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We can usually count on our pets (especially our dogs) to have hearty, healthy appetites. But what happens if your dog or cat starts losing their appetite, or stops eating altogether?
In the veterinary world, this is referred to as anorexia. We’re all familiar with the human version of anorexia, which is classified as an eating disorder with a mental and psychological component. However, anorexia in pets is quite different. Rather than being a disease in itself, anorexia in pets is a clinical sign of something more going on, and there are multiple reasons why it can occur.
Regardless of the cause, any pet who stops eating needs to be responded to quickly. Unlike humans, who are able to go several days without food before experiencing negative physical effects, some animals who go without food for as little as 24 hours can suffer serious consequences. Cats in particular can become very ill, very quickly. This is due to dehydration (which strains the kidneys) and the fact that their bodies cannot utilize stored fat for energy very well. Cats who stop eating are in real danger of developing a potentially fatal condition called “hepatic lipidosis”, where fat begins to accumulate in the liver, causing it to fail.
So what would cause a pet to stop eating?
Causes Of Anorexia In Pets
There are 2 types of anorexia in pets: “pseudo-anorexia” (where the pet is hungry and wants to eat, but can’t due to difficulty chewing or swallowing food) and “true anorexia” (where the pet has absolutely no interest in food).
Potential causes of pseudo-anorexia include:
- Chronic pain anywhere in the body that interferes with the act of eating (i.e. back, neck, hip, or joint pain).
- Stomatitis or Esophagitis (inflammation of tissues in the mouth or throat).
- Advanced tooth or gum disease, including loose or abscessed teeth.
- TMJ (pain in the temporomandibular joint of the jaw).
- Tumors of the mouth, tongue, tonsils, or throat.
- Nervous system diseases that affect chewing and swallowing.
Possible causes for true anorexia include:
- Illness of any type, including cancer, organ disease, bacterial infections, advanced diabetes, hyperthyroidism, immune disorders, conjunctivitis, asthma, and fever.
- Food allergy or food intolerance.
- Nausea.
- Gastrointestinal blockage.
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers.
- Exposure to poison.
- Psychological causes, including stress, changes in environment (such as a new baby, houseguests, or moving), altered routine, or depression resulting from the loss of another pet or person.
- Weather changes (hot, humid weather can decrease appetite).
- Sudden change in diet (can cause GI upset, or the pet may not like the new food).
- Inability to smell (scent is an important component of appetite).
- Medication side effects.
- Aging.
- Spoiled appetite (usually from overfeeding or giving too many treats between meals).
- “Picky Eater Syndrome”

Diagnosing The Cause
Identifying the reason for appetite loss is the most important component of caring for an anorexic pet. Without discovering the underlying issue, any treatment options will only be successful for a short period of time, if at all.
If your pet is not eating, your veterinarian will start with a physical exam, paying close attention to your pet’s mouth, teeth, nose, lymph nodes, and GI tract. Based on the findings of the exam, diagnostic testing can be performed to rule out medical causes of the anorexia. These tests may include:
- Bloodwork
- X-rays or ultrasound of the chest and abdomen
- Urinalysis
- Endoscopy, if warranted (using an endoscope with a camera on the end to look inside your pet’s esophagus, stomach, intestines, and/or abdominal cavity)
Your veterinarian will also obtain a thorough medical history on your pet, including any recent changes in environment, diet, routine, and behavior. Once the underlying cause is identified, your vet can then recommend a course of treatment.
Treating Anorexia In Pets
Treatment will depend entirely on the diagnosis. If the cause is due to a medical condition, the condition must be treated first – then additional treatment will focus on managing symptoms (such as the loss of appetite). If the cause is stress-related or psychological, your veterinarian can make recommendations to address those issues.
There are some things you can try at home to help perk up your pet’s appetite or make mealtime more attractive. Some of these suggestions will be trial-and-error, depending on the personal preference of your pet. Be sure to discuss this list with your veterinarian before you implement any of these suggestions, in case they are contraindicated with your pet’s medical treatment.
- If your pet usually eats dry food, add a small amount of high-quality canned food or low-sodium chicken broth to his diet to add moisture and flavor. You can also top the food with a mixture of boiled chicken and rice.
- Warm the food. Not only do most animals prefer their food warm, but heating food makes it smell more aromatic, which helps stimulate appetite.
