At Mersey Raw, we help dogs experiencing issues with kibble. It’s not uncommon that a dog won’t eat kibble, and although popular, kibble isn’t the most appropriate (or appetising) food for a dog. Despite its low nutritional value, there may be other common reasons your dog won’t eat dry food. To explore the potential reasons why your dog won’t eat kibble, continue reading.
What is Kibble for Dogs?
Kibble is a type of dry dog food fed to dogs. It’s usually made from a combination of meat, grain, and various vegetables. However, while kibble is a popular dog food choice due to its long shelf life and convenience, it offers little nutritional value compared to other alternatives, such as raw. When kibble is manufactured at high temperatures, it loses most of the key nutrients, which are most needed for your dog.
Medical Reasons Your Dog Won’t Eat Kibble
If your dog refuses to eat kibble, it may be due to a potential medical issue.
Stress
Does your dog seem stressed or anxious? If so, it could be a likely reason why your dog won’t eat food. Just like humans, dogs can experience stress and anxiety to the point where it affects their eating habits. This is due to their fight-or-flight response, which could potentially lead them to refuse food, such as kibble.
Dental Pain
If your dog seems like they want to eat but then stops, they could be experiencing poor dental health and mouth discomfort. Kibble is hard and crunchy, so if your dog has tooth pain, it’s likely the last thing they want to eat! Raw food could be better for dogs than kibble under these circumstances, as it's softer and easier to chew and swallow.
Nausea
Nausea can occur in dogs for similar reasons to us humans. If your dog isn’t feeling 100%, they probably don’t feel like eating a full bowl of kibble. While many issues related to nausea in dogs have the potential to resolve on their own, it’s important to monitor your pooch in case seeking advice from a vet becomes necessary.
Illness
If your dog has recently recovered from an illness, such as an infection, they may be off their food for some time afterwards. It’s completely normal for dogs to go off their usual diet, especially if they’ve not been well. However, as you’ve likely been advised by a vet, seek further assistance if your dog refuses to eat for an extended period of time.
Medication
Certain medications may result in a change in your dog's appetite. While we know medication is used to help dogs, they can unfortunately have some possible side effects - one of which could be sickness or reduced appetite.
Non-Medical Reasons Your Dog Won’t Eat Kibble
If you don’t believe your dog's refusal to eat their food is due to a medical issue, there are several non-medical issues to consider.
Kibble Fatigue
If your dog won’t eat kibble but eats everything else, there’s a likely chance that they have something called kibble fatigue. Kibble fatigue is common in dogs on a kibble-based diet and occurs when they become disinterested in their dry food, resulting in little appetite. To encourage your dog to eat, we advise adding toppers, like tasty bone broth for dogs, to make their food more appealing.
Craves a Species-Appropriate Diet
Kibble is packed with carbohydrates and may be lacking what your dog needs. Many dogs instinctively crave a more species-appropriate diet, which is understandable since they're natural carnivores. So, when we deprive them of a tasty, moisture-rich raw diet and feed them kibble instead, there's no surprise when they start to go off their food.
Fussiness
Just like us, dogs can be fussy about food. If your dog is fussy about being fed kibble, they simply won’t eat it. While it can be difficult to find the best dog food for fussy eaters, rest assured that there are alternative, and tastier, dog food options available.
Change in Routine
Has there been a change in your dog's routine recently, such as moving house? When your dog's routine changes, it’s certainly not uncommon for them to act a little strange. Dogs love routine, so when it changes, they could lose interest in their food.
Spoiled Food
It’s important to check the use-by date if you’ve been feeding your dog from the same bag of kibble for some time. Unlike fresh and healthy raw dog food, kibble has a long shelf life. While dog owners opt for kibble due to the convenient long shelf life, it means their dog is missing out on being fed proper, species-appropriate food that should be kept in the fridge or freezer.
Please note: There’s a wide range of reasons why your dog could be avoiding their food, and those listed above are just potential reasons to consider.
Reasons Your Dog Won't Eat Food But Will Eat Treats
Are you frustrated by your dog, who is happy to eat treats but not their food? There are two common and potential reasons why your dog won’t eat food but will eat treats.
1 - Manipulation
Dogs are very smart, and they know how to manipulate us easier than you think! Perhaps you’ve started to feed your dog more treats when they refuse to eat at mealtime. If so, your dog could be manipulating you by not eating their food because they know they’ll receive treats instead. Clever, right?
Resolution: Don’t give in to your dog and feed them treats when they refuse to eat their food. Instead, create a set feeding schedule to enforce routine, and if your dog refuses to eat within 30 minutes, for example, take their food away until the next mealtime. Eventually, your dog should learn that they won’t be given their favourite treats in place of their regular meals.
2 - Overfeeding
If your dog is being overfed with table scraps or treats, they might be too full to eat their food. So, if your dog won’t eat food but will eat treats, it’s possible that they’re being overfed too many treats. Remember, treats should take up roughly 10% of your dog's calorie intake per day.
Resolution: Limit the amount of treats you feed your dog to the recommended daily amount and stick to it. If you continue feeding too many treats, your dog could continue refusing their food.
Is Your Puppy Not Eating Kibble?
If your puppy won’t eat kibble, don’t worry too much. We understand you want the best for your puppy, and it’s normal to be alarmed when they refuse to eat. However, the reason for your pup not eating kibble will likely be the same as the medical and non-medical reasons listed above for adult dogs that won’t eat kibble.
Puppies are in their earliest stages of life, and what you feed them matters. As discussed, kibble holds minimal nutritional value compared to alternatives, like raw dog food. We strongly advise considering a natural, nutrient-rich, and species-appropriate diet for puppiesr to thrive.
Raw Dog Food for a Dog Not Eating Kibble
A raw diet for dogs, known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), is one of the best options if a dog won’t eat kibble or dry food. But why?
- 100% natural
- Species-appropriate
- Nutritious
- Healthy
- Flavourful
- Moisture-rich
- No nasties
At Mersey Raw, we know first-hand how many dogs have issues on a kibble-based diet. More dog owners are seeing the potential benefits of feeding raw, all thanks to ditching kibble. Feeding raw allows for better dental health, weight control, healthier skin, balanced energy, improved digestion, and more - all of which kibble often fails to provide.
When to Worry About a Dog Refusing to Eat
We strongly recommend contacting a vet if your dog:
- Point-blank refuses to eat anything (kibble diet or not)
- Turns away treats after refusing regular meals
- Hasn’t eaten for over a day
- Shows signs of sickness (vomiting and diarrhoea)
- Won’t drink water
- Has lost weight
- Seems more tired than usual
Switch From Kibble to Raw Dog Food Today!
At Mersey Raw, we’ve helped dogs across the country make the switch from kibble to raw food - and yours could be next! Dogs need to eat, and if yours continues to refuse kibble, it may be time for a change. Our raw food is made with high-quality meat, packed with all the nutrients your dog needs to lead a healthy life. Within our collection of raw minces, we have a variety of protein options to consider to accommodate all dogs.
Ready to make the switch from dry food to raw? Our experienced team of raw food experts are here to answer any questions you have. Contact us today!