Forgot To Feed Your Dog? Here’s What You Should Do!

Every dog lover knows that dogs love to eat. Dogs are active animals and require regular healthy meals to function. Now, sometimes life can get in the way, and even the most reliable dog parent can forget to feed the dog. So what happens when you forget to feed the dog? Well, don't worry, we will talk about that and more here in this article. 

At Delcela, we provide high-quality pet products for pet owners who look to make their life a bit easier and ensure their pets have the best possible care. One of our best-selling categories is dog products. 

Due to our experience, we face many questions like "what happens if I forgot to feed my dog?" and "my dog won't eat?" also "what can my dogs eat?" well, those are all the questions we will address here today and more. So without any further delay, let's check out all you should know about feeding your dog!

 

Why Won't Your Dog Eat?

There is a wide range of reasons why a dog won't eat. If you're following instructions on the packaging, you should know that many dogs only eat about 60% to 70% of the amount stated on the packaging. 

However, if your dog is eating less than usual, it can mean illness, and veterinary care is the right course of action here. But just because your dog isn't eating doesn't mean it has diseases. 

There are several reasons for it, but you should go to your vet to seek the best course of action in all cases. Here are some reasons why your dog won't eat:

• Illness.
• Dental disease.
• Recent vaccination.
• Travel and unfamiliar surroundings.
• Pickiness or behavior issues.

So these are the most common reasons why dogs won't eat. Now, if your dog starts doing this, please consult an expert. They have the right tools and experience to help you out. 

 

What Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs are omnivores and eat almost all human food, but certain limits exist. Here is a list of foods that dogs can eat:

• Chicken.
• Turkey.
• Pork.
• Lean beef.
• Fish- Salmon and sardines are perfect for dogs.
• Eggs- cooked.
• Cheeses- cottage cheese and hard cheeses in moderation are safe.
• Yogurts- in moderation is an acceptable snack.
• Certain fruits- bananas, blueberries, apples, seedless watermelon, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, green peas.
• Corn.
• Quinoa.
• Oatmeal.
• Rice.
• Bread- small amounts of plain bread are ok on occasion.
• Peanut butter- make sure it's a brand without Xylitol or added sugar.
• Coconut.
• Honey.
• Popcorn.

 

What Foods Dogs Can't Eat?

There are quite a few foods that are not only unhealthy for your dog but can be toxic. So here is a list of foods that dogs can't eat:

• Chocolate.
• Grapes and raisins.
• Onions.
• Garlic.
• Avocados.
• Lemons & limes.
• Coffee & tea- dogs should never have food or beverages with caffeine.
• Foods & chewing gum containing Xylitol.
• Macadamia nuts.
• Yeast dough.
• Foods high in sodium- including bacon.
• Cinnamon- it's not toxic for dogs but can irritate the inside of their mouths.

 

What happens If You Forgot To Feed Your Dog?

Dogs love eating and depend on you to provide them with a healthy diet. Unfortunately, dogs themselves aren't all that great at regulating their food intake. Your dog will happily keep eating till the bowl is empty, even if it was full only ten minutes earlier. 

If you forget to feed your dog, it can have some severe implications for your pup. If you missed feeding your dog for a few days, you should keep an eye on its behavior on the following days. 

Most dogs won't do anything unusual if their owners miss a meal or two here and there. But keep in mind that every time you miss feeding your dog can be the difference between life and death. 

Usually, a dog can live for about 2-3 years without its owner's consistent care, so missing a meal or two won't kill them, but it may be enough to bring your pet into the danger zone. Missing too many meals can make your dog's life span perilously short.

 

What To Do If You Forgot Feed The Dog Once?

If you forgot to feed your dog, it would be best to call someone to bring your fur baby some food if you are running late. 

Now, if you have another pet owner in the family or a trustworthy friend, you can ask them to bring some food over. It's best to call on someone before your dog starts to worry or gets too hungry. 

Forgetting a meal isn't usually a big but be wary of feeding too late in the night to make up for the missed meal. If you feed the dog close to bedtime, it can impact the dog's digestion and nighttime poop routine.

 

What If You Miss Your Dog's Medications?