- Try a different type or brand of food to see if your pet finds it more palatable. Remember to transition slowly (over a week) from the old food to the new food to avoid diarrhea and stomach upset.
- Try using a different bowl to feed your pet. Some pets prefer larger, shallow bowls over narrow ones, or plates instead of bowls. Other pets like elevated feeding dishes because it makes it easier for them to eat. Try some options and see what your pet likes best.
- Consider changing the location of your pet’s bowl to a quieter area of your home.
- Since pets are most interested in food when it’s first set down, try giving your pet a reasonable amount of time to eat, then removing the bowl for awhile and trying again later. Cats in particular have a tendency to eat a little, walk away, and come back for more later.
- Speaking of cats, a tried-and-true veterinary trick for getting cats to eat is to offer them warm, chicken baby food (the human variety). Use straight chicken meat-only baby food (no rice or vegetables added), and make sure the brand contains NO onion powder or flavoring (onion is toxic to cats). I use Gerber’s Chicken and Chicken Gravy for my cats when they aren’t feeling well, and it’s worked every time.

If a pet’s anorexia is severe enough, your veterinarian may need to intervene. The pet may need to be hospitalized with IV fluids and force-fed, or in extremely severe cases, may need to have a feeding tube inserted through the nose and into the esophagus until he or she is able to eat on their own. Feeding tubes are the least stressful and most efficient way to feed a severely anorexic pet; they are not painful, and can be lifesaving. The veterinarian may also prescribe appetite stimulants such as Valium or mirtazapine.
One quick word about force-feeding at home. Although it can be done, it’s not always easy, and unfortunately since many pets do not like the procedure, they come to associate the food with a negative experience – which is exactly what you DON’T want. Also, if proper force-feeding techniques are not employed, you run the risk of being bitten (either accidentally or on purpose). If your pet simply will not eat at home and is not taking in any nutrients, brief hospitalization is your best bet to get them stabilized until they are ready to eat on their own again.
Managing Anorexia
Any change in your pet’s appetite or eating behavior warrants investigation. Sometimes a decreased appetite can result from stress or changes in the environment, in which case you can try to perk up your pet’s appetite at home.
However, true anorexia is a serious condition that must be addressed quickly. Although there are techniques you can employ to try to encourage your pet to eat, the underlying issue must always be identified in order to successfully treat anorexia.
For many pets, the longer they go without eating, the less likely they will want to eat, and the greater the risk of developing potentially serious complications. If your pet hasn’t eaten in longer than 24 hours, get your veterinarian involved immediately.
Have you ever had to treat an anorexic pet at home? If so, please tell us about it in the comments below!
Your information is so thorough! This is wonderful! And you have some great tips for encouraging pets to eat. I remember seeing a cat on valium for the first time. We offered him a buffet of foods, and OMC he just went to town on everything. It was funny, but also encouraging to see him eating well for once.
Thank you! 🙂 And regarding the Valium, it’s crazy how well that stuff works for getting cats to eat. For our hospitalized patients, we injected it IV… but first we used to get everything ready beforehand – plate of food, extra food in case they wanted more, towel (in case the food was flung) – since within 10 seconds of injecting it, the cat usually had his entire face in the plate! Then that process seemed to help “jump start” them.. once they started eating, many of them continued to eat going forward on their own. It was pretty darn gratifying!
This article is so informative! I truly appreciate the feeding suggestions. Yes, chicken baby food is a great ally!
I have several cats, (Okay, six.) I have adopted each one as a kitten and the adoptions have occurred over time (years). I have cats ranging from 11 years to six months old. Each adoption has required a time of adjustment and re-arrangement in the pecking order. All but the kitten have been spayed or neutered. All are indoors-only cats. One of my cats, a beautiful long and tall blue-grey shorthaired male with green eyes, has been bumped to the bottom of the hierarchy. Any other cat or kitten can shove its’ nose into his bowl and nudge him out. The lovely and easy-going Greybeau has become needy and demanding. Feeding him separately works for the most part, but sometimes he will only eat if I sit with him. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have. After he has eaten, he does not seem the least bit anxious. He returns to his mellow, easy-going nature.
