My dog licks her food for minutes. Why won't she just eat it?

Question

Why does my dog lick her food for minutes before chewing, and allowing other dogs to get her food? I'm not always around when it happens, I did record. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 5 years and 2 months old

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Patty could be licking her dry food to get it moist before eating it because she is having dental problems and it may hurt to eat dry food. These dental problems could be gingivitis, a tooth root abscess, or a broken tooth. I recommend taking Patty into your vet for a health exam. Your vet can check out her mouth and determine if there is a dental problem causing this behavior. If there is a dental issue, she will need a cleaning, scaling, and polishing, plus any broken teeth may need to be removed. I would take her into your vet today or tomorrow. In the meantime, try soaking her food with low sodium beef or chicken broth to see if that helps her eat.

My dog licks her food for minutes. Why won't she just eat it?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?

My mice eat all their food together from one bowl. Is this normal?

My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

Share