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9 Tips from Our Veterinarians to Help Your Old Dog Eat More

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This article was updated on July 22nd, 2023

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Getting older dogs to eat can often be a challenge as there are multiple reasons for our golden oldies to decide that they’re just not that hungry anymore. A gradual decrease in appetite, which isn’t accompanied by any other changes or signs of illness, might simply be due to the slowing down of the metabolism and reduced energy expenditure that accompanies aging. This is fairly common, as elderly dogs tend to eat less.

But it could also be caused by a variety of different health problems – either major or minor. It’s important to work with your veterinarian to rule out a health condition being at the root of the problem. That way you know whether you’re dealing with a dog whose appetite is decreasing due to the normal aging process or because of health problems.

As dogs age, their senses decline. This includes sight and hearing, but also the senses of smell and taste. They may also have chronic, although not serious, problems which can affect appetite. With a dog who will not eat, the chronic lack of appetite can lead to weight loss, lethargy, and even dehydration – and these can be life-threatening in their own right.

So, it’s always important to tackle your older dog’s reluctance to eat quickly.

First, we will review how health can affect your dog’s appetite before reviewing 9 tips to get your old dog to eat more.

9 Tips to Feed Senior Dogs With Poor Appetites

caring for an older dog

If your veterinarian decides that your older dog’s loss of appetite isn’t due to any specific health problem, then you’re faced with trying to find ways to encourage your golden oldie to eat.

Because it’s so worrying when your dog isn’t eating properly, it can be tempting to feed him whatever he wants, but this isn’t a good idea – for several reasons. First of all, if there’s less food going into him, then what they do eat needs to be giving him maximum nutritional benefits.

Plus, older dogs (even those who are in good general health) have older organs and digestive systems… foods that are high in salt, sugar, chemicals, etc. put extra stress on the body and could end up causing more problems.

1. Pick food that fits the dog’s own unique dietary needs:

Unfortunately, just picking out a dog food that has ‘Senior Formula’ on the package doesn’t mean that it’s going to be what Fido needs, either. You’ll need to choose a food that fits their own unique dietary needs – more specifically, their general health and activity level. I’d recommend starting out by taking a look at this page… Senior Dog Nutrition… because it has all the info and advice you need to make sure that you’re feeding your old dog the best food for them.

2. Pick food that is safe for their health issues:

If your dog has existing health problems, then finding food that is safe and won’t aggravate them is important. Remember, your veterinarian is a wonderful resource for dietary advice, so don’t hesitate to give them a call to discuss options. If they cannot help, most vets will work closely with animal health professionals and will be able to put you in contact with a canine nutritionist. This page can also help you: Food For Senior Dogs With Health Problems.

3. Make Meals More Appealing

dog licking lips

Senior dogs often have senses which aren’t as sharp as they used to be. If their food doesn’t taste (or smell) yummy anymore, then chances are Fido isn’t going to be overly keen to eat it.

So, your goal is to make dinner as irresistible as possible. You can do this by adding a little ‘extra’ to the bowl… but you don’t want to be adding extra empty calories if you can help it. Here are a few suggestions to start with:

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Some low-fat peanut butter contains xylitol (an artificial sweetener) which is toxic to dogs even in small doses. Make sure to read the label of any product you buy first. Or even better, buy dog-specific peanut butter. Add any of these to your dog’s dry kibble and mix it up well, and your dog might decide that mealtimes are looking up!

4. Try heating the whole meal a little

If the kibble is mixed with gravy, canned food, or one other suggestion above, try heating the whole meal a little. This makes it smell tastier and releases the flavor more easily. If you’re feeding just dry food, soak the kibble in warm water (or better still, broth) for 10 minutes before offering it to your dog.

Variety is the spice of life! This is so, so true when it comes to encouraging a picky dog to eat.

5. Try varying your dog’s meals

Try varying what you add to your dog’s meal on a daily, or at least 3 times weekly, basis. Your old dog may have lost their appetite but will likely try to earn progressively tastier meals by refusing to eat a specific combination for more than a couple of days in a row! You can thwart this by being ahead of the game, so switch things up regularly.

6. Consider bone broth, a super-tasty and simple addition

bone broth for dogs

Bone broth is tasty, nutrient-dense, and super simple to make for your dog. It’s a versatile, all-natural superfood! It is perfect for dogs whose appetites are poor or who need extra encouragement to eat.

Bone broth can be added to regular food, offered as a tasty drink in addition to regular water, or used to encourage sick or convalescing dogs to begin eating.

Check out this page to learn more…. Bone Broth for Senior Dogs

7. Experiment with canned (wet) food

Canned / wet food can be a good option for senior dogs. For an older dog who’s not eating well, sometimes a change in food can help. If you’ve always fed dry kibble, then now might be the time to start mixing a little canned food in with the dry.

Senior dogs with dental problems often find it easier to eat soft food rather than hard kibble.

Canned dog food contains a lot more water than dry food (obviously!), so it’s also a good way to get more fluids into your older dog. But there is a downside to canned food… there’s less nutrition in it per cup when compared to kibble.

