Why is my 8-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy not eating?

rubieg74: Why is my 8-month-old Rhodesian ridgeback puppy not eating?
When we first got him at 12 weeks, we started him off on dry food. In the past month or two, we have added a very small amount of wet food (about half a can per day).
He was fine on this diet, but since last Monday he won't touch his own food. At first, we just took the food away and gave it back to him later on, but he didn't eat for 2 days.

I tried him on boiled chicken and rice but he only ate a few mouthfuls. The only thing he will eat is raw mince (he wolfs it down). He doesn't even come near the dinner table or the worktops when I am preparing food and usually we have to chase him away!
He is also pretty lethargic around the house but when we have visitors or we visit friends/family he is his usual, boisterous, self for a while and then goes back to lying down!

Photo Credit: Meli1670 from Pixabay

Answers and Views:

Answer by hanksimon
I'm not sure, but if you bought some of the canned food about 3 months ago… it could be the food. Make sure to take some of it with you to the Vet.
But you are correct to go to the Vet because an 8-month-old dog should be ravenous…

Answer by sk8rdj7
you should take it to the vet quickly because my dog didn't want to eat because he had cancer and it was causing him pain if he ate and starved to death so save your dog while you can

Answer by Lesley
I also have an 8-month-old Ridgeback. We struggle every day to get her to eat, her sister weighs 18 pounds more than her because she eats really well. She is perfectly healthy in every way, she is happy and boisterous, not lethargic. We hate mealtimes now because it's such a drag getting her to eat.

Answer by Ericka L
he is probably is just sick of it try giving him different stuff every week!!!

Answer by Mod
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a very stubborn breed that often refuses food. They feel more like a dog that is in charge of their human, not the other way around. This means that if their human is trying to feed them and they don't want to eat, there is almost nothing they can do about it.

Some Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies will refuse food for their first few weeks of life because they are getting used to it and figuring out what tastes good to them. Others just refuse everything you offer them because they are so stubborn. The best thing you can do in this situation is to try again later with different foods.

Answer by TheoX
The vet won't be able to tell you anything right away, you'll need to do some tests before you know why your puppy is not eating.

Answer by Steve
If a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy won't eat, there could be a number of reasons for it. It can be anything from he doesn't want to eat, rejects food, is too young to eat solid food or is in a state of shock. It is important to know what the issue is before you try and make them eat.

Some things that may cause your dog to not want to eat are:
- The pup has been feeling stressed and tense
- They have been feeling anxious because they are not getting enough sleep
- When you walk them on a leash, their stomach feels upset and painful

Answer by Nick
Recently, as I walked through the pet store looking at all the different kinds of puppies that were available to be adopted, I saw a tiny little puppy that looked like it was shivering and shaking. It was so tiny and fragile and it just looked so sad and lonely.

The store clerk told me that the little guy had been there for a few days. She said that she didn't know what was wrong with him because he wasn't eating anything. And every time they tried to feed him something, he either rejected it or picked it up and then dropped it onto the ground.

The clerk also mentioned how expensive vet visits are these days which is why most people don't even bother to go until they're sure their pet is going to die soon anyway.
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