One of the most frequent concerns involves dogs refusing to eat their raw food. They may suddenly stop wanting to eat or show reluctance when given their food at mealtimes.
The first and most important thing to know is that in most cases, this doesn't mean your dog isn't suited to raw food. In 25 years of experience in this field, I’ve very rarely seen dogs for whom a raw diet wasn't appropriate.
If your dog refuses to eat, it could be a sign that you need to adjust their diet, or it could indicate a health issue. But don't panic; most of the time, it's a problem that's easily and quickly resolved. Here are a few steps I suggest to help you figure out why your dog won't eat and how to fix it.
1. Check health first
The first step is to make sure your dog is healthy. A sudden loss of appetite can sometimes indicate a medical problem. I advise you to start by consulting your veterinarian to rule out any health concerns. If everything is fine health-wise, then the problem must be coming from somewhere else. So, move on to the next step!
2. Reduce the quantities
If your dog is healthy but still refuses to eat raw food, consider reducing the amount you give him. It's a super simple trick, but one of the most effective! In most cases (around 90%!), it solves appetite issues in the dogs I see in my practice. Sometimes, dogs are simply full and not hungry, which explains why they refuse to eat. Reducing portions can help stimulate his appetite. If your dog is underweight, however, the problem is likely coming from somewhere else, and I don't recommend this option.
3. Opt for simplified food
Among raw food companies, the current trend is to include a large number of ingredients in the food. However, this increases the risk that the dog will dislike the food due to one or more ingredients. Vegetables are often the problem for dogs. Furthermore, companies sometimes vary the vegetables they use, which can explain why dogs suddenly stop liking a particular food. To mitigate this, you can choose a food with fewer ingredients, or buy a base mix (meat, bones, offal) and add your own vegetables (approximately 10% vegetables in total). This way, you can control the vegetables in your dog's food and potentially resolve their appetite issues.
4. Consultation with an expert
If nothing seems to work and your dog continues to refuse raw food, consider consulting a canine nutrition expert. Sometimes, dogs can have digestive issues or negative associations with certain foods. A professional can help you resolve these more complex issues. If you'd like, I can assist you with this process. Click here if you want to learn more about the consulting services I offer. Don't get discouraged; it's very rare that we can't find the source of the problem.
Don't forget!
I also offer a free self-assessment tool to help you determine if your dog's diet is optimal. You can download it by following the link. This could help you better understand your dog and be better equipped to understand the signs he sends you, including those related to his appetite level.
Karine, agronomist
