There are many possible reasons why a dog’s appetite and eating habits may change. Sudden changes in appetite are often associated with health problems of varying severity, so speak to a vet if there has been a sudden change. Other changes can be related to age or habit.

A puppy’s appetite will naturally change as they grow and mature. Just like us, dogs have preferences, so they often hold out for their favourite treat, which can lead to bad eating habits.

Additionally, many dogs maintain some of the predatory pack instincts that cause them to hoard food for later and keep scavenging for more.

Having a steady feeding routine prevents bad habits from forming and helps make sure your dog will have optimal nutrition. Our Joii vets and nurses are happy to help with this.

The right amount of food for a dog depends on multiple factors, such as the contents of the food, the lifestyle of the dog, their age, their metabolism and overall health, and what combination of foods and treats are part of their overall diet. This should always be viewed as a whole and all the parts taken into consideration.

The feeding chart on the packaging of good quality foods is a good place to start, but this needs to be adjusted to take into account what else they are eating.

Further adjustments may be needed after a few weeks, depending on how their weight is being affected. You can find more information on our blog at How much to feed dogs.

The same considerations apply to determining how much raw food to feed, as with any other food. Please see the answer to the question above. There are some differences: the digestibility of raw food hasn’t been well studied, there may be more variation between different batches of food, and the packaging information available may be less. Please have a look at our blog for further information How much to feed dogs or speak to a vet for further advice.

Sudden changes in appetite are often associated with health problems of varying severity, so speak to a vet if there has been a sudden change.

Puppies and very small dogs are at higher risk of complications if they don’t eat, and in puppies under 6 months of age this can happen after only 6-8 hours.

On the other hand, adult dogs can easily skip a few meals without consequence.

If you are struggling to get your dog to eat a good quality food, speak to one of our Joii vets and nurses for help.

In the UK the first thing to look for is that the food is labeled as “complete” dog food. This is a legally protected term that ensures that the food has been evaluated by regulatory authorities, and contains all the ingredients a dog needs to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

The next step is to choose a food that is adapted to your dog’s age and lifestyle. This makes sure the different nutrients are balanced in a way that suits your dog.

Some health conditions benefit from foods specifically designed for them. You can filter foods by health needs, and dietary sensitivities.

You may also want to consider the quality of the ingredients in the food. This can be a little tricky, as dog food labels are tightly regulated and quite technical, but you can find more information on how to interpret them at ukpetfood.org.

The final step is to make sure your dog enjoys their food! This may sometimes mean giving a combination of different foods, health permitting.