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Not Eating

Pug Not Eating

Please note:

It's important to note the difference between a Pug not eating at all, eating much less than normal, and not seeming to eat as much as you think that he/she should. This section will cover when a Pug puppy or dog has a drastically decreased appetite or out-right refuses to eat. For Pugs that are eating, but not as much as is required, you may wish to refer to the 'My Pug doesn’t eat as much as they should' section of the Top 10 Pug Eating Problems article. 

Overview

When a dog suddenly stops eating, this is something that should be addressed right away. Though Pugs may appear to have extra weight on them (which could help during a phase of under-eating), the main reason that a Pug has the shape that he does is not due to substantial amounts of body fat but is instead due to skeletal body structure (barrel-shaped). 

Refusing to eat can have ill effects very quickly. In many cases, a Pug will not eat as a result of a health concern or other issue that needs to be resolved. But then, not eating exasperates the initial problem or creates an entirely different one as the dog isn't receiving the fuel and nutrients that he needs. 

Red Flag Signs of Refusing Food

Note that while a sudden stop of food intake is a serious issue, this is particularly true for growing puppies. Metabolic calorie requirements are higher with pups; about 55 calories per pound as opposed to 35 to 40 calories per pound for adults. Therefore:

If you have a Pug puppy that has stopped eating, this warrants an immediate veterinary visit. This cannot wait for the next day. 

For Pugs of all ages, refusal to eat that warrants an immediate vet visit is applicable if there is:

• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 3 days or if those issues are severe. 
• Panicked behavior (can be indicative of a partial or full intestinal blockage)
• Heavy drooling
• Marked lethargy
• Blood in vomit or stools
• Refusal to eat that lasts longer than 24 hours
• No improvement after following the steps seen below

Reasons a Pug May Be Eating Less or Not Eating at All

1. Health issue. 

This may be due to gastrointestinal upset, such as an episode of vomiting; most dogs don't want to eat afterward. However, it can also be due to another sort of injury or illness. The majority of canine health problems (literally everything from pain due to hip dysplasia to diabetes to organ failure) all have decreased appetite or refusal to eat as a possible symptom. This also include dental issues; infection or tooth decay can make eating very painful. 

Therefore, if you know that your Pug is recovering from something that may have temporarily affected his appetite, offer a bland diet which your puppy or dog may find more appealing and that will be easy on the stomach. Typically, this is one protein (plain white chicken without skin) and one starch (sweet potato or white rice).

And, if any health condition is suspected, you'll need to bring your Pug to the vet. Trying to fix an appetite problem that is only there as a secondary symptom will be done in vain and can risk your puppy or dog's health. 
2. Major change in activity levels.

A big part of what controls how many calories a dog needs is how much he burns off. A fairly active adult Pug needs something in the range of 40 calories per pound of body weight, but a sedentary dog would need far fewer. Age plays a role to some degree as well, with requirements slowly decreasing as a dog enters his senior years. 

If there is a reason that your Pug is moving around a lot less, like recovery from an injury, keep following the vet's advice. Once your Pug is back to normal, appetite should come back. And, if your Pug is staying inside for a fixable reason, get your dog back on an exercise schedule.

Regular exercise is vital to good health, both short and long-term. It keeps the heart healthy, helps maintain muscle tone, helps fend off a wide range of diseases, keeps stools moving along, and stimulates the appetite. Aim for at least two 20-minute walks per day at a pace considered brisk for your Pug and at least a 15-minute session of cardio, like fetch. 

If your Pug is out-of-shape, start with a shorter duration and work your way up. 
3. Stress or depression. 

High-stress situations like severe separation anxiety or marked mood changes such as when losing a canine or human family member can cause a dog to stop eating. Other causes may be moving to a new home, being in new surroundings (like a new doggie day care), being cared for by someone unfamiliar (like a friend that's stepping in or a pet sitter), or traveling with you on vacation. 

For being home alone, take necessary steps to cure separation anxiety. For temporary causes of depression or stress, appetite should come back as the situation resolves itself. For permanent changes such as loss of a family member or being in a new home, time is often the cure. It can help to offer your Pug something mentally refreshing like an outing to the beach or a walk in a new area such as a hiking trail, etc. 
4. Change in food station elements.

Dogs are typically creatures of habit, so if you've moved your Pug's eating area, if you got your dog a new bowl, or if there's a change in vibe (more noise, foot traffic, etc.) where your Pug's bowls are set up, this can cause a dog to eat less or be reluctant to eat at all. 

If you made changes in your Pug's best interest, this should resolve itself. If there are negative changes like moving the bowls to a chaotic location or perhaps too close to the dishes of another pet, address this as needed. 
5. Type of food. 

By no means will all dogs just eat whatever is given to them. To some level, our canine family members have the right to have preferences. This is not to say that your Pug should dictate what you feed him; but, it's okay to make a few adjustments to get your dog eating again. Let's look at some elements: 

• Quality.  Several studies have proven that dogs are able to sense protein and fat levels in food. In addition, if a dog ate a certain kibble and developed a queasy stomach (not enough to vomit, but enough to make him feel under-the-weather), you may not have noticed anything wrong but your Pug may be reluctant to eat that food again. Both of these reasons alone are enough to reevaluate what you're feeding your Pug. But, add to this the very important element that low-quality foods can have severe health effects both now and in the future. 

Therefore, if you are not 100% confident about what you are offering your Pug, a big part of getting your Pug to want his food is to be sure it's high-value. A few recommendations include: 
1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds This is a quality dry kibble that is formulated for small breeds like the Pug. This is grain-free; though note that it does have rice (most dogs tolerate rice very well and it's often vet-recommended to help calm a queasy stomach). This has a base of turkey, chicken, and salmon. There are good levels of omega-3, this has no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and is made in the USA. 
2. A step up from that, and truly a top-tier choice, is Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free for Small Breeds. This is a base of chicken and turkey with excellent levels of omega-3 via salmon oil and flaxseed, and has added glucosomine (for joint health). This also has no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, and is made in the USA. 
3. Merrick Lil Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe is another great choice. This has 4 formulas: lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. This has probiotics and prebiotic fiber for optimal digestion, omega fatty acids, glucosmine, and antioxidants. There is no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and it is made in the USA.
• Texture; wet vs dry. Some dogs may flat-out refuse to eat dry food, especially if a change from wet to dry was just made. A strictly wet food diet is not beneficial for the teeth and can lead to runny bowels. So, dry is indeed best. 

If you having been trying to make this switch and believe this is the cause of your Pug not eating, do this in a gradual way. Start off with a 50/50 mix of dry and wet, and slowly transition to at least an 80/20 mixture. 

If this is an issue of suddenly refusing to eat but the food has always been a dry kibble, this points to health issues, including possible dental problems, as noted in point #1. 
6. Seemingly not eating, but in fact an issue of being picky. 

It's common to say that your Pug won't eat when in fact it's more a matter of being finicky. And, it's understandable since as a loving owner, any changes in appetite get your attention right away. In these cases, you may wish to refer to the Pug is a Picky Eater article. 
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