Dog reduced appetite – when should I see a vet?
Book a vet visitThis is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way. It can come with weight loss, low energy, a painful mouth, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, extra dribbling, vomiting or diarrhoea.
What you can do now
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Keep fresh water available.
- Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
- Contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it can mean
Appetites vary between dogs.[1] A change in a dog's eating habits is often a sign of a problem.[1]
Other signs that can come with it
What the experts say
“Weight loss ; Low energy (lethargy) ; A painful mouth (struggling to eat or eating on one side of their face) ; Jaundice (where the skin/whites of the eyes turn yellow) ; Dribbling more than usual ; Vomiting and/or diarrhoea”
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
What can reduced appetite mean in a dog?
A change in a dog's eating habits is often a sign of a problem.[1]
What signs can come with reduced appetite?
It can come with weight loss, low energy, a painful mouth, jaundice, extra dribbling, vomiting or diarrhoea.[1]
How might a painful mouth affect eating?
A dog with a painful mouth may struggle to eat or eat on one side of their face.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
Reverse Sneezing
Runny Eyes
Tear Staining
Vomiting