Beyond the Bowl: What Your Pet’s Appetite Is Really Telling You

If your pet starts spurning food she usually gobbles right up, it’s easy to dismiss the change in appetite as a phase. But any change in food intake—especially paired with other symptoms—can be an early sign of illness or disease. 

Here’s what the team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital in Knoxville wants you to know about pet appetite changes. 

Why Appetite Changes Matter

If your dog skips one or two meals and then resumes normal eating patterns, you can safely assume the issue was a short-lived gastrointestinal upset. But if your pet misses multiple meals or leaves food untouched for more than a day, a visit to the veterinarian is in order. 

A lack of appetite often means something’s not feeling right in your cat or dog’s body. It can mean anything from a lasting stomach illness to something more serious, like kidney or liver disease, pancreatitis, or even cancer. This is especially true for senior dog or cat appetite loss. 

Even something as common as dental disease can affect your pet’s sense of taste and smell, leading to a reduced appetite. 

The only way to know what’s going on is to get your pet checked out at the vet. Your veterinarian can order tests and perform physical examinations to help diagnose the underlying problems. 

A Deeper Look into Why Your Cat or Dog’s Not Eating

Let’s take a deeper look into why your dog or cat might be struggling to eat: 

• Oral discomfort or dental disease. Pain from teeth, gum, or mouth ulcers can make chewing difficult for your cat or dog. 
• Systemic illnesses. Diseases in your pet’s organs—like the endocrine system, liver, and kidneys—can lead to nausea and a lessened interest in food. 
• Digestive and gastrointestinal issues. Inflammation, pancreatitis, and diet allergies or intolerances can cause your pet to lose his appetite. So can obstructions in your pet’s digestive tract—which can be more common in puppies that chew on everything in sight.
• Behavior or environmental triggers. If you’ve recently switched to a new dog pet food, moved to a new home, or returned to work after vacation, your dog or cat’s appetite changes might just be temporary. Once your pet gets used to the new reality, she should resume eating as normal. 

What to Do if You Notice Appetite Changes

If you think something’s up with your pet’s appetite, start taking notes. Track when your dog or cat eats less, when they skip meals, or when they seem to favor one food or treat over another. Look out for signs like vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, changes in potty habits, and increased thirst. 

Any appetite loss that lasts more than a day or two is a reason to schedule a veterinary appointment to find out what’s going on with Fido or Kitty. 

If you need a Knoxville pet wellness visit to diagnose or rule out early illness in your pet, reach out to our caring team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital by calling (865) 609-0311.