My playful 9-month GSD won't eat food for days, only treats. Why?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! As GSDs get older they don't require the same amount of calories as they did when they were a puppy. When this happens, they tend not to eat as often. This breed does not need to eat every meal or even everyday. They usually only eat more when they are working. So if you have a GSD that isn't working (police dog, herding, agility, etc) then he probably won't need to eat as often. Dogs can go long periods of time without eating a meal, unlike humans. As long as Arjun isn't vomiting, having diarrhea, lethargic, or losing weight, I wouldn't worry. Continue to offer his usual food and limit treats to once-twice daily (because they contain more fat than dog food). Kisses to Arjun!

I would be concerned that Riley has a medical problem causing herself not to eat, as a healthy dog would not starve themselves more than three days. In addition, she may be getting sick from the illness, not from not eating. She could have a dental problem making it painful for her to eat, she could have a GI illness, foreign body, or may have eaten something rotten. You can try feeding her some canned dog food, but if she won't eat that, I would take Riley into a vet today for an exam. The vet can do a physical exam, routine blood tests, a urinalysis, and possibly x-rays to diagnose why she won't eat, and can treat accordingly.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence lasts for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Not wanting to eat can be a sign of nearly any sort of illness, ranging from a simple upset stomach to much more serious conditions involving multiple organ systems. It's encouraging that she will eat out of your hands, but if this is not usually how she eats than I would say that she should be assessed by a veterinarian. A thorough physical exam might help reveal a problem if one is present. As far as things you can do at home to assess the situation, you can obtain a rectal temperature (above 102.5 or below 99.0 is considered abnormal), check the gum lines for paleness / dryness, and check the skin for hydration. Hope this helps and that Ellaa is feeling OK soon.

You will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for an exam. Your dog could have a n intestinal blockage, a gastrointestinal or other infection, an organ disease, or even a blood parasite. Not eating is a very unspecific signs of illness and you need a diagnosis to be able to treat him. Please take your dog to a veterinarian.

Not eating is likely due to your dog being ill, not because he likes the puppy. I suggest you take Blue to a vet for a check up. Sometimes entire males pine for a female that may be in heat within a few miles of your house and then they stop eating. Castration would stop that and would be the most harmless reason. Unfortunately GSDs often have intestinal problems such as EPI (exocrine pancreas insufficiency) which could also be a cause for not eating. Take him to your vet for an exam to find out why Blue is not eating.

Hermann is gorgeous! It's good that you are so on top of caring for him, but I don't think you have too much to worry about. As long as he is bright and active, and going to the toilet okay he is likely just being fussy. To be honest if he is getting treats then he is probably just holding out for those. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to change anything as ultimately this comes down to your friends. If he starts to be sick or gets dull at all then it may be worth having him examined by a vet.