What to Feed a Poorly Dog

A loss of appetite is quite a common symptom of illness in dogs, however unless it’s coupled with other symptoms, you’re likely looking at a sickness bug rather than something more serious! If their loss of appetite stretches beyond a few days, then you will want to consider taking them to the vet, but there are lots of other reasons your pooch could be off their food. Some of the most common reasons for your four-legged friend’s lack of appetite are:

Stomach bugs are very common; your pup can come into contact with different viruses and germs out on walks. They are especially likely to get a stomach upset if they’re the kind of dog to pick things up! Labrador owners are probably well used to minor stomach upsets thanks to their beloved walking bins that will gobble up anything they find that even smells like food. It’s usually just a case of waiting for the feeling of being unwell to pass and supporting them with plenty of water and tempting, bland food until they’ve passed whatever is causing the upset and can get back to business as usual.

There may even be a reason that has nothing to do with their general health that is stopping them from eating. Anything like a change in routine, moving home, a vet visit or being somewhere unfamiliar can put them off their food. If a dog doesn’t feel safe, food will be the last thing on their mind until they feel more comfortable.  

If your poorly pooch has refused a few meals, there are tricks you can use to tempt them to have some interest again. If you’re feeling sick, the last thing you want to do is stare at a mountain of food and the same can be said for your pup. Try offering them smaller meals more often so it might look a little less intimidating to them. You can sprinkle a few of their favourite treats on top to make it even more tempting.

*Tip - Adding warm water to their usual diet can boost the smell and get them to take notice of their bowl.

There’s usually no need to panic if they only skip a meal or two - dogs are quite good at keeping in tune with their own bodies and understanding when food might not go down well, so it’s natural for them to ignore meals for a short period until they feel better. If they don’t show interest after that, try sitting with them or hand feeding them.

If they’re used to a specific diet you can always swap some of it out to mix something new in - for example, if they usually have their meals as biscuits then add a little wet food to make it more novel. Some dogs can be driven by reward and they might find regular meals boring. If you have a fussy pooch, then putting their food into some enrichment to get them to work for it can make food more interesting again after they’ve been feeling unwell. If your poorly pup is used to having a lunchtime activity, then lightly packing something like the Kong Classic Toy can pique their interest in their meals again!

The best food to give your pooch when they’re feeling under the weather is something highly digestible that won’t further upset their stomach. Many dogs wouldn’t pass up a slither of bacon even if they were feeling poorly, but it’s a rich salty meat that won’t help matters. Chicken is a great place to start, it rarely causes stomach upsets and is a good, lean meat for any pup not wanting to eat. Wet food like Applaws Dog Tin Chicken Breast with Ham and Vegetables can be super tempting as it’s nutritionally robust, or you can cook your own fresh chicken and rice.

If your furry friend goes off their food regularly, they may have a sensitive stomach and need food that compensates for this, like Royal Canin Medium Digestive Care, but changes in their diet should always be done in stages to avoid further upset.

There are lots of options to get your poorly pup back to their usual self when it comes to their food and with a bit of temptation, most will start eating again in no time. Sometimes just a different diet can do the trick, or adding something special temporarily, while others may need a more permanent change.

Browse our extensive range of doggy diets to get your pooch back fighting fit!