Pomeranian is Refusing to Eat
and is Losing Weight

Question:

An issue that we have with our Pomeranian is that we find a quality kibble and he eagerly eats it for a week or two and then refuses to eat it again. This has also happened with wet food. Once he loses interest, he will often go 5-7 days without eating and has lost weight from doing this. Nearly 2 pounds, which is a quarter of his weight.

Answer:

Many Pom puppies and adult dogs stop eating now and then but the difference is that most of them are bluffing their humans... if their human refuses to play the game and when push comes to shove, the Pom will indeed eat their food. This is because the self-survival mechanism of taking in nourishment is a strong core canine instinct. Nearly every dog that appears to refuse their meal will indeed eat even undesired food if the other option is starving.

That all said, your Pom definitely appears to be an exception. Not eating for nearly a week to the point of losing weight, in this case two pounds (which is a lot for a toy breed), is very drastic and certainly something that requires and warrants intervention.

Most likely, this is due to habit or some sort of 'game' as many Poms play but one that your particular dog has no qualms about playing out to the very end.

Our typical advice of choosing a superior dog food that you have confidence in and then standing firm cannot work in this case, since your Pomeranian will literally stop eating and lose weight which can be very dangerous for such small dogs.

But, not to worry because there are still some effective methods you can use whenever your Pomeranian stops eating that will resolve the situation before any weight is lost. Since you will eventually run out of good kibbles to choose from, you’ll be happy to hear that the answer involves staying with just one brand while still ensuring that your Pom does not starve.

One option is to change the temperature or consistency of the food without changing the brand. If your Pomeranian is simply seeking something 'new' every so often and quickly gets bored of the same food after just a few weeks, this aspect alone may be enough to satisfy him.

You can implement that by adding some low-sodium chicken or beef broth or even a bit of water and then warming it in the microwave. Be sure to stir the food and test it with a finger before serving to avoid hot spots that could burn your Pom’s lips or mouth.

A second option is to have additions planned out in advance that could change the perceived taste of the kibble, again without actually changing it. This can be especially effective if your Pom is seeking a different texture or a new burst of flavor.

If you want to try this option, this can be done by choosing healthy wholesome ingredients to mix in, just 1 or 2 at a time. Every two weeks, or when your Pomeranian flat out refuses to eat again, switch up those 1 or 2 ingredients. Don’t miss a beat. Have the options chosen well in advance and if possible have them handy; certain ones can be frozen and then thawed so that you can respond before any weight is lost without having to run out to the store or waste time thinking about what to add in.

Some of the foods that you may want to consider include baby carrots (raw or cooked), green beans, sugar snap peas, and sweet potato (all cooked), or pumpkin puree. You could also look to some healthy fruits that are packed with antioxidants such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

Whichever you choose, just be sure to blend it into the kibble very well so that it's not selectively picked out (using pumpkin puree along with another addition can help blend it all together).

If it helps, keep a list of what was added when so that the additions can be rotated.

A third option is to home cook for your Pomeranian. This would be suggested if you enjoy being in the kitchen and don’t mind adding to your weekly food shopping. There will also be a need to offer several supplements; a daily vitamin and mineral and in most cases, an omega-3 fish oil (unless you prepare lots of fish-based dishes).

With several good recipes at the ready, you could cook in batches that last a week at a time and then swap to a new recipe when your Pomeranian ultimately decides to stop eating. There are lots of options including lamb, veal, beef, chicken, turkey, and fish meals so that means lots of variety to keep your Pomeranian from starving himself.

You don't mention how old your Pom is, but assuming that he's not a senior yet, this sort of behavior of revolving taste buds may be something that he outgrows. By then, you'll have a good idea of which extras he likes that you can always continue to add in for the extra nutrients that they offer.

Please note that if these suggestions do not work and your Pomeranian still stops eating food for days or a week at a time to the point of losing one or more pounds, that will be a clear signal that it’s time for a veterinary checkup. And, do not delay with that. Though rare, canines can develop anorexia. In some cases, appetite stimulants will be prescribed to prevent what can be dangerous weight loss for this small toy breed.

Another possibility is collapsed trachea, tooth infection, issues with the pharynx and/or esophagus, or another health issue that is causing painful eating. It may flare up every few weeks making it appear that your Pom tires of their food when in actuality there is this sort of underlying reason. All of these things can be ruled out if things reach the point of bringing your Pomeranian to the veterinarian.

And, if these health-related possibilities worry you, certainly make an appointment now to ensure your Pom has a clean bill of health while planning which route you will take to respond to the sudden refusal to eat anything at all.

Pomeranian is Refusing to Eatand is Losing Weight

Question:

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Pomeranian is Refusing to Eat
and is Losing Weight