Why is my dog refusing wet food and barely eating his dry?

Archie is likely sick. Pets who are just being finicky will eat when they get hungry enough. The weight loss is the indication that something is likely wrong. Archie needs to be examined by the veterinarian and checked for a problem. Just like humans, there are many things that may make him not feel good and thus not want to eat. I hope this helps and that he starts feeling better quickly.

If it's been ongoing a week, I would think about scheduling a vet visit as there may be some minor GI upset or an underlying illness causing the change. If you see obvious signs of illness including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, refusing all food, etc, then seeking care right away is best.

Yes, it's totally fine to just feed wet food. Wet food is essentially the same as dry food...just has more water content. Wet food may have potential to build up on the teeth more leading to dental disease (common in small breed dogs), but if you give him something else to chew on, or brush the teeth regularly, then it's not a big issue. A lack of appetite is a bit concerning if Russell normally ate his food well. Since he is older, it would be good to have him evaluated by a vet to ensure there is not a medical condition causing him to have a lack of appetite. I hope that helps and all is well with Russell.

I'd Pepper checked out by a vet. She could have a dental problem causing her to not want to eat her dry food. While it's fine she eats wet food only, because of this sudden change in behavior. it's important to make sure everything is ok health wise with her. Best of luck.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Oberon isn't vomiting or having diarrhea, I would withhold food from him for 12 hours. He may be nauseous. If he is still refusing food after 12 hours I would take him to a vet for a thorough physical exam to find out why. Good luck and kisses to Oberon!

It is pretty likely that he has a tooth ache, has severe gingivitis or other problems in his mouth that make eating hard dry food difficult, so he will not eat enough to satisfy his hunger. Keep giving him more wet food and schedule an appointment with your vet for a dental exam. Older kitties often have dental problems and eating with a tooth ache is horrible.

If you're feeding your dog everything, including people food and treats, he likely enjoys those a lot more than his food. Just like people, giving too much junk food may encourage your dog to want those items and ignore their healthy diet. It is best to remove/stop giving all extras including treats, people food, etc and only give his food -- You'll want to place it down for 15m and whatever he doesn't eat, pick up and try again in a few hours. Once he is hungry enough, he'll try out his food again and you can get him back to his normal routine.