Yes, a dog can purposefully avoid eating for a number of reasons with the most common being a digestive problem such as gastroenteritis, a bug or an underlying injury which has taken their appetite away. You can give them the very best wet dog food but they just won't have it.
Can my dog starve itself to death?
The good news is no. Dogs cannot purposely starve themselves to death. They can purposely refuse certain foods and even several meals, but they will never starve themselves to death simply because they are true to their ancestral survival instincts.
Why is my dog not eating by itself?
If your dog is suffering with pain in his mouth caused by periodontal affections, gingivitis, oral tumours or a broken tooth they might represent one of the causes for losing its appetite.
Will a picky dog starve itself?
A healthy dog won't starve himself, no matter how picky he may be. Unless your dog is on a diet, losing weight is likely to be a medical issue that needs addressing. Oh, and as always, any change or addition to your dog's diet should be discussed with your vet before proceeding!
How long before a dog starves to death?
Given a healthy dog and in ideal conditions, one with normal physiologic functioning, it should be able to last at least 5 days.
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