Why won't my dog eat in hot weather? Is loss of appetite normal?

I'm sorry to hear that Precious isn't feeling well. It is very common that dogs will have a decreased appetite when it gets too hot for them. And this can last for a little while. Our air conditioning did not work for a day last summer and it took a couple of days for my dogs to get back to normal. So, if Precious is otherwise feeling and acting normally, it may just take her a little more time for her appetite to return to normal. Depending on what food you are feeding and how it is preserved, another problem we can have with dry food that is exposed to high temperatures is that the oils can start to go rancid. I would not expect it to be a problem after only a couple of days, but that is also something to be aware of. I will often have owners buy a new bag of the same food to see if their dog will eat that. That will sometimes tell me if the bag of food is starting to spoil. If Precious develops any other signs such as lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea or her appetite continues to decline, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that she feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If it is extremely hot in your area it may be that the heat is decreasing Pogo's appetite some, which can be normal. Feeding smaller meals a little later in the day may help encourage him to eat some, as well as making sure he has access to a cool shaded area with plenty of water. If the refusal to eat continues or you see other signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea or extreme lethargy, then bringing him to your vet for an exam is best.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would ensure that she has plenty of access to water and you can feed her canned dog food or home cooked food such as chicken breast, ground beef, chicken broth, pumpkin, etc. and see if she will eat more. If she continues to be inappetant, then I would recommend having her looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If the temperature becomes too hot and humid, this can certainly affect a dog's appetite. It is important to ensure that the inside temperature is maintained to a nice cool and comfortable temperature. You can add chicken broth or beef broth to the current food and see if this helps entice Dollar. If there is no improvement after doing this, I would recommend having Dollar examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello there, Sorry to hear about your situation. That sounds tough in this summer heat. It's normal for them to eat a little less when it is hot, but they should still be maintaining their body weight. If they are losing weight, then it may be too hot for them to thrive and you may need to find a situation to house them indoors. So tips for keeping them cool! There are a lot of warnings on the internet about not giving dogs cold water and frozen treats. This only applies to dogs that are severely heated and suffering heat stroke. As far as a healthy happy dog that's just hot, frozen treats and ice cubes are perfectly fine and can encourage appetite in the heat. Many dogs like to play with ice cubes! You can freeze kibble, chicken broth, and other fun things in the ice to make cheap, chilly toys. I also like to make big ice blocks in the freezer with tupperware containers, so that when I put the ice block in the water bowl, it takes several hours to melt instead of ice cubes that melt within a few minutes. You can also make mixtures of dog kibble and yogurt or peanut butter to stuff into Kong or other treat toys to make for a cold snack as well. If you can play with them with a water hose, or offer a kiddie pool, they may enjoy that as well. I would also try to keep on top of brushing your German Shepherd regularly to reduce the amount of the fluffy and warming undercoat. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sam. His abrupt change in behavior is worrisome. It is best for him to see his veterinarian. He could have an upper respiratory tract infection that is starting or maybe he is painful somewhere. Mild nausea can decrease an appetite as well. If his exam is unremarkable, then the heat could be a factor. You don't want to assume it is just the heat though and miss a subtle sign of illness. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Simba. Yes, heat and humidity can affect a dog's appetite. However, so can many disease processes. It is important to have him evaluated by his veterinarian to ensure that he is not sick. I hope this information helps!