The US Dog Aging Project analyzed 2,570 end-of-life surveys filled in by owners in 2021. Looking back on the time before their dog died, 1,238 owners (about 48%) reported decreased appetite, and 1,111 (about 43%) reported their dog eating or drinking less.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association（PubMed Central）My old dog has lost their appetite and often won't eat. How should I feed them and choose their food?
This needs your vet’s judgement. This page only shares other owners’ experiences and public information. It is not medical advice.
What people do around the world
If nothing is eaten for over 24 hours, see a vet quickly
PDSA pet health advice
PDSA「My old dog has kidney disease and no teeth, so I spoon-feed him. The medicine made his appetite worse. It hurts.」
Oct 2026Original post・Bluesky
Contact your vet when eating habits change
PDSA pet health advice
PDSA「My old dog digests poorly and keeps losing weight. I changed the meals, and now even the diapers are too big.」
Oct 2026Original post・note
Ask your vet for advice on nutrition
BSAVA PetSavers toolkit for ageing dogs
BSAVA PetSavers「My 15-year-old dog has stomach and liver problems and often won't eat, so I'd like to hear from other owners.」
Oct 2026Original post・note
Tell your vet about a drop in appetite or weight loss
AVMA brochure for owners
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)「My dog, 15 and a half, is eating less, and tests found no cause, but I'll keep caring for them.」
Oct 2026Original post・note
Split the daily food into two or three meals
Fukuoka City Veterinary Medical Association
一般社団法人 福岡市獣医師会「My 15-year-old dog has chronic kidney disease and throws up whenever they eat, so how did others feed their dogs?」
Oct 2026Original post・Yahoo!知恵袋
Updated 29 Oct 2026.