Our pets’ appetite is not constant. Like for us, it can have modifications for different reasons. Some don’t’ have any importance, others have to be under control instead and considered true alarm bells.

Puppies and young dogs and cats are always moving, have a good appetite for sure and they eat all food with no problem.
They can have tantrum on dry food that can bore them because it is not so consistent and tasty  like the wet one.

The refusal of food, at this age, can depend on the excessive number of proposed meals.
At a very young age we suggest 4 daily meals, but in case of refusal, they are maybe too many, you will only have to regulate them by reducing into two.

Another period when you don’t have to give importance to the refusal of food is the one of heat. Females, but above all males, are distracted by new and strong odors that make them forget that besides of “loving” you also have to eat.

Very important aspects for a proper food, are its quality and structure. Our pets “ taste” with nose first what they will eat.  A not nice taste, a too hard consistence for a sensible mouth will be soon left.

Another reason of refusal can be due to all the pathologies causing nausea – read Raised Bowls.

How to understand if we have to be worried? As always we have to observe and evaluate. Let’s check first of all the general health conditions to see if they are good and that they are not strange signs that could hide pathologies.
If our friend approaches the bowl with hope, smells and goes away without eating might not have appreciated what he has found.
It is a typical attitude of cats, extremely selective. In this case let’s try and change the menu, paying attention and not confuse him with too many alternatives.
Let’s try and offer him a very tasty bite. If he steals it from our fingers with gluttony, we don’t have worry at all. If he approaches, tries to catch it but he let it drop soon, let’s look at his mouth, he may have an oral thrash.
If he doesn’t eat all the ratio we have given him, he could be not hungry because of a lack of physical exercise. The motor activity of cats who always live at home consist  of microscopic movements from the sofa to the chair, to the litter box. What a hunger can they have in comparison with their friends who live outside and run, jump, hunt and chase the preys?

All the ready food on sale are then very protein and tasty just to increase their consume. Above all if offered in excessive doses they have many collateral effect, so that pets often can’t stop eating, even if they are overweight  or obese.

Like for humans, let the “ good hunger” come after a normal and physiological period of fast is surely healthier than eating for bore!