What to do if your dog refuses to eat dog food

Firstly, exclude the possibility of illness. Once your dog's physical and mental health is confirmed to be fine, you can try the following methods to solve the issue. First, develop a habit of feeding your dog at fixed times and quantities, only feeding them until they are 80% full. Secondly, add dog-friendly foods to the dog food to enhance its palatability, or directly switch to a more palatable food to stimulate your dog's appetite. Thirdly, strengthen your dog's hunger by taking them on more outdoor activities or trying short-term fasting, as long as it's safe for their health.

There are many reasons why a dog refuses to eat dog food. First, observe their physical and mental state. If your dog seems lethargic, lacks enthusiasm for activities, or shows other abnormalities, it might be due to illness or discomfort. In this case, take your dog to the vet promptly. However, if the cause of the problem has been ruled out as illness, it's likely due to improper feeding or food issues. You can try the following methods to improve the situation.

Change feeding methods

Stick to the principle of feeding your dog at fixed times and quantities. If your dog refuses to eat, promptly remove the dog food and train them to eat at specific times. If your dog resisted eating, you can adjust the amount of food to feed them until they are 80% full, so they'll get hungry faster and be more eager to eat.

Add dog-friendly foods

When your dog doesn't like to eat dog food, you can try mixing some goat's milk or meat broth into it to enhance its palatability and stimulate your dog's appetite. However, note that these foods should not be fed to your dog alone, and the amount should be gradually reduced as your dog returns to normal eating habits. Otherwise, it may exacerbate the problem of your dog refusing to eat dog food.

Replace dog food with a more palatable option

Your dog might just not like the current dog food. It's possible that the palatability is poor or that your dog has become accustomed to it after long-term feeding. Suggestion: do some research and buy some different flavor samples for your dog to try, gradually transitioning to a new food while monitoring their response. When changing dog foods, gradually transition to avoid stomach discomfort.

Increase exercise or try short-term fasting

Increasing exercise or short-term fasting can make your dog feel hungrier and break their bad habit of not eating dog food. Take your dog outside more often for running and playing, and prepare toys they love at home to burn off most of their energy and strength. Also, try fasting your dog for a day, which won't cause significant harm as long as they are healthy. This will help them realize the importance of eating and reduce resistance to dog food.