Why Your Dog Might Be Refusing Kibble (and How to Fix It)

There are countless reasons why your dog won’t eat kibble. Maybe they’re bored with the taste and want another flavour, maybe they have dental issues that are making chewing difficult, or perhaps they’ve developed a medical condition that needs to be checked out further.

Whatever the case, the problem can be fixed, so this isn’t something you should be frustrated about. And remember, refusing food is just your best friend’s way of saying that something’s up.

The good news? We’re here to help you figure out what your furry buddy is trying to tell you. That’s why we’ll go over all the possible reasons your pet is ignoring the bowl. More importantly, we’ll discuss how you can resolve the situation, be it a change of kibble flavour or switching the dog from dry food to a more appropriate alternative.

Potential Reasons Your Pet Is Refusing Dry Foods

The number of cases in which a dog’s appetite problems stem from the quality of the kibble is truly astonishing. That’s why checking the bag’s expiration date is a good starting point. Once you’ve established that what you’re offering isn’t stale, you can move on to other common causes for your dog’s food refusal.

High Temperatures

The heat makes all of us feel sluggish and even nauseous at times, so it’s no wonder our appetite goes down in summer. The same thing is true for dogs, many of whom eat far less when it’s hot outside.

While a dog is very unlikely to completely refuse food because of the heat, they’ll undoubtedly be less hungry if temperatures are high. And if you offer them kibble during the hotter parts of the day, they'll be far more likely to ignore it.

Boredom and Pickiness

Whether your favourite food is steak, pizza, or something else entirely, eating just that for weeks on end would get boring. You’d lose interest in both the taste and the texture, regardless of how much you’d normally enjoy it.

Well, it’s the same thing with dogs, and it’s one of the most common reasons why they’d say no to a bowl of kibble. This is even more likely if they’ve recently had access to wet food or tastier treats, as they might be holding out for something better.

Dental Discomfort

Another thing to keep in mind is that kibble can be difficult to chew. While that’s not a problem for most dogs, as they can gnaw through almost anything, those with developing dental issues could be having a hard time.

Items stuck in the mouth, damaged or broken teeth, gum disease, and oral infections can all be the reason behind the discomfort your pet is feeling. And if they’re dealing with severe pain, they’re likely to completely refuse the food that they would otherwise enjoy.

Underlying Health Issues

Your dog’s appetite problems could also be caused by a myriad of serious medical issues. Anything from digestive tract problems to liver, kidney, and lung diseases or even infections could be the culprit here.

However, food refusal wouldn’t be the sole symptom in such situations. In most cases of this kind, it would be accompanied by a lack of energy, difficulties breathing or wheezing, vomiting, loose stool, and even diarrhoea.

If you notice any of these signs, especially in combination with loss of appetite, you should immediately call your vet.

How to Fix Your Canine’s Food Refusal

Obviously, a visit to the vet would tell you exactly what’s going on with your furry friend and why they’re saying no to a bowl of kibble. But, before you end up with a vet bill, there are certain things you can try to fix your dog’s food refusal on your own:

• Add wet food or toppers to the bowl: Kibble can be pretty unappealing on its own, especially if your dog has had solely that for a while. To solve this, you could try adding a spoon or two of wet food or freeze-dried meat as a topper. Covering the bowl with bone broth also works wonders and adds both aroma and wetness.

• Try a different kibble flavour or brand: Since dogs can get bored of eating the same thing over and over again, switching things up could be the answer. You could do that by offering a different flavour of kibble from the same brand to see how they’ll react. And if that doesn’t work, moving to a different company altogether is also worth a shot.

• Limit table scraps and treats: Saying no to those puppy eyes as they beg while you’re having lunch is almost impossible. But if your dog is filling up on scraps in between meals, chances are, they’ll be too full to eat their regular food. They may also start holding out in the hope of getting more of your meals.

• Switch the dog from dry food: If your dog won’t eat kibble no matter what you try, it might be time to rethink the whole dry food thing. Some furry companions simply prefer things fresh, and Pawy delivers just that. The brand’s tasty, high-quality ingredients make switching a breeze, but be sure to transition your dog to a fresh food diet properly.

Conclusion

A dog may be rejecting kibble for a variety of reasons, including high temperatures, dental issues, and gut problems. They may also be doing it because they’re tired of eating the same thing every day. It could even be the fact that they’re overeating due to your scraps or treats.

Ignoring the bowl is your friend’s way of saying you should change something. That could mean you should add a bit of wet food into their diet to spice things up a bit. Or perhaps you’ll need to get them a different flavour or brand of kibble.

You can also switch your dog from dry food to Pawy’s fresh meals, as its natural, high-quality offerings will undoubtedly appeal to your pet’s taste buds. Furthermore, they’ll strengthen your dog’s immune system and improve their fur.

Ready to give fresh food a go? Order Pawy today!