My Dog Is Not Eating: How Long Is Too Long, and When to See a Vet
A healthy adult dog can usually go 24 hours without eating without cause for concern, provided they are still drinking water, behaving normally and have no other symptoms. Beyond 24 hours, or at any point if your dog is also vomiting, lethargic, in pain or refusing water, they should be seen by a veterinarian. Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with existing health conditions need attention much sooner, usually within 12 hours.
Mascot Animal Hospital is located at 17767 64 Ave, Unit 109, Surrey, BC V3S 1Z2 and is open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week, with same day appointments available.
Call (604) 325-2200.
How long is too long
The safe window depends almost entirely on who your dog is.
| Your dog | See a vet if not eating for |
|---|---|
| Healthy adult dog | More than 24 hours |
| Puppy under 6 months | More than 12 hours |
| Senior dog | More than 12 to 24 hours |
| Small or toy breed | More than 12 hours |
| Diabetic dog, or any dog on daily medication | Call the same day |
| Pregnant or nursing dog | Call the same day |
| Any dog also vomiting, lethargic or in pain | Immediately, regardless of timing |
Puppies and small breeds have very little energy reserve. A skipped day matters far more for a four month old Chihuahua than for a healthy five year old Labrador, and that is why the windows are so different.
Not eating is not one thing
Before anything else, work out which of these you are actually looking at. They point in different directions.
| What you are seeing | What it usually suggests |
|---|---|
| Eating less than normal, still interested in food | Often mild and self limiting, worth watching |
| Refusing kibble but eating treats or human food | Frequently a preference issue rather than illness, though not always |
| Wants the food, approaches the bowl, then walks away | Worth checking the mouth. Pain when chewing looks exactly like this |
| No interest in food at all, will not take a favourite treat | Take seriously. This is the version that usually means something |
| Not eating and not drinking | Call the clinic today, whatever the timeline says |
| Not eating and hiding, or unusually quiet | Call the clinic today |
The treat test is the most useful thing you can do in thirty seconds. Offer something your dog never refuses. A dog who turns down chicken is telling you something a dog who turns down kibble is not.
Things worth checking at home first
None of this replaces an exam, but it is what we will ask you on the phone.
Has anything changed? New food, new bag of the same food, a house move, a new pet, a family member away, boarding, or a change in routine. Dogs are more sensitive to disruption than people expect, and a stress related appetite dip usually resolves within a day or two.
Any medication started recently? Loss of appetite is a common side effect of many medications, including antibiotics. If your dog started something new this week, tell us.
Look at the mouth if your dog will let you. Red gums, brown buildup along the gumline, a broken tooth, or an obvious bad smell. Dental pain is one of the most common reasons we see for a dog who wants food but will not eat it, and dogs almost never cry about it.
Check the other end. Normal stool, diarrhea, straining, or nothing at all for a day. This changes the picture considerably.
Has it been hot? Dogs commonly eat less in warm weather, which in the Lower Mainland means July and August appetite dips are often nothing.
Did they get into something? Garbage, a walk where they ate something unseen, a plant, a dropped medication. Say so on the phone even if it seems unlikely.
When to call us the same day
Do not wait out the 24 hours if any of these are also present:
Repeated vomiting. Diarrhea, particularly with blood. Lethargy or unusual hiding. A swollen, tight or painful abdomen. Straining to defecate or urinate with nothing produced. Pale gums. Drooling more than normal. Whining or flinching when the head or mouth is touched.
Difficulty swallowing. Rapid or laboured breathing. Any known ingestion of something toxic.
A dog who is not eating and is otherwise completely normal is a watch and wait situation. A dog who is not eating and something else is off is a same day appointment.
What happens at the visit
We start with a full physical exam, including the mouth, which is a common source of the answer and a common thing to miss at home. Depending on what we find, we may recommend bloodwork or imaging.
Bloodwork, digital x ray and ultrasound are all done in house at Mascot Animal Hospital, so in most cases you leave with results and a plan the same visit rather than waiting days for an outside lab.
If you have noticed a pattern, tell us. When it started, whether it comes and goes, what they will still eat, whether they are drinking. That history often narrows things faster than any test does.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a dog go without eating?
A healthy adult dog can usually manage 24 hours without food if they are still drinking and behaving normally. Puppies, senior dogs and small breeds should be seen within about 12 hours. Any dog with additional symptoms should be seen immediately.
My dog is not eating but is drinking water and acting normal. Should I worry?
This is the least concerning version. Watch for 24 hours, offer food at normal times, and call us if they still are not eating after that or if anything else changes.
My dog is not eating and not drinking. What should I do?
Call us the same day at (604) 325-2200. Refusing water is more urgent than refusing food.
My puppy will not eat. How long can I wait?
Not long. Puppies under six months should be seen if they have not eaten for 12 hours, because they have very little reserve.
My dog eats treats but will not touch their food. Is that a medical problem?
Sometimes, and sometimes it is preference. If your dog is bright, active and otherwise well, it is more likely to be behavioural. If they are also quiet, sore or unwell, it needs an exam.
Could my dog’s teeth be the reason they are not eating?
Yes, and it is more common than most owners expect. A dog who approaches food, tries to eat, then backs away is a classic picture of mouth pain. It is worth having the mouth examined.
Can stress make a dog stop eating?
Yes. A move, a new pet, boarding, or a family member being away can all cause a short appetite dip. It usually resolves within a day or two. If it does not, have them checked.
Should I hand feed or try tempting food?
For a short term dip, warming the food slightly or adding a little plain wet food can help. Do not make a habit of it, and do not use it to avoid a vet visit if other symptoms are present.
Is there a vet open late in Surrey if this starts in the evening?
Yes. Mascot Animal Hospital is open until 11:00 PM, seven days a week, with same day and urgent appointments available.
If your dog has not eaten for 24 hours, or something else seems off, book an appointment. Mascot Animal Hospital in Surrey, BC is open 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week.
