Why Won’t My Dog Eat Dry Dog Food?

Is your dog not eating dry food? There are a lot of different reasons why a dog may turn up his nose at his food. Refusing to eat dry dog food could just mean that your dog is a picky eater, but it also could be a sign of a more serious health problem. If your dog won’t eat dry food, here are some steps you can take to help get him eating again.

Make Sure He’s Healthy

If your dog normally eats his food with gusto and has suddenly stopped eating, the most important thing to do is rule out any serious health problems. Many dogs won’t eat if they’re not feeling well, especially if they’re suffering from intestinal or dental issues, so you should visit your veterinarian to make sure nothing’s wrong. But if your dog eats other kinds of food (like wet food or snacks) and refuses to touch his dry food, it may mean he’s a picky eater.

Break Bad Habits

If you offer your dog a large variety of foods, he may turn up his nose at his regular dry food to see if you’ll offer him something better — especially if you have given him wet food or human food. Stick to the same thing every day and only offer your dog his regular dry food to help curb his picky tendencies over time.

Try Enhancing His Meal

Some dogs just don’t like the taste or texture of dry food. If your dog is not eating his dry food, you may want to mix a small amount of wet food with his dry food to make it more palatable. If you do decide to add wet food to his regular meal, remember to scale back the amount of dry food to avoid over-feeding him. Another option is to add meal enhancements, which coat the dry kibble with a flavorful puree. Or find your pet's food, using our Pet Food Finder.