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If your australian shepherd misses one meal you might not be worried. But when they choose not to eat for a full day you might start to get concerned.
Is it normal for australian shepherds to stop eating or is something wrong?
Why Is My Australian Shepherd Not Eating:
A perfectly healthy australian shepherd can stop eating for 24 hours and have nothing wrong. It could simply be an off day. But if they haven’t eaten for 48 hours there’s a reason. It could be a recent change to their environment, they’re in pain, or they have an underlying health issue.
In this post you’ll discover:
- 9 reasons why your australian shepherd is not eating
- When your aussies refusing to eat is something to worry about
- How long australian shepherds can go without eating
- 6 tips to help get your australian shepherd eating again (Tip #3 can be a BIG help!)
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
9 Reasons Why An Australian Shepherd Won’t Eat Their Food
1) Bored Of Current Food/Being Picky
If your Aussie is eating less or has stopped eating their food altogether, one potential reason could be that they are bored of their current food.
Just like people, dogs can get tired of eating the same thing day in and day out.
It’s not common for a healthy adult aussie to stop eating their food simply because they’re bored of it though.
If they are being a little picky at the moment try changing up their food’s consistency or adding some meat on top of their food to spark their appetite again.
You can add warm water or chicken broth to their food to help with this.
2) Getting Older/Less Activity
If your australian shepherd is getting older and starting to move around less, it’s not uncommon for them to start eating less.
When they begin moving around less and less they don’t require as much fuel to keep them going.
This is because they’re burning fewer calories and don’t need as much food to maintain their weight.
In this case it might be worth switching them over to a dog food designed for seniors to help with their food consumption.
Something else to be aware of is as your aussie moves into their senior years they’re more likely to get health conditions like hypothyroidism or diabetes.
Both of which affect their appetite.
3) Separation Anxiety
This is a common issue for aussies that are left home alone during the day or a lot in general.
When they’re away from their pack (you and your family) they can get anxious which leads to a loss of appetite.
They’ll likely also do other excessive behaviors when alone like whining, licking, shaking, drooling, pacing, etc.
And when they do these things for hours on end it’s hard on their nervous system which affects their appetite even after you come home.
If your pup has separation anxiety it’s important to help them overcome these strong negative feelings to bring their appetite back to normal.
Related Reading: Australian Shepherd Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes & Solutions
4) Environmental Changes
Big changes to your australian shepherd’s environment can cause them to become depressed, stressed or anxious which makes them not want to eat.
There are quite a few environmental changes that can bring out these strong negative emotions.
Things like new people living in your home full time like a boyfriend/girlfriend or a new baby.
If you started working more recently which has changed up your schedule and indirectly changes your aussies schedule.
A loved one recently passed away (canine or human).
Or moving to a new home where all the things they’re used to are gone without them understanding why.
In these cases, it’s important to try and make mealtimes as calm and relaxed as possible.
As well as help them back into a new routine in their new environment.
This way you’re increasing the likelihood that your australian shepherd’s stomach doesn’t get turned off from their anxious feelings and they’re able to eat.
5) Mouth Pain
Mouth pain is a common reason why your australian shepherd might not be wanting to eat.
There are many things that can cause mouth pain like gingivitis, dental tartar buildup, tooth infection, or even more serious things like oral tumors.
All of these will make it painful for your pup to chew and swallow their food which will make them not want to eat.
What many owners don’t know is that roughly 90% of all dogs will develop some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the time they reach 2 years old.
And what’s upsetting is that simply brushing a dog’s teeth several times a week can prevent most, if not all, cases of gum disease.
But many people either don’t know it’s that important, or, simply feel silly brushing their pet’s teeth.
6) Not Feeling Well
If you don’t think it’s your australian shepherd’s food that’s causing them not to eat, they may not be feeling well.
There’s a long list of things that can make your pup feel lousy and not want to eat.
Parvovirus, distemper, kennel cough, giardia, hepatitis, pancreatitis and intestinal parasites are just some examples.
These are all serious health conditions that will require professional medical treatment.
If you think there’s a possibility your aussie may have any of them it’s important to take them to the vet.
There are also more common things like allergies, arthritis and general aches & pains that can make your pup not want to eat.
Related Reading: Top 8 Best Beds For Australian Shepherds
7) Only Likes Eating At Certain Times
This may not be an issue if you’re feeding your aussie on a set schedule.
But if you free feed (have food out all day for them to eat when they want) and notice that they only like to eat at specific times then that’s something to take note of.
