There are many reasons that pets may not be eating. They could have an upset stomach, or they might be picky eaters. If you notice your pet is not eating for more than a day, it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible so they can diagnose the problem and prescribe medication if necessary. It’s also important to remember that there are some things you can do at home before taking them if they don’t need medical attention. Here are some suggestions on how to get your pet back into their regular routine of eating food!
Change Their Food Brand
Your pet may not like their food brand. Simply trying a new type of food could make them very excited and lead them to eat more. Always be mindful of switching foods because some brands will cause potential upset stomachs if they aren’t used to the ingredients. When switching foods, do it slowly. Start with a small amount in their bowl, much less than normal portions, to assure they don’t have an upset stomach. Then, gradually mix more new food into their original food until there is no longer any original brand left in the bowl.
Feed Them From Your Hand
Rather than putting out a bowl of food and letting them come to it whenever they feel like it, you can place their small amounts of food in your hand as a way to get them to start eating. Your pet loves you, and even if they don’t feel like eating, seeing food in your hand and the comfort that comes along with seeing you may be enough to get them to eat. Once they start eating small amounts out of your hand, you can guide them to their food bowl and show them that food. Often this can give them a helpful push to start eating their food again.
Give Them Canned Food
If your pet has an upset stomach, you can give them canned food with no salt or sugar added. Add some water to the can to make it soupy, then heat it in the microwave. Let the food cool for a few minutes and serve it to them warm. This should ease their stomach and give them additional water that they need if they aren’t drinking much water on their own.
Give Them Space
If your pet is being picky about eating, don’t force them to eat. Instead, give them some alone time and space until they are hungry enough to eat on their own. Take their food bowl away for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, then bring it back. They may have gotten hungry enough to come back and eat the food you left for them! If this doesn’t work, try putting their bowl in a different room if they are an indoor pet. This change of environment may be enough to spark their interest in eating.
