Why Is My Dog Not Eating His Food But Will Eat Treats? Understanding Picky Eating

So why is your dog eating his treats but not his food?

Well, just like us humans, dogs are instinctively driven by their senses, which includes knowing when they are hungry. Any lack of appetite can be down to various factors, one of which is that they simply might not be hungry.

That said, in some cases, your dog might be afflicted with what has been labelled 'partial anorexia’, which usually results from a medical or behavioural issue.

These can include the following:

Anxiety and stress can impact our hunger levels as humans, and the same goes for dogs, too.

Often a loss of appetite in your pooch can result from it being separated from its owners, a new addition being introduced to the family or a sudden change of environment.

If you’ve got kids, you’ll know that feeding them too many treats can result in them not wanting to eat their dinner. Well, the same goes for dogs.

Sometimes, they don’t want to eat their food because they have either filled up on treats or are after another one.

Either way, it is best to space them out.

If your four-legged friend is wolfing down the treats but laying off their food, there is a good chance they might just be bored of having the same old thing again.

It doesn’t matter how much we, as humans, like burgers, pizza or curry. If we eat them every day with no variety, we’ll get sick of them after a while.

The same goes for your dog. So, if you are guilty of giving them nothing but chicken-flavoured Pedigree Chum every day, that could be the reason why they are no longer fancying it.

Believe it or not, some dogs are picky about which food bowl they want to eat out of.

Simple changes like the height, material or location of where you place the food bowl can be enough to put your pooch off their food. So, bear this in mind if you have recently deviated from the norm.

Most dogs thrive on predictability and routine.

Therefore, sudden changes, like moving home or changing their feeding time can result in them temporarily losing their appetite on account of them trying to adjust to their new circumstances.

If you have several dogs at home, it could lead to power dynamics or a competitive rivalry that may affect your furry friend’s appetites.

This is because some dogs might feel domineered or threatened by other pets, which might cause them to temporarily avoid eating.

Similar to humans, digestive disorders can cause dogs to avoid eating their regular food. 

However, this is not always due to digestive disorder itself. Treats are often considered high-value by dogs, so if they are willing to eat anything, they may prioritize treats over regular food. That said, if a dog is feeling particularly unwell, they may refuse treats as well.

Some of these digestive disorders’ conditions can include inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and gastritis, which can make eating very uncomfortable for your four-legged friend. Nausea is also often a contributing factor to this inappetence, further discouraging them from eating their usual meals.

Unfortunately, dogs can succumb to life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, liver problems or kidney disease, which can cause your dog to either refuse to eat or eat significantly less.

If your dog is suffering from these conditions or you suspect they might be, and they are not eating their food, it is important to monitor for other concerning signs of ill health. These can include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in drinking and urination habits (more or less than normal), bad breath, or any other unusual behaviors.

It’s also essential to consider your dog’s usual eating habits. If your dog typically has a great appetite and suddenly stops eating, it could be more concerning than if they are normally picky eaters. Additionally, pain can suppress appetite, so if you notice any of these warning signs, a visit to the vet is strongly recommended to identify and address the underlying issue.

Some medicines, including antibiotics, levothyroxine (which is used for hypothyroidism) and steroids can cause your dog to lose their appetite.

If you have noticed your canine is not eating their food but enjoying treats since putting them on a new medication, it is worth discussing this issue with your local veterinarian.

Dogs with dental issues, such as tooth decay, gingivitis, or teeth injuries, can find eating to be quite painful, which might result in them not wanting to eat. 

However, it is important to note that many dogs with severe dental problems will continue eating despite the pain. Therefore, it’s worth checking for other potential causes of appetite loss and not assuming your dog isn’t experiencing dental pain simply because they are still eating.

If your dog is enjoying eating treats but not their main meal, it can be incredibly frustrating.

But here are some tips that can help you get their appetites back on track

It follows that if your pooch has filled themselves up on treats, they won’t be hungry when the time comes to eat their main meal.

As a result, one of the first things you should do is reduce the amount of treats you give them. Overall, you shouldn’t get them more than 10% of their day’s calorie intake in treats.

To incentivise them to eat their main meal, it might also be worth only giving them treats after they have eaten it.

You wouldn’t eat a meal that doesn’t look appealing, so how can you expect your dog to?

For this reason, you should entice your dog to eat their food by heating it up to stimulate their sense of smell.

You might also want to add wet dog food or low-sodium broth to jazz up their regular meals.

Additionally, consider making feeding part of an enrichment activity by using interactive feeders, lick mats, or interactive toys. For some dogs, this shifts the focus away from eating and turns mealtime into a fun and engaging activity.

Variety is the spice of life and, as highlighted earlier, one reason why your pooch might not be eating their food is because it might just be too samey for them.

Instead of feeding them the same food every day, try to mix up the flavours, textures and dryness of the meal.

Introducing new food they have not tried before is always a good idea, but make sure to do so gradually to avoid digestive upset. This is especially important if your dog is not eating due to digestive issues or is prone to such problems, as a sudden change in diet could worsen the situation. 

Always ensure the new food is healthy and safe for them.

If your dog is easily distracted, they might not fully concentrate on the act of eating their meal.

For this reason, you should make sure the area where your dog eats is relaxed, quiet and free from noise that can prevent them from losing focus or becoming anxious.

Dogs love routine, and this includes having their meals at the same time every day.

Regardless of how busy your schedule is, you should always try to feed your dog at consistent times that will help them regulate their appetite.

The question of ‘why is my dog not eating his food but will eat treats’ can naturally be concerning for pet owners. However, it is important to remember that there could be several reasons why this could be happening - the majority of which are not reasons to get too worried about.

Hopefully, this post has given you plenty of hints and tips about understanding your dog and their eating habits and how to encourage them to ingest more sustenance.

Overall, the advice we have given should work. But if their pooch remains off their food or is unwell for a couple of days, don’t hesitate to take them to a vet to get fully checked out.

Here are some answers to questions dog owners frequently have about why their dogs are eating treats but not their food.

Sometimes, dogs have a tendency to consume everything but their food, which is a condition known as ‘Pica’. Often, this happens because your canine is trying to obtain nutrients which might otherwise be missing from their diet. However, this behaviour can be hazardous as it can lead to the ingestion of toys or socks that can cause intestinal obstructions and other major health risks.

If your dog is displaying symptoms of Pica, it is a good idea to seek veterinary advice.

Sometimes, dogs might walk away from their food for emotional reasons, such as depression or stress.

Additionally, it can be because the food is off, they do not like what has been served to them and they have food insecurity – a condition deriving from having to compete for their food.