My dog isn't eating much. Could hot summer weather be the reason?

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.

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!

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.

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.

I'm sorry your kitty isn't eating as much right now. It could be because it's so hot in Australia that his appetite has decreased, or it could be that he has a dental problem or illness causing his decrease in appetite. It's always best to have a health check done by a vet when a cat stops eating as much, and I would have him seen by a vet either today or tomorrow. If there is a medical cause behind his lack of eating, the vet can treat him for it.

You could try tempting Darwin to eat by offering some canned food or a different type of food, but if he also seems lethargic I'd be concerned that there might be a medical problem causing a decreased appetite. Unfortunately a decrease in appetite and lethargy are somewhat vague symptoms with many different causes. If Darwin still does not want to eat tonight or if any new symptoms develop (vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, change in urination) I would recommend seeing your veterinarian.

Hi ! It might be that Gemma needs to adjust to the heat. I would give her some time, we often don’t eat as much when the weather is hot. Just make sure you stick to a routine, offer her food and leave it down for 20 minutes then remove it untile the next meal. Always leave plenty of fresh water available and if worried have her checked over. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !