Why Your Raw Fed Dog Won’t Eat

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As an skilled uncooked feeder, I do know firsthand the concern that hits when your often enthusiastic canine immediately refuses their uncooked meal. You’ve sourced the most effective meats, balanced the food regimen fastidiously, and adopted all the rules — so why are they turning up their nostril? A canine will not eat often, which is probably not a giant deal. Nonetheless, while you’re sometimes voracious canine walks away from a seemingly scrumptious meal, it may be irritating, complicated, and worrying.

Let me clarify the widespread the reason why uncooked fed canine typically refuse to eat and supply sensible options to assist them get again on monitor.

1 – Boredom with the Identical Meal Each Day

Why does it occur?

Canines, like folks, can get tired of consuming the identical factor repeatedly. Despite the fact that uncooked feeding affords selection throughout proteins, many house owners fall into the behavior of giving their canine the identical meal each day. This may be because of sourcing, funds, or comfort.

What to do:

Rotate proteins: Provide a mixture of rooster, beef, duck, turkey, lamb, pork, rabbit, venison, fish, and so on.

Differ organ and bone selections: Change between differing kinds (e.g., duck necks vs. duck wings, beef liver vs. lamb liver).

Add enjoyable toppers: Sprinkle freeze-dried treats, a uncooked quail egg, or fermented fish inventory.

2 – Meals Is Too Chilly

Why does it occur?

Some canine dislike the feeling of icy meals straight from the fridge. It will possibly additionally trigger digestive upset, regurgitation, cramping, poor nutrient absorption, and bloating. Conventional Chinese language Drugs (TCM) discourages consuming chilly or icy meals as a result of they’re believed to disrupt the pure stability of Qi (very important power) and impair the perform of the digestive system, particularly the Spleen and Abdomen, that are central to digestion and power manufacturing in TCM principle.

Well being dangers:

Consuming very chilly meals can gradual digestion, trigger vomiting, or make a canine extra vulnerable to abdomen discomfort.

What to do:

Deliver meals to room temperature: Let uncooked meals sit out for 15–half-hour (however not than an hour for security).

Gently heat utilizing a water bathtub: Place the uncooked meals container in heat water; I by no means ever microwave, as this impacts the vitamins, hardens the uncooked bones, inconsistently warms the meals (creating sizzling spots), and oxidizes any fat within the meal.

Use heat bone broth: Pour a little bit of warmed (not sizzling) bone broth over the meal to take away the chilliness; if you do not have bone broth, you should utilize water.

3 – Upset Tummy or Nausea

Why does it occur?

In case your canine’s abdomen is unsettled, they might instinctively keep away from meals. This may be because of dietary modifications, consuming one thing they shouldn’t have, delicate sickness, or stress.

What to do:

Verify for different signs: Search for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or extreme drooling.

Provide a lightweight, bland meal: In the event that they’re keen, you possibly can strive plain cooked pumpkin, slippery elm broth, or perhaps a small portion of bland uncooked protein (like floor turkey).

Monitor intently: See your vet if signs persist greater than 24–48 hours or worsen.

4 – Oral Ache or Damaged Tooth

Why does it occur?

Chewing uncooked meaty bones can typically chip or break a tooth, making consuming painful. Gum infections or different dental points can even make chewing troublesome.

What to do:

Examine the mouth: Rigorously verify for damaged enamel, pink or swollen gums, or seen accidents.

Change to smooth meals: Quickly take away arduous bones and supply floor or minced uncooked meals.

Seek the advice of your vet: Dental ache usually wants skilled care to forestall additional problems.

5 – Overfeeding or Lack of Starvation

Why does it occur?

Typically we overestimate how a lot meals our canine want. They won’t be hungry in the event that they’ve been overfed or had plenty of treats and chews.

What to do:

Assess parts: Ensure you’re feeding applicable each day quantities (sometimes 2–3% of grownup physique weight, adjusted for exercise).

Cut back further treats: Reduce on in-between snacks and chews.

Skip a meal: It’s okay to allow them to skip one meal — wholesome grownup canine can safely quick for 12–24 hours.

6 – Environmental Stress or Distraction

Why does it occur?

A loud, chaotic atmosphere or current modifications (like a brand new pet, guests, or loud reworking) could make canine anxious and have an effect on their urge for food.

What to do:

Feed in a quiet, calm space: Create a peaceable area the place your canine can eat undisturbed.

Preserve a routine: Canines thrive on predictable feeding occasions and rituals.

Provide reassurance: Calm, light encouragement with out stress may also help.

7 – Hormonal or Life Stage Modifications

Why does it occur?

Unspayed females in warmth, pregnant or nursing canine, or older senior canine could expertise fluctuating appetites.

What to do:

Modify meals based mostly on wants: Pregnant and nursing canine want extra energy, whereas seniors may have much less or a distinct ratio of vitamins (I prefer to feed my senior canine extra protein).

Monitor intently: If the urge for food drop appears sudden or regarding, verify in together with your vet.

8 – Well being Situations or Underlying Sickness

Why does it occur?

Persistent urge for food loss can sign one thing deeper, akin to kidney illness, liver issues, infections, or metabolic problems.

What to do:

Don’t wait too lengthy: In case your canine refuses meals for greater than 24–48 hours, particularly whether it is paired with different signs (vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight reduction), search veterinary consideration.

Preserve detailed notes: Observe after they stopped consuming, any modifications in habits, and different bodily signs to share together with your vet.

Abstract Desk: Causes & Options

ReasonSolutionBoredomRotate proteins, add toppersFood too coldBring to room temp, gently heat, add bone brothUpset tummyBring to room temp, gently heat, and add bone brothOral ache / damaged toothCheck mouth, swap to smooth meals, see vetOverfeeding / not hungryAdjust the feeding plan, monitor, and name your vet if concernedStress / distractionsReduce parts, skip a meal if neededHormonal or life stage changesAdjust the feeding plan, monitor, and name your vet if concernedUnderlying illnessWatch for different signs, vet if greater than 24–48 hours of refusal

When My Canines Will not Eat

One among my canine will not often flip down a meal. I have been lucky that I have not had choosy canine. On the few events a canine refused a meal, it was as a result of one thing was lacking or the meals was too chilly. Sydney used to like inexperienced beans in her meals, and she or he would sit subsequent to her bowl and anticipate them to be added. Scout would do the identical. My senior canine weren’t followers of very chilly (straight from the fridge) meals, aside from frozen treats on sizzling summer time days.

I add warmed bone broth to my canine’ meals each day.

When feeding meals of uncooked goat’s milk, I let the milk sit out for 20 minutes earlier than feeding it.

I take advantage of meal toppers from Actual Canine Field, Northwest Naturals, or selfmade (save the crumbs from canine deal with baggage).

Uncooked feeding is an unbelievable method to nourish your canine, nevertheless it’s not resistant to hiccups like all food regimen. By understanding the potential causes behind a sudden refusal to eat, you possibly can take good, proactive steps to maintain your canine wholesome, glad, and enthusiastic about their meals.

Should you ever really feel unsure or in case your canine’s habits appears uncommon, don’t hesitate to seek the advice of your holistic vet or uncooked feeding guide for personalised steerage.