Almost all dogs wait for mealtime, more than anything else. Don’t panic right away if your dog doesn’t show his normal cheer at mealtime. In general, a healthy dog ​​can take 3-4 days before you become concerned.

There are a number of reasons why your dog may not want to eat his food, in addition to a health problem. Some dogs eat less during the summer months. Sometimes we feed them too much … and they know it! Do you leave the food too long? Maybe they have an upset stomach? Has there been a drastic change in your environment? Has there been the loss of a loved one … human or canine? New home? Is there a new baby in the house? They may have been spoiled with too many table scraps!

Whatever the reason, for a healthy dog ​​there are a number of tricks to stimulate its appetite. Here are suggestions to help regain your pet’s attention at mealtime.

1. Do not leave food on the floor for more than 20 minutes. If your dog is not done in that time frame, chances are he is over-feeding or has become “shepherds.” It may appear that they are not eating as much as usual.

2. Add something new and interesting, like a tablespoon or two of plain yogurt or cottage cheese.

3. Add warm water to your dry food to make a sauce for dogs.

4. Heat canned dog food that has been refrigerated. You can also add a little water to it to make a delicious dog stew.

5. Add a soft-boiled egg. Covering your food with something different often catches your eye.

6. Soak your food in some low-fat, low-salt chicken or beef broth … or if you’re feeling ambitious, you can make your own!

7. Change or reduce feeding time. Maybe once a day is enough. Older dogs tend to eat less.

8. Add a tablespoon or two of fishy cat food. Most dogs love stinky food and / or fish … nothing stinks more than fishy cat food!

9. Speaking of stinky food, crush some garlic, soak it in water, and then add the garlic and water to your food.

10. If all else fails, try a new brand. The general rule; The worse it smells on you, the more likely they will like it!

Bottom line: If your dog isn’t eating for more than 4 days and you’ve tried to motivate him by making mealtime more interesting, it’s time to see your vet. Even if he’s not eating, always make sure he has plenty of fresh water … a dog can become dangerously dehydrated in less than 24 hours!