Inappetence occurs when a dog or cat eats significantly less than usual or only eats particularly tasty meals. It is very similar to anorexia, but in this case the dog and cat stop eating completely. Despite this subtle difference, the causes and effects of inappetence and anorexia are very similar for dogs and cats and can be serious. The consequences include obvious weight loss and metabolic disorders due to a lack of important nutrients. If symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever or persistent refusal to eat are present, a visit to a veterinarian is strongly recommended.
The causes of loss of appetite and anorexia can be varied. They relate to illness, the psyche and food. There are numerous reasons for the illness: from simple travel sickness to gastrointestinal diseases and inflammation of internal organs. If it is a psychological issue, stress or fear are common reasons for loss of appetite or anorexia. But your dog may simply be reaching puberty and have other things on its mind than food. The same applies to your bitch's (first) heat.
Of course, the food itself can also lead to loss of appetite. Like a child who is served broccoli for the first time, our four-legged friends are usually skeptical when something new appears in their bowl. So if you want to switch to BARF for the first time, your dog or cat may turn up their noses at first. However, there are a few tips that can be used to encourage picky eaters:
- fixed time and place for food
- Keep calm while eating – avoid distractions (other animals, children, games)
- Hold back cat and dog treats for now
- Heat the food briefly – fats are released, food smells better
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