Dog Not Eating Their Food? Why, and What Actually Helps
You put the bowl down. They sniff it, look at you, and walk away. Here's why dogs go off their food, and what genuinely helps a fussy eater.
In this guide
You put the bowl down. Your dog walks over, sniffs it, looks up at you with an expression of quiet disappointment, and walks away.
Then, ten minutes later, they’re staring at your toast as if they’ve never been fed in their life. Sound familiar?
Why dogs go off their food
There’s usually a reason, and it helps to work out which one you’re dealing with.
Health reasons
Dental pain, tummy upsets, illness and some medications can all affect appetite. If your dog’s loss of appetite is sudden, lasts more than a day, or comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or weight loss, see your vet first.
Habit and preference
Some dogs are simply fussy. And many fussy eaters are made, not born: if refusing dinner reliably leads to chicken, ham or something off your plate, a clever dog learns quickly.
Too many treats
A dog who’s had a few biscuits, a chew and the end of a sandwich may just not be hungry.
Change and stress
A house move, a new family member, hot weather or a change in routine can all put a dog off their food for a while.
Getting older
Senior dogs often become more selective as their sense of smell changes. Food that smells more appealing can help.
Which one sounds like your dog?
| Reason | Sounds like… | Try first |
|---|---|---|
| Health | Sudden, lasts more than a day, or with sickness or lethargy | See your vet |
| Habit | Refuses dinner, then begs for your toast | Set mealtimes, no swaps |
| Too many treats | Plenty of chews and biscuits today | Cut back on treats |
| Change or stress | New home, new baby, heatwave | Calm, quiet mealtimes |
| Getting older | Sniffs and walks away | Warm food, add a broth topper |
What actually helps
- Set mealtimes. Put food down for 15–20 minutes, then take it away until the next meal. Free feeding all day can make dogs less interested.
- Cut back on treats. Treats should be a small part of their daily food.
- Don’t swap foods constantly. Changing food every time they refuse can make fussiness worse. If you change food, do it gradually.
- Warm it up. A little warm water over dry food releases aroma.
- Add a topper. A pet-safe broth or topper can make familiar food more appealing without changing their diet entirely.
- Keep mealtimes calm. Feed in a quiet spot, away from other pets.
- Exercise before meals. A good walk can work up an appetite.
Why a broth topper works
Dogs experience food largely through smell. A savoury broth adds aroma and flavour to the same food they’ve been ignoring, which is often all it takes. Unlike table scraps, it doesn’t teach them that refusing dinner earns them something better, because it simply becomes part of dinner.
Our pet broths can be sprinkled straight over food or mixed with warm water and poured over. Each pouch contains just two ingredients: bone broth and chicory root fibre, a natural prebiotic. That’s it. No onion, no garlic, no artificial ingredients.
A word on table scraps
It’s tempting to add a bit of whatever you’re having. But many human foods, including anything with onion, garlic or rich gravy, aren’t safe for dogs. Our guide to bone broth for dogs explains what to avoid.
If your pet is very young, elderly, on medication, has a health condition or follows a special diet, check with your vet before adding anything new to their bowl.
Questions people ask
How long can a dog go without eating?
If your dog hasn’t eaten for more than a day, or seems unwell, contact your vet. Puppies, small dogs and older dogs need checking sooner.
What can I add to my dog’s food to make them eat it?
A little warm water, a pet-safe broth or a topper made for dogs can make food more appealing. Avoid human foods with onion, garlic or salt.
Should I change my dog’s food if they won’t eat it?
Not straight away. Rule out health problems, cut back on treats and try a topper first. If you do change food, switch gradually.
Make dinner worth walking back for
Pets Chicken Broth + Prebiotic turns the same old food into something worth finishing. Pets Beef Broth + Prebiotic is available while stocks last.
Related Reading
- Bone broth for dogs: is it safe, and how much should you give?
- Homemade frozen dog treats: eight easy ideas
- Can cats have bone broth?
Sources & Further Reading
- PDSA: Onion and garlic poisoning in dogs
- Cortinovis & Caloni (2016). Household food items toxic to dogs and cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science
- Patra (2011). Responses of feeding prebiotics on nutrient digestibility, faecal microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid concentrations in dogs: a meta-analysis. Animal
