My Lab wont eat

Question
My black lab, age 7, ate breakfast yesterday but did not eat dinner.  This morning he did not eat his breakfast.  I know he ate some treats but this morning was not interested in breakfast or treats.  He did drink lots of water though.  Our weather is getting warmer and I'm hoping, like me, he is just not hungry.  He just had a vet appointment on the 2nd.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Rosemary,

Though it's upsetting when our pets stop eating, your dog isn't having any symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy which could warrant a doctor's immediate care. It's really good that your dog is drinking, since dehydration can lead to serious problems, though by drinking "lots of water", do you mean he's drinking more than usual?

Check your dog's teeth and gums to see if there is any redness or inflammation around the base of his teeth. A dental problem can be quite painful, and cause a dog to go off his food.

Many dogs eat a little less when it's hot outside.  

Certainly watch your dog for signs of illness, but what I wouldn't do is try to coax him into eating by adding tasty morsels to his dinner. Dogs can learn very quickly that really yummy things can appear in their bowls if they only wait. This can lead to learning to be finicky, and then you'll forever be trying to entice him into eating. That said, you can try adding a little canned dog food (if he usually gets dry dog food) or scrambled egg to his regular food.

If this goes another 24 hours with an utter refusal to eat anything, then it's time for a vet exam. Your vet may want to run tests to rule out Kidney disease since a lack appetite and increased thirst can point to a kidney disease. Of course,  loss of appetite can also signal other diseases as well.

Best of luck,
Patti