Hi Andrea, glad you enjoyed the article! Regarding Greybeau, I think I may have some info that might help. First, it’s important to note that cats are not pack animals – they are solitary hunters who, given the option, most times would prefer to be left to themselves. Any time you have several cats in one household, there is going to be a certain amount of stress. Each cat not only has to figure out his/her position in the hierarchy, but they also stake out specific physical territory that they claim as their own. If a cat perceives that another cat is posing a threat (whether by invading his territory or sticking their face into his food bowl), it causes anxiety.
Regarding feeding Greybeau, I think feeding him separately (out of view of the other cats) is a great idea. He needs to feel secure that no one else is going to poach his resources (in this case, food) or make him have to defend anything. And the behavior you’re describing about him occasionally only eating when you sit with him is actually very common in cats. I’ve seen the term “social eater” used, implying that he actually enjoys your company while he eats… but in his case, I also think that your presence provides security for him during an activity that he thinks could potentially be stressful.
I think what might help is increasing his confidence to help him overcome his insecurity. You can do this by spending extra time with him and playing. If you have any toys that are interactive (the best one is the wand with the string and the feather/toy on the end), this will not only help him bond with you, but will also bring out his prey drive, let him blow off steam (and consequently, reduce his stress), and make him more confident. I’m not exactly sure why play therapy seems to help insecure kitties, but I’ve seen it happen many times, so I know it works!
Also, cats stake out their territories not only horizontally, but vertically. This is why you see some cats occupying higher places in a room like shelves, dressers, or the top of the refrigerator. I would suggest investing in a tall kitty condo or cat tree with at least 3 levels. This will even out the competition for floor territory amongst all 6 cats, and may help alleviate stress around any hierarchy issues.
Hope this helps! Please keep me posted and let me know if things improve!
This is a really excellent article! Many of the tips you provide for getting your cat to eat worked for Jewel when she didn’t feel like eating due to her CRF. Thank you for sharing this great information with pet owners!
Thank you, I’m so glad you thought it was helpful! With cats especially, it can make you feel completely helpless when they won’t eat because you know they absolutely need to. CRF is so challenging due to the nausea and increased stomach acid it causes…you’re constantly thinking about taking care of their kidneys, then when they stop eating, you have to worry about their liver (hepatic lipidosis) too!
HELP! I have 4 indoor cats (9 yrs each) that are either not eating or very little!!!! they are usually howling for meals, especially 2 of them. I’ve tried a different food, something I know they like, a couple of times its come back up….vomited,,,there’s hairballs……but they all seem to be just not interested in anything I offer. WHAT IS GOING ON? I know it can be serious – but all 4 OF THEM? anyone got ideas? thanks!
Oh no! Well, unfortunately, without knowing your cats’ medical history, I’m afraid there are just too many missing pieces to try to make a guess as to what might be causing them to not want to eat. So my first suggestion would be to play it safe and call your veterinarian’s office as soon as possible and ask them what they would advise. Since they should have complete histories on the cats, they might be able to give you some advice over the phone.
I had 2 other thoughts initially as well. First, if they are acting normally in all other ways except the decreased appetite, and all 4 of them are affected, could the issue possibly be caused by stress? Any changes in the household, new furniture, household guests, changes in schedule, anything that could cause them to be feeling anxious? Also, with cats in multi-cat households, sometimes feeding them all in the same place can cause anxiety, even in cats that seemed previously okay with it. You might want to try feeding them in separate rooms at their next meal to see if that makes any difference. Also, just a thought, but many cats have a noticeably decreased appetite during the summer months when it gets very hot. One of my cats didn’t start showing a decrease in appetite in the summer until he was about 8 years old – then every summer after that I noticed he always ate less than during other times of the year.
That being said, I would still start with your veterinarian’s office as soon as you can to get their direction on what might be causing the decreased appetite. Please don’t wait, since cats who stop eating altogether can get very sick, very quickly. Hopefully they will be able to help you figure out what’s going on! Good luck, hope things resolve quickly!