So, feeding canned food alone isn’t a great choice unless you have a very small dog (big dogs really can’t eat enough canned food to fulfill their nutritional needs, and you’re on this page because you’re having trouble getting your old dog to eat at all!)

Soaking the dry kibble in warm water (or broth) and then mixing it with canned food will give you the best of both worlds and is what I tend to do when I’m trying to tempt a dog to eat more.

8. Feed your dog less… but more often

A big meal might be too much for your older dog to stomach, but a smaller portion (especially if you use one of the above tips to make it more appealing) might be just what the doctor ordered. Adult dogs often only eat once a day, but a senior dog usually does better with two (or three) smaller meals.

Every dog is different, and you know your dog best, so if you think feeding them a handful of tasty food six times a day is the best way to get them to eat, then do it. There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all rule at this point.

However, don’t overfeed your dog or you will create other health issues in the process! If you’re feeding your dog three, four, five, or even six times each day, divide the daily intake up into that number of portions.

9. Minimize in-between meal snacks & treats

If Fido’s appetite is already low, they could feel ‘full’ after half-a-dozen dog treats. This means they don’t think they have room for ‘proper’ and nutritious food. So, tempting as it may be to give that sad old face more treats, you actually need to give they fewer. Also, make any treats super-healthy ones, that way they are getting something with nutritional value rather than empty calories.

Freeze-dried liver treats or tiny slivers of meat (or ground beef) are my usual choices here:

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Sometimes a treat can be used to kick-start your dog’s appetite, especially for his first meal of the day. Just give your dog one small treat (like the suggestions above) right before you give put down the bowl. It gets their ‘juices’ flowing. This doesn’t work with all dogs, but it’s worth a try. You can also try homemade dog treats such as these sweat potato treats.

Other Smart Ways To Get Older Dogs To Eat More

pet interested in food

So, now we’ve looked at all the obvious (and some not-so-obvious) ways that you can tackle your older dog’s appetite loss.

Here are a few more ideas that can also be helpful…

Increase Your Old Dog’s Activity Level

We all know that the more active we are, the hungrier we get.

And getting older dogs to eat more is often easier when they’ve been more active and using up those calories.

dog running

Obviously, there can be all sorts of reasons why senior dogs aren’t very active – especially health issues like arthritis, back problems, heart conditions, and so on.

But, most times, you can increase your dog’s activity level just a little (do it gradually) without any difficulty.

If Fido does have health problems, do check with your vet first to make sure that this is okay to do.

We’re not talking cross-country runs or agility courses here though. Just adding an extra 5 minutes to their daily walk (or making it two daily walks), or a gentle game of ‘fetch’ in the backyard can help.

Activity doesn’t have to be all physical, either. Mental activities use up energy and calories too – and if your old dog has slipped into a bit of a daily ‘rut’, the change of pace can really perk them up.

Interactive dog toys and games can be a lot of fun, and a reasonable challenge, for Fido. Find-the-treat type toys are excellent (again, make sure the treats inside are healthy!).

If it’s been a while since your dog was in school, even a five-minute training session each day (a refresher course on ‘Sit’, ‘Down’ and ‘Stay’ for example), or learning how to balance a (healthy) treat on their nose, will challenge his brain and make the day more interesting.

You might be surprised to see what a difference this can make.

Use Elevated/Raised Feeding Dishes

Using elevated/raised food dishes can make it easier for your older dog to reach their meals comfortably.

These aren’t just for large or giant breed seniors either. Even small dogs need them.

Sometimes it’s difficult for a stiff dog to bend his neck or front legs properly… and if he feels off-balance or can’t get back to a standing position easily, they may choose not to try to get to the bowl in the first place.

Long-bodied, low-slung dogs such as Dachshunds, Corgis, and Basset Hounds can suffer from IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and have difficulty bending their neck or back.

There are lots of different styles, sizes, and designs to choose from. Here are a few of the most popular options:

Elevated/Raised Feeding Dishes on Amazon:

How Health Can Affect Your Senior Dog’s Appetite

veterinarian and dog

There are a lot of different health problems which can have a loss of appetite as a symptom. You can find out all about these on our page…. Older Dog Not Eating?

Because it can be difficult to tell the difference between a minor problem and a serious one, your first step towards ruling out disease/illness should be a thorough veterinary check-up. Basic tests often start with blood tests plus urine and fecal tests, and a dental examination.

These are usually affordable and can diagnose (or rule out) urinary tract problems, some organ-related diseases, thyroid problems, and dental issues. Major ailments such as these should be treated directly, which in turn should increase your dog’s appetite.

When the results are ambiguous or indicate that there may be a health issue, abdominal and chest X-rays or ultrasound is a logical next step.

If your veterinarian doesn’t find any serious health problems, that’s great news for everyone, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that your pet is going to start eating normally again just because the vet says he’s doing well 🙁

There are a host of minor issues that can make your old dog feel like he doesn’t want to eat. These can include:

  • Constipation
  • Failing senses of taste/smell
  • Chronic, low-grade pain
  • Stiffness from arthritis or back problems
  • One of the symptoms of Old Dog Syndrome
  • Medication side-effects

Remedies:

For constipation: Increase fluids either by soaking kibble, and/or adding canned (wet food) or gravies. Flavor drinking water with a little low-sodium chicken broth. Add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin (not the pie-filling variety) to meals once a day.

