Belle's Dog Blog

Helpful hints for common dog problems

  • Home
  • About
  • Caring for your dog
  • Dog accessories
  • Dog behavior
  • Dog health
  • Funny
  • In the News
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Caring for your dog / Dogs Eat Less Food in Hot Weather

Dogs Eat Less Food in Hot Weather

August 1, 2013 by Belle's Mom

dog-foodWhen the really hot temperatures roll around, your dog is affected just as much as you are. It’s important to keep your dog cool and limit his/her exercise until the cooler temperatures of early morning or evening. Young puppies and older dogs are more affected by the heat, so be extra careful with them.

One side effect of the hot temperatures is that many dogs will eat less food. It can be worrisome for dog owners.

Belle has gone through bouts of this where she will not eat one night, but be fine the next night. However, she has a history of being picky and not eating, especially when it is hot outside. If she is still active and drinking plenty of water, I know it is from the weather (especially if she will still take a treat).

Eating less food is a normal response for many dogs in the hot summer months. As a dog is less active, they require less food, so their appetite is decreased.

Check with your vet for some feeding tips during the hot summer weather. Mine recommended boiling some chicken, cutting it up into small pieces and sprinkling it in with Belle’s normal food. I don’t like her to go for more than a day without eating something.

Letting your dog cool down before offering food may also help. I notice that if I offer Belle food as soon as she comes inside the house, she will ignore it entirely. But if I wait about an hour or two, she shows more interest in her food.

Other Causes of Loss of Appetite

There are many things that may cause a dog to eat less or stop eating, but run through these questions to see what might be a possible reason.

  • Did you change your dog’s food?
  • Has something made your dog anxious or increased your dog’s stress?
  • Is it possible your dog is getting food somewhere else?

Warning Signs

When a dog refuses to eat, there may be underlying health problems such as dental problems, disease, injury, or pain. Sometimes medications can also cause a dog to stop eating.

It is important for you to know your dog’s habits and check for signs for problems. Animals tend to hide signs of illness or injury, so you need to pay attention. Some of the warning signs include:

  • Lack of energy
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Not drinking
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Weight loss

Other dogs may show other warning signs of disease or injury. You are the best judge as to whether your dog is acting strangely or not. If you are concerned, then contact your veterinarian.

Here is a good detailed article about one pet owner’s experience with her older dog’s loss of appetite: http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjinappetence.html

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Related

Filed Under: Caring for your dog, Dog health

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    August 7, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Should I have a finicky dog again, this is good to know. As it stands now, Maya and Pierson will eat in all kinds of weather! 🙂 I know I need to be concerned if they don’t eat.

Recent Posts

  • Luna’s Swollen Cheek
  • Caring for an Older Dog is not for the Faint of Heart
  • How I Get My Picky Dog to Take A Pill
  • Start the Morning with a Song
  • Poison Ivy: A Danger to Your Dog

Tags

Aging animal shelter Behavior issues boarding cleaning collars Dental Dog accessories dog allergy dog bed Dog health dog nails Dog training Dog treats donate flea control Funny grooming hot weather kennel pens Pills products review safety tips teeth veterinarian

Categories

  • Caring for your dog (26)
  • Dog accessories (11)
  • Dog behavior (14)
  • Dog health (27)
  • Funny (9)
  • In the News (4)

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...