My dog won't eat her food, only hand-fed treats. What's wrong?

Question

Good morning, For about 3 days my dog Lara hasn’t been eating her dinner but will if you hand feed her ie:- ham or chicken or break apart her treats. Previous to this we had to take a trip to the vets as one side of her face was swollen and there was a lump on top of her big tooth the vet said it could be cancerous or something else, but that lump has always been there since we got her when she was a pup, the swelling has gone so we thought she was fine till now! Any help would be grateful. Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 12 years and 8 months old

Ann Dion, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Not eating as well for a dog that is normally a good eater is a sign of either pain, weakness, nausea, or just feeling unwell. This is concerning if it is going on for a few days and not improving, and warrants a work up. Causes include GI disease (inflammation from eating something that upset her stomach, parasites, cancers in the gut, allergies, etc.), kidney disease, liver disease, and other possible causes. The swelling on the face is unusual, as if it was there since a puppy and now gone that doesn't really fit with anything. I recommend a visit to the vet. I would recommend bloodwork to check the organ values, as well as possible imaging of the gut. The lump should be checked out if still present, as if it is an abscess or a tumor that could be causing the feeling of unwell. Best of luck with Lara, I hope she feels better soon!

My dog won't eat her food, only hand-fed treats. What's wrong?

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