Reduced senses of taste/smell: Add gravy, broth, canned food, or tasty additives to make his meals more appealing. See tips below. Warm up the food to release scent and flavor

Low-grade pain/discomfort: Dogs can be stoic, and most older dogs have some degree of stiffness or pain due to arthritis, joint problems, or back problems. Veterinary-prescribed pain medications, anti-inflammatories, or muscle-relaxants can help. Talk to your vet about medication options, as you shouldn’t give your dog anything without your vet’s approval.

Gentle massage, stroking, or brushing, can improve blood flow and reduce pain in aching areas. This can also be aided with warm, not hot, heat packs or beanbags.

Medication side effects: Some medications can have a loss of appetite as a side effect. Obviously, depending on the reason for the medication being given, you may just have to continue to use it and do your best to encourage your dog to eat regardless.

Other times there are different or optional drugs your veterinarian could prescribe, and these may not cause the same problems.

Some medications that are commonly prescribed for senior dogs and which can cause loss of appetite to include (but are not limited to):

  • Proin or Propalin (to treat urinary incontinence)
  • Meloxicam, Metacam, Rimadyl, and Deramaxx (anti-inflammatories)
  • Clavamox, Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, Baytril (antibiotics)
  • Tramadol (a pain-killer)
  • Lysodren (to treat Cushing’s Disease)

Read more about senior dog nutrition:

Author

  • Dr De Klerk, Veterinarian

    Dr Jo De Klerk, BVetMed (Hons) MScTAH MRCVS, is a principal Veterinarian at JDK Veterinarian Services . She is a board-certified veterinarian, who earned her Honors of Veterinary Medicine from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College in London in 2014. She is registered with the RCVS and SAVC and has a Master’s degree in Animal Health and a Certificate in Veterinary Pain Management. She is the author of 11 books including "Old Dog Love: A Common-Sense Guide to Caring for Your Senior Dog", and a writer for Veterinary Practice Today.

Disclaimer: This website's content is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian for healthcare decisions. Read More.

10 Comments

  1. Thank you for this wonderful article! My girl is 16 years old and you have explained more than our vet ever did.

  2. My 18 year old pekingsee has not eaten in 2 days. But she does drink water. But she is very weak in her back legs and she sleeps alor. This article explains a lot to me.

  3. My elderly dog was refusing to eat or drink. We tried canned food, we tried gravies. I wet her food with hot water thinking it might be her teeth. She was at the point that she would only eat or drink from my hands, and that was just to please me. Then the vet said try putting scrambled egg in her food. I cut it up and masked it finely. From the first day she ate the entire serving for a dog her size and asked for more. She has perked up, wants to go for walks again and reminds me when it is dinner time. She has also gained the weight back. It looks like an egg a day will keep her with us for a little longer.

    • I’m going to try this with my dog cheetah! She’s not refusing to eat but sometimes I do have to feed her from my hand. But she will sometimes not eat all day til night time and I don’t think that’s healthy. So I try to hand feed her throughout the day. I hope this will work!

  4. What can I do if my 15 year old Lab mix refuses to eat at all? She has a tumor on her spleen and arthritis. She has been on an appetite stimulant which helped her to eat once a day, sometimes a lot. For the last 4 days she refuses to eat anything. I have been feeding her baby food or blended chicken or salmon with a syringe. I am heartbroken and don’t know what else to do.

    • My dog wasn’t eating anything I put in front of him a few weeks ago until I started making him “burgers.” I’d combine an egg w/ a lb. of ground LEAN (no more than 10% fat) turkey, chicken or beef (or a combo) w/ some pulverized (or soaked) Kibble & a sprinkle of Parmesan and make burgers & cook them on the stove or grill. Or just brown the lean meat by itself, drain/blot & feed as is. At least it’s lots of protein. Good luck to you.

  5. My dear 11 year old Kiara was not eating her food. She did eat when I offered her in my hand but not from her plate. I used your advice of raising it up a bit to make it easier on her back and voila! Clean plate and tummy full! Thank you for the tips 😉💝

  6. I have now taken to feeding my jack Russel called Yenta by crushing her dog food with a mortar and pestal and once in a while I mix the gravy from our food in it (one a week).

  7. hi there… we have an ole schnauzer… she will be 20 in March this year… she seemed to be having some joint pain….when she was moving …so I called the vet.. they didn’t want me to bring her in cause of Covid so we had a telephone consult and the vet prescribed some Antinol…. well with in a week of taking it I called the vet back and ask if this could wreck her apatite and why is she soo sleepy now…. they assured me it was not the meds …..but when I googled this medication, it said it can cause these symptoms……so we took her off of it and she h is back moving around again seemingly with no pain as she is not whining at all but she seems to of lost her apatite….I have been trying all kinds of different foods, wet foods, dry foods, and yesterday I cooked up some beef with a bit of rice and carrots and peas…..and she ate it pretty good…but today…not so much I have looked in her mouth at the 6 teeth she has left and they seem fine…any ideas???

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