What to Do When Your Dog Won’t Eat Their Food But Will Eat Treats?

Sometimes, our dogs can be finicky eaters! They may refuse to eat their normal dog food but will eat treats. If this sounds like your dog and you want to know what to do, read on!

13 Reasons Why Dogs Won’t Eat

Here are a few reasons why dogs may refuse to eat their dog food.

Dog Food is Bad or Spoiled

First, check the expiration date on your dog food. If it is expired or has gone bad, do not try to feed that to your dog. Your dog may refuse to eat their food if they can smell that it is spoiled and know that it will make them sick.

Your Dog is Holding Out for Treats

If your dog is well-fed and healthy but still refuses to eat their food, they may be holding out for treats! Dogs are smart enough to know that if they don’t eat their food, you may give in and give them a treat.

New Dog Food Brand

If your dog is refusing to eat their food, it may be because you’ve recently switched to a new brand of dog food. Your dog may be confused by the change and not know how to react. In this case, it can help to give them some time and space for them to adjust before trying to force-feed them.

New Home or Surroundings

If you’ve recently moved to a new home or your dog is visiting somewhere new, they may be hesitant to eat their food. This is because they may not feel comfortable in their new surroundings and may be wary of strangers.

Change in Schedule

Dogs are creatures of habit and may get thrown off if their usual routine is changed. If you usually feed your dog at a certain time but suddenly start feeding them at random times, they may refuse to eat their food because they’re not used to that change.

Family Member Leaving

If a family member is leaving, your dog may act up and refuse to eat. This is because dogs can be very attached to their families and don’t like seeing changes in their routine.

Guests in the House

If you have guests over, your dog may be hesitant to eat their food because they’re not used to having people around. This is especially true if your guests are strangers.

New Pets in the House

If you have just brought a new pet into your home, your dog may be confused and hesitant to eat their food. They may not understand why there is another animal around who is taking up their attention and space.

New Baby in the House

If you have a new baby in the house, your dog may be feeling left out and refuse to eat their food. This is because they may not be used to the new attention that the baby is getting and may feel jealous.

Dental Issues

If your dog is having trouble eating their food, it may be because they have dental issues. This could be anything from a toothache to gum disease. If you think this might be the case, take your dog to the vet to get checked out.

Sickness or Disease

If your dog is refusing to eat their food and is showing other signs of illness, they may be sick or have a disease. In this case, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible to get checked out.

There’s Something Wrong with the Food Bowl

If your dog is refusing to eat their food, it may be because there is something wrong with the food bowl. Maybe it’s dirty or has a weird smell. If this is the case, clean the food bowl and try again.

Your Dog’s Pregnant or in Heat

If your dog is pregnant or in heat, she may not have an appetite for her normal food. This is because her body is going through changes and she may be feeling nauseous. If you think this might be the case, take your dog to the vet to get checked out.

What Can You Do to Get Your Dog to Start Eating Again

There are a variety of reasons why your dog may not want to eat their food. However, there are also a few things you can do to try and get them to eat. Here are some helpful tips:

Go to the Vet

The first thing you need to do is talk to your vet. This could be a sign of a medical issue, so it’s important that you have your dog checked out.

Try a New Food

If there isn’t any underlying health issue causing them to refuse their food, then try changing things up in their diet.

Try switching brands or types of dog food. There are many different flavors and brands of dog food on the market, so find one that your dog will like.

You can also try serving their food in a different bowl, or adding some extra treats or fresh vegetables to their meal.

Stop the Treats

If you’ve been giving your dog too many treats, they may start to expect them all the time. As a result, they may refuse their food in hopes of getting a treat instead.

In this case, you need to cut back on the treats and make sure they are only getting them as a reward for good behavior.

Be Patient

It may take some time for your dog to start eating again, so you just need to be patient and stick with your routine.

Don’t give up on feeding them if they refuse their food at first. Instead, try to figure out why they are refusing it and address the underlying issue. And remember that all dogs have off days, so there may be days where they just don’t feel like eating.

Stay Consistent

Finally, it’s important to stay consistent with your dog’s feeding schedule. Don’t skip meals or feed them at random times. Stick to a regular routine so they know when it’s time to eat.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to get your dog eating again in no time. And in the meantime, stay patient and try not to worry too much about it. After all, dogs don’t always eat their food every single day!