It could be a sign that their digestive system isn’t working properly when they’re only eating during certain times.
This can be a sign of constipation, which can be caused by many different things like diet, lack of exercise, dehydration or even anxiety.
8) Recently Got a Vaccination
It’s not unusual for a pup to be completely uninterested in eating for up to 24 hours after getting vaccinated.
This is their body’s way of trying to adjust to the vaccine and protect them from any potential harm.
In most cases, your australian shepherd should start eating again within 24-36 hours.
9) Medication
If your aussie is currently taking medication then that could be the reason why they’re not wanting to eat.
Certain medications have loss of appetite as a common side effect.
This is something you should talk to your veterinarian about if you think it’s a possibility.
There are often other options available that don’t have loss of appetite as a side effect.
How Long Can An Australian Shepherd Go Without Eating?
Just like people, dogs can survive a few days (3-5) without food, but need water everyday.
However, if your australian shepherd goes 36-48 hours without eating it’s a good idea to take them to see a vet.
Aussies that are underweight, young, seniors, visibly not well, or pregnant should be taken to the vet sooner.
But healthy adult dogs can go up to 48 hours without eating before it’s important for a vet to take a look at them.
If you don’t notice any other concerning behavior from your aussie simply keep a close eye on them.
Try adding some warm water to their food to give it a different texture or add some chicken broth.
If your australian shepherd still isn’t eating and it’s getting close to being 2 full days since they last ate they should see a veterinarian.
6 Tips To Help Get Your Australian Shepherd Eating Again
1) More Physical Activity
One thing that can spring back your aussies appetite is by giving them more exercise.
If they’re burning more calories because of an increase in physical activity they’ll develop more of a hunger and start eating again.
If your aussie isn’t getting at least 60 minutes of exercise everyday it can be a contributing factor behind them not eating.
When their body doesn’t require much fuel due to lack of exercise, they won’t have a desire to eat.
*Important note: Be sure that your pup doesn’t have any underlying health issues first. If your aussie is perfectly fine health-wise, this is when added exercise can be beneficial.
Related Reading: 12 Best Harnesses For Australian Shepherds
2) Try Hand Feeding
If your aussie is eating small amounts or just nibbling on their food, try hand feeding them.
This can help stimulate their appetite as they’re more interested in their food when it’s being fed to them by you.
It can be quite time consuming but it’s worth a shot if mealtimes have turned into a battle.
You can also try adding some wet food or chicken broth to their kibble to make it more appetizing and easier to eat.
3) Keep a Strict Feeding Schedule
Another thing you can do to increase your australian shepherd’s appetite is by keeping a strict feeding schedule.
This means giving them a 15-20 minute period to eat their food in the morning and in the evening.
If they choose not to eat, they have to wait until their next meal time.
This can help build up their appetite and teach them that they can’t have treats or food whenever they please.
Which is a valuable lesson for them to learn in order to help kick start their eating again.
4) Limit Treats/Table Scraps
If your australian shepherd is getting a lot of treats or table scraps, it’s likely that they’re not as hungry for their regular kibble.
Limiting how many treats they get each day will help increase their appetite for their regular food.
It’s also important to make sure that the majority of their diet still consists of quality dog food and not just treats.
Too many treats can be unhealthy for your pup and cause them to become overweight, which is another reason they may not want to eat their regular food.
A good general rule of thumb when it comes to your australian shepherds daily food intake is 90% should be their regular dog food and only 10% treats.
This makes sure they’re getting proper nutrients and not filling up on junk.
5) Change Up Their Bowls/Feeding Location
If your aussie has been eating their food out of the same bowl in the same spot everyday, try switching things up.
Try using a different type of bowl or feeding them in a different location.
You can even try an elevated dog bowl if they’re not used to eating from one.
This can help entice them to eat because it’s something new and different.
Which can be just the thing they need to get their appetite going again.
Even if it’s just a small change, it may be enough to do the trick.
6) Have a Veterinarian Look At Them
If all else fails, it’s always a good idea to have your veterinarian take a look at them.
There could be an underlying health issue that’s causing your australian shepherd not to eat.
It’s important to rule out any serious conditions like Parvo, Cancer, or other diseases that may be the root of their problem.
Once these types of issues are ruled out, you and your vet can work together to come up with a plan to help get your aussie eating again.
Other posts you might find interesting:
9 Reasons Australian Shepherds Are Aggressive + What To Do
8 Reasons Your Australian Shepherd Is Scared Of Everything
Top Reasons Australian Shepherds Herd You + How To Stop It