If we ask ourselves how many days can a dog go without eating, we must know that, in really extreme situations, these animals could even survive several weeks without food, not without water. Without drinking they wouldn't last more than a few days.
But we must not go to extreme situations, our dog can go days without eating for different reasons. In this article on our site we will explain why a dog does not eat and how we can make him regain his appetite.
How many days can a dog go without eating or drinking?
More than how many days a dog can go without eating, we could talk about weeks, if we put ourselves in an extreme case. For example, a dog that has been abandoned or is trapped after an earthquake. Of course, the resistance will not be the same in a he althy adult dog as in a puppy, an elderly or sick dog and the size will also influence.
On the other hand, although it is possible to endure without food, water is essential. Without water, death occurs in a matter of days But, as we say, these are cases of survival. In our home, if we notice that our dog is not eating, we should go to the vet If it is a puppy or a very old dog, sick or if we discover symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever or vomiting, the consultation should be made as soon as we notice that the dog is not eating. In a he althy dog we can wait a day, in case it is a temporary discomfort.
In case it is a puppy, you can find more information in this other article on our site about Why is my puppy not eating?
My dog hasn't eaten for three days
How many days a dog can go without eating are many, but if a dog goes 2-3 days without eating food, it is reason for a veterinary consultation, because anorexia tells us that there is a problem A lot of diseases make the dog stop eating, hence the need to go to the vet so that, after the examination and the pertinent tests, a diagnosis can be reached.
Why won't my dog eat?
Sometimes a dog stops eating for psychological reasons. For example:
- Newly Adopted Animal: Due to the change and adaptation of the animal to its new home, a newly adopted animal may spend a few days without eating and even without urinating.
- Changes in feeding: a dog can stop eating temporarily, too, if we change his food suddenly. It is always better to make changes in our pet's diet gradually.
- Ailments and conditions: if our furry friend needs to consume a specific diet for some illness or is convalescing from an ailment, it is likely stop eating too
In the last section, we will see how to encourage him to eat in these cases. You can find more information in this other article on Why doesn't my dog eat if I'm not with him?
How long can a sick dog go without eating?
With regard to how many days a dog can go without eating when it is sick, there are differences depending on the pathology and circumstances Seriously Sick people often stop eating and, in addition, numerous diseases will directly affect the digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea or pain. This prevents their normal feeding, since they would vomit whatever they swallow.
In these cases it is normal that we have to hospitalize him, so the vet will maintain him with intravenous fluids. In this situation, the dog may go 48-72 hours without eating The veterinarian will restart feeding with wet food formulated for convalescent animals. It is highly nutritious, palatable, and can be easily diluted for administration by syringe.
If the dog is still not eating, tube feeding will be assessed. When the dog improves, we can notice that it is difficult for him to regain his appetite. In the last section, we'll explain how to get him to eat more.
Is it bad to leave the dog without eating for a day?
After seeing how many days a dog can go without eating, we know that he can go 24 hours without eating without anything serious happening to him But that it is physically bearable does not imply that it is recommended. The idea circulates that dogs should fast every so often, but it is not advisable.
That a dog stops eating for a day due to a specific discomfort is not equivalent to us voluntarily preventing him from eating. We should not do it with any dog, much less with puppies or sick dogs, unless they suffer from a digestive condition and the vet recommends a few hours of fasting. Dogs should eat every day once or several times.
For more information, you can read this other article on My dog does not want to eat - Causes and what to do.
How to feed a dog that won't eat
Regardless of how many days a dog can go without eating, the truth is that our task is to get those who show difficulties to eat. Restoring food as soon as possible is essential for the recovery of sick dogs. On the other hand, if the dog does not eat because we have changed his diet, the trick to encourage him is to make a transition between both foodsvery progressively so that he can get used to it. If it is a new diet due to illness and the dog strongly rejects it, we can, always together with the veterinarian, explore other options or assess the need for change. It is better for a sick dog to eat something, even if it is not the most appropriate, before it is fasted. For newly adopted dogs or those that are recovering from an illness, we can follow the following recommendations:
- Canned food: we can use a very palatable food. For sick dogs^, there are cans formulated for periods of convalescence. For the rest, we have options of wet food or homemade food.
- Papillas: we can start by making a porridge, which can even be given with a syringe, always placing it without a needle and on the side of mouth. If we add water or homemade cooking broth, we also favor hydration.
- Small shots: the shots should be in small amounts and repeated several times a day. You should never force the dog. It is better to try a lot of times and get him to eat a small amount before getting into a violent situation.
- Tempered food: serving tempered food enhances its smell and stimulates appetite.
- Porridge with bumps: once the porridge is accepted, we can make it leaving bigger and bigger bumps.
- Homemade food: if we resort to homemade food we must offer it in small pieces, without s alt or sugar, sauces, fats or bones. Unless the dog is in a terminal state in which it can and should eat whatever it wants, we are not doing it a favor by offering sweets, sausages or fats, since if it eats these types of products, it can trigger serious problems of he alth.
- Specific foods: depending on the dog's pathology, if applicable, the veterinarian will guide us towards more suitable foods for your dog. Recovery. For example, a dog with anemia will benefit from consuming liver or red meat.
Little by little we will mix the foods that we have managed to accept with the normal diet. If despite all our efforts the dog is still not eating, it is essential to contact the vet to assess tube feeding.
