Inappetance is most commonly a symptom of a bigger problem, so understanding how to help a pet who won't eat will ensure that the animal doesn't suffer unnecessarily until he either recovers or visits the veterinarian.
As a rule of thumb, once inappetance becomes apparent as a problem, the pet should be given 12 hours to recover. If the pet has not resumed eating and drinking by that time, a vet visit should be arranged as soon as possible
“The problem is this: Most pet owners feed their animal twice a day. So by the time you serve a meal and find that it won’t eat, it's already been without food for twelve hours. With this in mind, the longest you want to wait before seeking help is an additional 12 hours – 24 hours from the animal’s last meal. If it’s a case of an upset stomach, you should see some improvement by this time. But if it’s something more serious, you won’t see any improvement and as a rule, you want to seek help as soon as possible to increase the chances for a good outcome,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.
A refusal to eat can result in stomach discomfort, nausea and even vomiting due to the bile and excess stomach acids that accumulate when there is no food in the system.
When the stomach is empty for an extended period of time, the organ’s lining can become inflamed and irritated and this can trigger pain, nausea and vomiting of a clear yellow liquid. This vomiting can also speed the rate at which dehydration and hypoglycemia occurs.
“You often end up with a circular problem and it’s not uncommon for one issue to cause the pet to stop eating in the first place, and by the time that problem is resolved, the body has been without food, so you end up with inappetance due to a whole new problem that’s resulted from not eating,” Dr. Levine explained.
When an animal refuses to eat, his blood sugar drops significantly within about eight to twelve hours. Hypoglycemia can trigger a host of symptoms, including shivering, dizziness, lethargy and weakness, and these unfamiliar sensations often make the animal even less likely to eat.
A dog who is not eating must also receive supplements to prevent hypoglycemia also known as low blood sugar, which can cause dizziness, lethargy, weakness and shivering. In fact, many of the symptoms associated with illness are the result of hypoglycemia, and often, providing supplementation can help the pet feel better, to the point where he may resume eating.
The sugar contained in the honey, maple syrup or even Nutri-Cal will help reverse the effects of hypoglycemia, and in many cases this will trigger the pet to resume eating and drinking. One large spoonful is sufficient for every 20 pounds of body weight, given every four to six hours, depending on the animal’s activity level (more activity requires more sugar).
“It’s also a good idea to offer a 'treat' food when a pet is not eating, as it's often more apt to eat something that it views as a treat,” explained. Dr. Levine.
One good combination that’s easy on the stomach is plain white rice or cottage cheese, served with skinless, boneless chicken, or boiled hamburger meat, as this is not only tempting, but it’s also likely to be well tolerated, even with an upset stomach.
In addition, if a pet stops drinking, dehydration will begin to set in within 12 hours. Dehydration is potentially deadly. In the early stages, there is added stress placed on the animal’s organ systems and unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster when an illness is already taxing the body. In the later stages of dehydration, the organ systems will begin shutting down, marking the start of the dying process.
To help combat dehydration, there are several measures a pet owner can take:
- At the first sign of illness, supplement the pet’s water with unflavored Pedialyte, given in a 50/50 mix with the pet’s water.
- Make fluids more tempting by offering chicken or beef broth, but be sure to select a broth without onions, as onions can trigger a deadly form of anemia.
- For a quick fix when broth is not available, add a cube of boullion to water to give it a more appealing flavor.
- To trigger drinking, dab a small amount of the fluid on the pet’s nose. The pet will reflexively lick it off, and if they like what they taste, they’re apt to seek out more.
For a pet who is refusing to take in any fluids, a large liquid syringe or turkey baster can be used to give fluids by mouth. Do not aim for the back of the throat, instead, keep the mouth mostly closed and aim for the rear portion of the cheek. Give fluids every half hour. For a smaller dog, give about one-third of a cup every hour; for a medium dog, give half a cup every hour, and for a large dog, give up to one cup every hour. Some giant breeds may require as much as one-and-a-half cups every hour.
And when in doubt, a visit to the vet is best.
Dr. Levine concluded, “Inappetance is almost always a symptom of a larger problem, so it’s not something that should be ignored for two or three days – within 24 hours, if the situation is not improving, you need to seek help because going without sugar and fluids will only make recovery more difficult.”
