Yes, we’re definitely seeing signs of the ‘teenager’ phase starting to creep in here and there now. Just with him wanting to do things his way instead of ours and testing boundaries. I’ve been through plenty of teenage dog trials over the years, but not with a little one, which obviously kicks in at a younger age than with a large breed. He’ll come through it ok, just hope I haven’t torn ALL of my hair out by then!

I’m not bothered by everyone suggesting different ways of feeding, I know I’ve done my research and worked with our lovely vet to get things right for him. The thread was to ask whether it’s a worry more quickly with a tiny dog if they refuse to eat and has been reassuring from that aspect. He’s full up and snoozing away contentedly on my lap now.

Thank you. I’ve used Chappie for poorly dogs for years, it literally saved my first dog’s life when we first rescued her.

Thankfully we do have really good insurance cover, although I’ve not used the phone line service before, so it’s good to know they can be helpful.

So much quicker than a vet consult too!
So glad to hear he's making progress!

Forever dog is an interesting read and has some really good information but do bare in mind neither of the authors have any nutritional training. The authors are homeopathic vets and approach nutrition from this angle.

It is incorrect to say kibble does not have antioxidants in it. Kibble does eg vitamin e is an antioxidant and most good quality kibble has that in it.

I am not questioning the food you are giving your dog just adding to kibble is not needed give kibble or give other food.

Interestingly Dr Beckers Stress relief shaker has a common antioxidant in it that is in most high quality kibble........

We fed our boy wet food mixed with kibble to make it more appetising

My dog refused kibble from the start. Hell it it now with a topper of wet food, gravy or something like tuna or green yogurt. Kibble must be very boring.

Mine is doing this but refusing his raw food. I’ve given me confidence to toughen it out. I’m now only offering kibble because I’m fed up of 3 days worth of raw food in the food waste bin! (With cheese, ham, egg etc mixed in). I don’t think he’s ill just being a stubborn dick hoping for something better.

try adding a little warm water to his kibble and swirl it round