All the dogs tend to shout when they listen to the sound of their bowl. It is because they love food or maybe are hungry but now what when they don’t care about their bowl and feeding? You may wonder why your dog is not interested. Why your German Shepherd doesn’t eat?
German Shepherds may neglect food because of a variety of causes, including sickness, loss of appetite, dental issues, or stress. Other factors include poor metabolism, environmental change, and boredom with eating regimens that may let the German Shepherds refuse to eat their meals.
It is quite irritating when our lovely pet suddenly loses interest in food. But say no to worry as here in this article we will discuss in detail. This post contains:
- The hot reason why your German Shepherds don’t eat
- Precautions to avoid such type of problem in future
- Cure so that they start coming on a feeding plan
Being a dog owner, You will enjoy reading this article, Why did your dog suddenly stop eating? It’s your responsibility to find the reason and make a reasonable decision.
We will discuss all the causes in detail, Let’s explore this topic in detail:
Table of Contents
Why My German Shepherd Does Not Eat?
There is no living being who starts neglecting their food for no reason. It’s the same case with German Shepherds.
There may be some factual reason behind the neglect of food. At first, you have to observe your German Shepherd and do the needful you can do. The reasons for the separation of food by your German Shepherd because of:
- New environment
- Losing appetite because of aging
- The boredom with the current diet
- Feeding the Same food
- Dental issue
- Sickness
- Picky eater
Without knowing the true cause of your German Shepherd’s lack of eating and presuming that they might not be hungry at the moment, you might overlook them for a while.
Environment change or Surroundings
One of the reasons may be because of environmental changes or surroundings. If you have gone for an outing with your pet or changed your earlier location.
Your German Shepherd might not eat because of unfamiliar surroundings if his appetite was normal in the past as unnecessary environment changes disturb their feeding schedule.
Some dogs have motion sickness or they become uncomfortable when they travel or change their surroundings.
Precaution:
Try avoiding going for outings regularly so that your German Shepherd doesn’t face this type of problem anymore.
Cure:
The precaution is its cure. If you will not change their surrounding then they will be familiar with the dog food you feed and they will stick to their diet plan.
Feeding The Same Food
It’s not only the exception case among German Shepherds even human beings become frustrated if they eat the same food on a regular basis. A German Shepherd can too become frustrated if their owner feeds them the same food daily.
As a result, their German Shepherds will start refusing their food and this issue will invite many health issues if they do not eat for a long time. In such cases, the German Shepherd owner should feed their dog different dog food and give them a surprise as a special treat.
Precaution:
- Never feed them the same food for a longer time.
- Try to observe the taste of your German Shepherd.
Cure:
- Try a change of diet plan for your German Shepherd if they start refusing their food.
- Monitor the behavior of your German Shepherd closely.
- Give the special dog treats as a surprise.
Losing Appetite
Your German Shepherd might have lost appetite. This happens due to aging where the dog’s appetite becomes weaker as a result your German Shepherd may lose their appetite and weight.
Almost all dogs suffer from this problem mainly senior dogs. They start neglecting food or eat very little which results in loss of weight.
There is various food brand that prevents older dogs from losing their appetite and allows them to gain proper nutrients that ultimately lead them to live healthier life.
Precaution:
- Take proper observation, especially for the senior dog.
- Avoid overeating.
- Don’t leave them alone unless necessary.
- Always give nutrient foods approved by AAFCO.
Cure:
- Take proper observation, especially for older dogs.
- Strictly follow a balanced diet and healthy diet.
- Regularly observe the eating habits of your German Shepherd
- Go for regular check-ups with your vets.
Boredom With The Same Food
Even we also become bored eating the same diet daily so why not our dogs, they also like to change their taste.
Also Read: 20 Human foods can German shepherds eat and what to avoid? A Complete Guide:
Boredom with the current diet is also one of the reasons. when they need some change in their diet they start neglecting their food.
Being a German Shepherd owner, you have to understand their mind when they start losing their interest in food and what change you can do so that they can come on a proper diet.
You can also read our article 20 Fruits a German Shepherd can eat and 6 to avoid!!! to better understand their feeding plan for fruit.
Precaution:
- The precaution against such type of problem is very simple, don’t stick to the same diet for your dog. They also want a change of taste.
- Make a proper diet plan so that they enjoy feeding and their health can also be improved
- Never ignore your senior dog even if they need special care from you.
- Spend as much time as you can with your dog.
Cure:
- You can try giving some scraps of meat or some special treat that your dog likes.
- You can try different dry food or add some wet items to his dry food.
- If your dog likes human food then you can also try different fruits or vegetables.
- If your dog is still ignoring food then you should immediately meet your vet as ignorance will not be a good deal for your dog.
Dental Issue:
Your German Shepherd may be avoiding their meal because of dental problems. They might have damaged their teeth and may be in pain. It may be because of the raw bones that had been taken in their meal.
This type of problem should not be avoided as you should meet your vet as soon as possible. In such case dog’s mouth do not allow them to swallow any dog food.
Precaution:
Avoid giving hard food to your dog so that they could not damage their tooth. Watch their meal carefully before feeding them.
Cure:
- In case of pain in their tooth, you can add warm water to their food.
- Try to feed wet dog food.
- Switch their diet to soft food for some time so that they can easily recover.
- If the case worsens and they are not able to recover then you should consult your vet for medication.
Sickness:
Sickness is the main reason why your German Shepherd starts neglecting their food. They may have a fever or stomach problem that doesn’t allow them to eat.
Serious diseases like kidney problems, cancer, or any type of infection may be responsible for their neglect of food and more often your dog refuses to empty their food bowl.
