How Long Can a Dog Go Without Eating – (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 5-10 days

Dogs are one of the animals which hold a special place in human hearts. Over the past centuries, dogs have been known to be man’s best friend. They not only provide us with companion but company as well. What’s more, these pets are kept for sporting purposes, among other services. No one can dispute the values added by dogs to human lives.

According to studies, dogs can be a great source of comfort, especially for those who crave unconditional interaction from other living beings. People sometimes get lonely, stressed, or depressed due to several reasons. For such individuals, they can always find their solace in dogs. This, therefore, makes dogs one of the essential pets for homes.

Significantly, dogs also help reduce stress levels. As a pet, they are nice to play with or even to do some excises. For instance, when stressed, you can find yourself walking or running alongside your dog. These therapeutic services are said to combat stress levels in human beings.

Additionally, dogs also provide some sense of security to humans. When trained, dogs can provide a high level of security regardless of their size or breed. Therefore, keeping a dog in your home guarantees you some security from intruders.

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How long can a dog stay without eating?

Just like humans, dogs too need food to survive. Food help provides the energy necessary for body metabolism and other activities such as walking, running, barking, just to mention a few. According to research, a healthy dog can take an average of five days without eating. Nonetheless, this does vary according to some factors such as breed. Different breeds have different survival traits. In other words, they can stay for averagely different periods without eating. For this article, we’ve taken a closer look at five breeds and how long they go without eating.

Labrador Retriever

This breed of dogs is not only intelligent but also strong survivors as well. One key reason for their enormous strength lies in the food they eat. Therefore, if they fail to eat for long, they will suddenly become weak. Generally, Labrador retriever dogs can stay up to five days without eating, after which their health can start deteriorating and eventually die.

German Shepherd

German shepherds are one of the loveliest dogs to keep. However, due to their huge and heavily built body, they need a lot of food to survive. If you notice your dog not eating, the chances are that it has an underlying medical condition. According to vets, these dog breeds can survive up to about six days without eating.

Bulldog

One thing I love about bulldogs is that they are not picky eaters. Their level of appetite is unmatched as far as dog breeds are concerned. They need a constant supply of energy for their big bodies. Science has it that bulldogs can go up to 6 days without eating.

Golden Retriever

This dog breed can sometimes become picky or develop some behavior when it comes to eating. In other words, they are not good eaters. However, they can take up to one week and a half without food.

Beagle

Beagle is arguably the best house pet dog breed. Due to their small size, they lose much energy to their surroundings. As such, they survive well when there is plenty of quality food. Generally, Beagle can go up to 4 days with no food.

References

1. https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article-abstract/2/2/38/45211
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10481881209348686