If your dog needs regular medication, then missing a dose can lead to the risk of serious medical problems. For example, missing the medicine for arthritis or diabetes could drop the blood sugar to a dangerous level, leading to seizures or even death. 

If you are forgetful about pill time, we recommend you get in touch with your vet for help. Also, find out if your dog can take the medication less frequently or in a different form that's easier for you to remember. 

 

What If You Forget To Feed Your Dog For A Whole Day?

You don't need to panic. Dogs are highly adaptable creatures and can go a few days without food. However, access to fresh, clean water is essential even if they haven't eaten anything in a while. Your dog has a unique receptor on the tip of its tongue that craves water. That's why it has no trouble drinking from the toilet. 

Now, missing food for an entire day may be a big problem if your dog needs to take medication daily. So if you are going out for a few days or some time, you should most definitely ask a friend or neighbor to take in your pup.

 

What Happens If You Forget To Feed Your Dog For Several Days?

While dogs can go months without food, if there's drinking water available doesn't mean they won't suffer from severe malnutrition and potentially fatal health problems. 

For example, if your dog doesn't eat for a few days, it can suffer from severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies. With too little protein, your dog's muscles may waste away, and their immune system could become weak and ineffective. 

Also, with dehydration, there's a big chance of organ failure, so if you have to away for several days at a time and don't have anyone to take care of your dog, then look for a professional pet-sitter or dog boarding facility.

 

Should You Feed The Dog More If You Miss One Meal?

If you know you won't be able to feed your dog in the next couple of hours, then it isn't probably worth it to give them more food. However, you should leave some food around either in their bowl or somewhere else in the house. 

 

Can You Give The Dog Too Much Food If You Forget To Feed It?

Dogs are voracious eaters, so they can eat more than their fair share if you put them in one place. So to make sure that doesn't happen, you can split the food between two or three bowls and place them around the house so that your pooch can eat at its own pace. 

 

How To Prevent Your Dog From Getting Over-Hungry?

There are a few different ways to adjust your dog's eating habits to ensure they eat smaller meals more frequently. 

You can feed your dog at the same time every day and slowly reduce the amount of food until they are taking in just enough food for one meal per day. It will help you avoid over-feeding them when you're in a rush.

 

What Should You Know About Feeding Your Dog?

A hungry dog is an unhappy dog. If your dog gets extremely hungry, it can develop health problems and even cause death. A hungry dog will usually display behavior like chewing furniture or howling to get your attention so that you feed them. 

They can even get into the trash or beg for food at the dinner table, which is something you should look to avoid. 

 

Is It Ok If Your Dog Misses A Meal?

It's perfectly fine if your dog misses a meal. Sometimes your ravenous pups will miss a meal of their own accord and not because you forgot to feed them. However, if your dog hasn't been eating for 48-72 hours, then contact your vet and inform them of the problem. 

Also, keep an eye on the food bowl because you don't want to leave dog food out all day as it can cause a host of problems like spoilage of food, attracting bugs, and pests such as rodents. 

You should also make sure that your pup is drinking enough water, regardless of its food habits. If your dog missed a meal of its own accord, then try offering a dog treat to see if they might be interested in eating. 

If your dog isn't interested in eating regular kibble, try putting it in the food bowl surrounding it with wet dog food, gravy, or canned dog food. You can even mix it all and see if your dog takes to it. 

However, if your dog still isn't eating after making those adjustments, then you should go to the vet and get an expert opinion. 

 

Finding The Right Dog Supplies

So there you go, those are the things you can do if you forgot to feed your dog. Hopefully, by now, you know all the answers to your questions and understand what you need to do to ensure your pup is well taken care of. 

Now, if you are looking for the best supplies to take care of your pup, then Delcela can help you out. Our curated list of the best pet products ensures you get to provide the best quality of life for your pets. So get in touch, and we will hook you up with everything you need for your dog. 

Also, if you have any other questions about feeding your dog or about any other pets and pet supplies, drop them in the comments below or hit us up on our socials, and we will help you out. And with that being said, that's about all we have for you today. We will come back with something new for you soon. Until then, see ya!