If your German Shepherd is in a vaccination period then they start avoiding food, it is also one of the reasons. Now let’s see its precaution and cure:
Precaution:
- Always give clean and fresh water so that they can’t be affected by germs and bacteria.
- Poisonous food should be strictly prohibited.
- Keep your dog hydrated.
- Allow your German Shepherd to drink water when needed.
- Again after doing all the precautions your dog is not recovering then you should start getting in touch with your vets.
Cure:
- Always give a feeding diet to your pet according to seasons, which means you should give frozen items in winter rather can try warm or normal food.
- Avoid giving toxic food like green tomatoes, grapes, chocolate, etc. so that they couldn’t get affected by the poisons the food contains.
- Keep changing their water and always use warm water during the winter season.
If their condition degrades then it will be better to contact your vets to make them healthy.
Picky Eater
It is the dog’s nature and tendency to eat food if they see it in front of them. However, some of your German Shepherd is a picky eater. They want to eat special treats. It may be one of the reasons that may be responsible for the neglect of food.
You need to be aware of their taste and try to give special treats more often to make them eat and remain healthy.
Precaution:
The feeding habit is natural but you can try to make them feed after giving them a special treat more often to surprise them.
Cure:
- Keep changing their diet regularly so that they are never fed up with the same diet plan.
- Try giving special treats of fruits and vegetables that are suitable for them but remember to avoid toxic materials.
- Again they are able like the foods that you are giving then it will be better to consult your vet.
I hope you have understood some of the reasons why your German Shepherd is not able to eat. Oh!!! yeah, it is very annoying to see our beloved ones not eat what we give them.
Here are also some of the suggestions to change your German Shepherd’s feeding habits.
- Exercise will be a great option, make your dog do some exercise daily so that they bring upon appetite.
- You should take your German Shepherd for a long walk before feeding them, on the other hand, you should wait for at least an hour after exercise.
- You should also avoid feeding your German Shepherd with your hand,
- The bowl of your German Shepherd should not be transparent, if they see their pic then they start looking and stop eating their food.
- Always Keep your surroundings clean and healthy.
- Make their feeding time fun as you can start praising them.
- You can try JASGOOD Slow Feeder from Amazon. It will make feeding time more entertaining as it has a great review.
- Try giving them a special surprise with some special treats.
As dog owners, we should always be cool while seeing their changes in feeding behavior. You should not be fed up and ignore them and try your best for bringing them on a feeding plan.
Best Option For Feeding Your German Shepherd:
If you have tried everything for your German Shepherd and still feel that they are not on a proper diet or your German Shepherds are fussy eaters then visiting your vet will be the best option.
No doubt contacting your vets, again and again, may be costlier but if the condition of your pet worsens then it may also affect your pocket.
Losing appetite and weight adversely affect the health of your pet and may result in major problems.
Of course, your vets will start treatment from the beginning and they will observe them very carefully you should follow their instructions so that they should start eating their diet and living a healthier life.
How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Eat?
This is a common question among German Shepherd owners. The simple answer is to make sure that your German Shepherd has a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh, whole foods.
However, there are several things you can do to encourage your German Shepherd to eat more eagerly.
Feeding your German Shepherd smaller meals more frequently throughout the day is one approach to encourage them to eat. This will help prevent them from getting too full and will also keep their energy levels up.
Additionally, you might try mixing some raw meat or wet food into their dry kibble. As a result, the food will appear more appetizing and may tempt them to eat more.
Another way to get your German Shepherd to eat more is to make sure they are getting enough exercise. A tired dog is often less interested in food than one who has a lot of energy.
Make sure you are giving your German Shepherd plenty of opportunities to run and play. If they are getting enough exercise, they will be more likely to be hungry when it comes time to eat.
If you have tried these tips and your German Shepherd still isn’t eating as much as you would like, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you figure out if there is a medical reason why your dog isn’t eating and can give you more specific advice on how to get them to eat more.
How Long Can German Shepherds Last Without Food?
German shepherds are a breed of dog that is known for their loyalty, intelligence, and trainability. They are often used as working dogs in a variety of jobs, including police work, search and rescue, and assistance for the disabled. German shepherds typically live 10-12 years, though some may live even longer with proper care.
While German shepherds can go without food for several days without suffering any ill effects, they will eventually need to eat to maintain their health.
If you are planning to be away from home for more than a day or two, it is important to make arrangements for someone to feed your dog.
Leaving your German shepherd without food for an extended period can lead to serious health problems, including malnutrition and dehydration.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
Q1. How Long Can A Dog Go Without Food?
All living beings, as we know, require adequate food and water to survive. In the instance of dogs, who may go 5 days without meals provided they drink water on a regular basis.
Dogs can live longer than five days, but according to some facts, their organs will start to deteriorate and they will eventually pass away.
Q2. Is Sugar Ok For Dogs?
The majority of people might believe that sugar is dangerous to dogs, however, this is untrue. Sugar may not be good for them even though it is not poisonous to them.
Dogs do have sweet-toothed taste buds, just like humans do. They are omnivores and will consume both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods.
Final Thoughts:
I hope you have understood why your German Shepherd stops eating, It is not a common behavior and should never be ignored.
Provide the best German Shepherd treats in the best dog’s bowl so that they enjoy the feeding time and enjoy.
Spend more time with your German Shepherd to avoid separation anxiety among them so that they can maintain their health and eat a healthy diet.
You should always take all the necessary steps to make your German Shepherd feel happy and healthy.
Thanks for reading this post stay connected with us for more info about your beloved German Shepherd till then Good Luck!!!