This article was very informative, however, I think the situation with my dog may be different and am wondering what more I can do to help her. She will not eat her dry dog food…which she normally loves and eats very well (Rachael Ray’s Nutrish). For the past 2 weeks I have tried putting home made chicken broth on her food, cutting up boiled eggs to put in with her food and adding peanut butter to her food. She always licks off the added substances and spits out the dog food. She will eat “people food” (dog healthy) but refuses to eat her dog food. She is getting very bony and yet her stomach seems to be distended (full and tight) and she has no other symptoms. I am at a loss for what to do…I can’t afford to take her to the vet right now due to being unemployed for the past 3 months. She is a 10 year old (adopted from the pound at 6 months old) golden retreiver and she is my whole life. Can you please help me figure out what to do??
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for writing. I wanted to respond as quickly as possible to your inquiry because there are several things that you mentioned that I am concerned about. First, your dog’s appetite has been off for several weeks and she’s only interested in human food, which is obviously more palatable to her right now. Second, she is losing weight and has a very bony appearance, yet she has a distended abdomen. Third, she is a 10-yr old Golden Retriever.
It’s absolutely not my intention to alarm you, but unfortunately these symptoms make me highly suspicious of cancer. Golden Retrievers in particular are highly prone to developing cancer, especially certain cancers of the internal organs such as the liver and spleen. These cancers can cause weight loss, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite, all as you described. I hope with all my heart that this is not the case with your dog, but the symptoms are very concerning. Have you checked the color of her gums? Normal gums should be pink to red; if hers are pale pink or whitish, she needs veterinary attention immediately.
I know your employment situation will make it difficult, but it’s my opinion that your baby needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If you call your regular vet (or any vet in your area), you may be surprised at how many will at least examine her and work with you to set up a payment plan. Sometimes an exam and an x-ray is all that’s needed to confirm or rule out a life-threatening condition. If your veterinarian won’t accept a payment plan, keep trying until you find one that will. If it isn’t cancer (which I hope with all my heart is the case), the vet will able to better advise you on what to do based on the findings of the physical exam.
Good luck, and PLEASE let me know what happens…my pets are my whole life too, so my heart goes out to you! <3
Thank you for this article. I am currently going through a painfully heartbreaking situation, as I watch my beloved 5 year old (this month) rescue, Theo, a normally happy, energetic and always hungry dog, starve himself.
He had eaten something outside (I suppose in the grass) that made him very ill with diarrhea. When it didn’t go away after 48 hours, We went to see our family Vet about the issue.
Theo was immediately checked into the animal hospital and was receiving IV for dehydration, and at this point, Pancreatitis was suspected. After some tests were taken, it was ruled out and it seemed that Theo had some kind of gastrointestinal problem. Again more test, blood work, x-rays. barium and more x-rays, and an ultrasound, it turned out that there was no blockage, but his stomach was obviously in distress and pain. Just a little note here, his teeth and gums are also all fine.
After 4 days of IV fluids and tests, Theo was released and sent home with me, along with A/D food and 2 prescriptions, “Cerenia, and Famotidine 10 mgs, The meds did little or quite frankly, nothing to help him and he refuses to eat. I have tried every food you can imagine, both for animals as well as for people. I am currently force feeding my little guy the A/D food and we are at day 21 without him ingesting any food willing.
He is a constant worry at this point and I am at a loss of what to do about it. We have been back and forth to the Vet more times than I can count at this point, and we even have another appointment this afternoon for a second ultrasound. The last one was taken at the very beginning of his problem and we are hoping that we may find something to shed light on the issue so it may be addressed, and Theo could finally start to feel better. Theo is a (normally) 31 pound (now 26 lbs) bundle of fluffy blonde fur that loves to have me play with him and his toys, I throw them, he retrieves them. When he desires a “new game” he does the same thing, but changes out the toy to fetch! Now he lays lethargically at my feet, dreading the next force feeding. I see that others have had issues with their dog that seems more like picky eating. My Theo eats absolutely nothing at all. Hence the “force feeding.”
I am open to any and all advice.
Thanks for the forum and the opportunity to get this off of my chest.
Don
Hi Don, I am so sorry to hear about what you’re going through with Theo. Heartbreaking is a good word for it, since it’s incredibly frustrating to know your baby hurts and not be able to pinpoint the cause. 🙁
After reading this, I had a few thoughts. First, are you sure that Theo initially ate something that made him sick? The diarrhea could have been a symptom of an underlying medical condition that is also causing the anorexia. Everything about what you said makes me think there is something else going on besides him ingesting something that caused the diarrhea. The meds that he was prescribed were most likely an attempt to alleviate nausea – Cerenia is used to suppress nausea, and famotodine (Pepcid) is used to reduce stomach acid. However, if there is another issue going on, unfortunately they most likely won’t cause a dramatic improvement in how Theo feels.
