Dog not eating/drinking

[merduchi53]

I got a 2.5 yr old dog from a shelter a couple of weeks ago. He has been eating and drinking well up until this past week. He hasn't touched his food bowl and he only drinks a very little bit of water for the past day or so. He has also started licking everything (tile floor, linoleum, carpet, walls, couch, etc). I know that it is not normal for the dog to refuse to eat and drink but how long should I wait before I seek medical help? Would simply changing his food help?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Your dog has Pica.  Pica can be due to nutritional deficiencies, blood abnormalities such as anemia, or a gastrointestinal problem such as GI parasites or dysbiosis (imbalance of GI flora), or pancreatic exocrine deficiency, among other causes.  

It would be best to consult your vet about this aberrant behavior.  Please bring a fresh fecal sample to your vet for analysis.  Parasites are intermittently shed, so although he may have tested negative in prior fecal analysis's he could still have GI parasites.  Your dog may benefit from a good probiotic supplement and a vitamin and mineral supplement but please have him examined by your vet first.

[glow007]

I have 4 dogs and sometimes they go through a period of sadness or separation if someone has left. But I do know that they love catfood. My dogs will do tricks for this. It is not the best for them but it should get him to eat. Or actually my brother told me about grated cheese. It is the pungent odor that they love. But actually you can try a new food just make sure it is a gradual change cause other wise it will give him diarreah. Let me know if this has helped you. Do not wait too long though if he is not eating. It can be a sign of something else. But do not get to worried yet. He could of ate something you do not know. If you can afford the vet it would not be a bad idea. Sometimes I can just call my vet and they will tell me if it is serious enough to bring him in. I  wish you good luck with your baby.
Glow