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Why won't my dog eat food from a bowl but eats it off the floor?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | unspayed | 5 months and 14 days old

Maddie used to eat her food out of a bowl but now she won't. I have to pour it onto the floor or hand feed it to her or else she won't eat.. why?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2016

Some dogs stop eating from a bowl and it's fine as long as you are fine with it, feeding directly on the floor would be the preferred alternative method, make sure you clean that floor area after each meal. If you would like to try the bowl again, change the type of bowl and it's size as well, those changes might work.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 5th, 2016

    Some dogs refuse to eat from bowls at a certain point, and that is fine as long as you are fine with it, the recommendation is to feed directly on the floor in such a case. The reason for that happening is not really understood but it might be just because in the wild they wouldn't eat from bowls. You can try different types of bowls (different material, shape and size), in some cases that could solve the problem.

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