You mentioned that you were going for a second ultrasound yesterday… did it provide you with any more information? Unfortunately, until the cause of the anorexia is identified and treated, and Theo starts feeling better, sadly it will probably continue to be an uphill battle to get him to eat on his own. Did the vet ever discuss the option of a feeding tube with you? I know it might seem drastic, and feeding tubes are usually used in more severe cases, but after 21 days Theo might benefit from having one until things get figured out. Just something to consider.
Also, it sounds like you’ve been working with the same vet on trying to diagnose Theo’s issue. Have you considered getting a second opinion from a specialty veterinarian? I’ve had tremendous luck with Internal Medicine specialists, as they are experts in diagnosing mystery illnesses. A wonderful internal medicine vet actually saved my cat’s life when no one else could figure out what was going on with him. If you still don’t have an answer after Theo’s second ultrasound, it may be worth getting him to an internal medicine specialist for a second set of eyes.
I wish I could be of more help, but until we know what’s happening medically with Theo, unfortunately it’s going to be difficult to know how to proceed. If you are willing, can you please keep me posted on what you find out and how Theo is doing? I will be thinking of you both and wishing you the best of luck. Thank you!!
I adopted him he is been with me 4 months we walk we play he sleeps with me but he won’t eat I have tried every dog food he was checked out by a vet nothing could be found I now feed him Gerber chicken baby and he only eats when I force feed him with a spoon HELP!
Hi Denise…Sorry to hear you’re experiencing trouble getting your dog to eat. Since your veterinarian has much more history on your dog than I do, I would strongly suggest talking with him or her again and seeing what else you can try. There are lots of factors that go into why a dog or cat won’t eat (including food sensitivities, chronic pain, stress, etc.), and unfortunately, chicken baby food is only a temporary fix. Your dog will need a nutritionally balanced diet, so it’s important to keep trying until you either find a food that he likes and will eat on his own, or you discover the cause of why he doesn’t want to eat. I think good advice from a veterinarian will still be your best bet, so if you aren’t getting help from your current vet, please don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. Good luck!!
There are some issues related to anxiety that may cause your furry companion to stop eating. The most common of all of these anxiety-related issues is separation anxiety which leads to a lack of appetite in dogs. Dogs that have separation anxiety don’t eat on their own in the absence of their owners—regardless of the fact that they’re hungry or not.
I just want to add a quick side note about this part:
“In the veterinary world, this is referred to as anorexia. We’re all familiar with the human version of anorexia, which is classified as an eating disorder with a mental and psychological component. However, anorexia in pets is quite different. Rather than being a disease in itself, anorexia in pets is a clinical sign of something more going on, and there are multiple reasons why it can occur.”
You’re right – that eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, is one of the human versions of anorexia.
Anorexia non-nervosa can be a clinical sign of something more going on, and there are multiple reasons why it can occur, in people too. it happened to me once when I had a horribly sore throat (I didn’t want to bother eating because it hurt to swallow, but I wanted to want to eat). I heard it can also happen to people during chemo.
so yeah, if you see this happening in one of your kids (human, not furbaby), don’t only jump to the conclusion that the kid thinks she or he is too fat or something but get the kid to a doctor for a physical checkup too (saved my life).
Hi Camille, thanks for posting this article. I have a 4 month Golden Retriever puppy – LOKI. He has just recovered from a bout of tick fever. From the time he has joined our family, he has had issues with dry kibble. He was introduced to Farmina N&D at his mother’s place and we decided to continue with Farmina. But seeing his reluctance, we experimented with Acana and Orijen . He was not happy with these as well. So we started dribbling coconut oil, ghee, etc on his kibble to make it more palatable. But even then we had to force feed him literally. It is not that he does not have an appetite but just that he doesn’t want to eat kibble. He was pampered when he fell sick and now it is a Herculean challenge to make him eat kibble. If I give him rice, potatoes, broth he relishes it. But I’m afraid that he is missing out on the micro nutrients present in the dog food. Please can you suggest some ways to bring this fussy eater on the right track?