My puppy's appetite declined. Is it a phase or a health concern?

Question

Hi there. My dog teddy (8month old border collie) has recently had a decline in appetite. Of a morning we give him 1 scoop of food and the same at night however recently he refuses to eat in the morning, resulting in the food sitting there all day (dry food, sensitive digestion). Could this just be a phase or could there be an underlying issue? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 7 months and 8 days old | 37 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to tell. Sometimes, we see a change in appetite in growing dogs if they are no longer growing as rapidly and their dietary requirements change. I have also seen dogs not want to eat a new bag of food because the formulation has changed slightly. Similarly, I have seen dogs not want to eat the end of an old bag of food because it has oxidized a little and doesn't smell or taste as good as it used to. If Teddy is not acting normally in any other way (not as active or interested in normal activities, or is having any vomiting or diarrhea), I would recommend having your vet examine him to make sure they can't find anything that needs to be treated. If Teddy is acting normal in every way, but just eating less and doesn't seem excited about his food, you certainly could try a new food and see if that resolves the problem. Be sure to do a gradual switch to a new food to prevent any GI upset. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My puppy's appetite declined. Is it a phase or a health concern?

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