Welcoming a new pet home can be fun and exciting. It’s always nice to have a new addition to the family. But, bringing in a baby pet home also means bringing in a bundle of energy fueled by food. Younger pets, especially those who are newborns, typically have little fat reserves, which means they can’t sustain themselves far too long without food. This is why your pet needs a healthy diet, and it can be a real stress when your pet refuses to eat.
Reasons Your Pet Refuses To Eat
Much like humans, it’s not uncommon for pets to lose interest in food every now and then. A lot of the time, it’s not a case for concern if your pet refuses to consume one or two meals. However, if this becomes a frequent issue, then you may want to start investigating.
Here are some reasons why your pet refuses to eat:
- Pain: Much like their humans, pets can feel pain, too. One reason why your pet may be in pain is an injury. You’d be surprised to know how prone to accident young pets are. If it’s not an injury that’s causing the pain, then reasons could vary from teething, developing bones, or even pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Also, be on the lookout for bits and pieces of toys getting stuck in your pet’s mouth. Every now and then, check for any possible source of pain and try to eliminate that. If the case is quite severe, it’d be best to pay a visit to the vet to have your pet checked.
- Stress: Pets are susceptible to stress. It doesn’t help your case if you recently brought home a new pet and they’re already surrounded by people always trying to play with them. Sure, pets don’t really face many problems in life, like humans do, but it’s not atypical for your pets to feel stressed out, especially at a young age.
All pets, young or adult, experience an ‘adjustment period.’ When you first bring them home, your pet may be overwhelmed by the new environment. This is all very natural and will soon fade, but do make sure to keep an eye for possible stressors to your pet.
- Not Liking Their Food: Maybe, your pet is feeling a little fussy and they don’t like their food. Maybe, the size of the kibble is too big for their liking. Or, maybe, your pet has a preference for wet food as opposed to dry food. Any of these things could be the reason why your pet isn’t eating. However, this is quite uncommon because pets can pretty much eat anything you give them. You may want to try watermelon beef bites for you pets, and you can visit this page for more information about them. But, if you’ve already tried giving different kinds of food to your pet, but still refuses to eat, it’s high time to go to the nearest vet.
Tips To Make Your Pet Eat
If you’re convinced that your pet is rather finicky and there’s really no sign that your pet is feeling any sort of pain, then you may get away with any of these tricks to get your furbaby to eat.
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Try A New Diet
Every now and then, you also have to make adjustments on your pet’s diet to keep them healthy and interested in their food. They may be growing tired of the food you’ve been giving them and are wanting to try something new. Or, perhaps, your pet’s needs are changing. It’s not atypical for a pet to require a change in diet, especially if they’re growing. It’s always better to ask your vet for advice if ever your pet is growing and in need to transition to a new type of diet.
And, if you’re really planning to make a shift, the very last thing you want to do is throw away the old food you used to give your pet. While some pets can adjust to the switch very quickly, most can’t.
Some pets even experience vomiting or nausea when there’s an abrupt change to their diet. So, you may want to ease into it to get them to like the new food. Generally, it takes around three to five days to make the big shift. Throughout these days, try to mix their old food with the new one, and gradually increase the ratio.
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Exercise Your Pet
Much like humans, your pet might do well if you have them exercise before every meal. This might be useful if you have a pet that’s always high on energy.
Exercise will make you pet hungry, and a hungry pet will eat practically anything. A great way to exercise your pet is to take them for a walk. Plus, you’ll also benefit from walking your pet, such as getting some fresh air.
You might also want to try increasing the distance. Some pet owners claim that walking their pets around 45 minutes or more before a meal really helps.
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Don’t Eat With Your Dog
Don’t try to eat at the same time as your dog. When you’re having a meal, your pet might have a sniff of your food and want to have a taste of human food. However, your pet should understand that they shouldn’t eat human food.
Hence, try to eat at a different time or at least stay away from your dog when you’re having a meal. You can grab your meal before or after you pet’s eating schedules to avoid confusing your pet.
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Minimize Treats
If your pet is used to eating treats and snacks throughout the day, then it’s more likely that your pet will be less interested in their meals. Whenever you give your pet a treat, think of it like you’re giving candies to children. It’s great to give your pet some treats every now and then to reinforce good behavior, but never allow your pet to ruin their meals because of the treats.
Conclusion
The excitement of getting a new pet really can’t compare to anything. As your pet is settling in their new home, it’s very understandable to feel worried when your new pet is being fussy or even refusing to eat. But, it’s important to note that some pets are really just picky and may take some time before they grow a liking for their food. But, if you’ve already tried all the tricks mentioned above, but your pet still refuses to eat, a visit to the vet could be the best solution.
