Appetite Stimulant for Dogs: Medications, Tips from a Veterinarian

An appetite stimulant for dogs can be a great way to restore your pup’s joy in eating and give him or her more good days. Learn how prescription medications like Entyce and mirtazapine can help. Plus, get expert tips and at-home strategies from integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby.

When I talk with my veterinary clients about quality of life for their older or sick dog, we often talk about appetite in connection with “good days” and “bad days.” Many times, my clients describe the relationship between appetite and quality of life in one of two ways:

1. “When my dog hears me open the bag of dog food and comes running, it’s a good day.” Or…
2. “She used to love her food and treats. Now she just looks at it and walks away. It was a bad day.” 

Much like people, when our dogs have an appetite and enjoy food, it’s an indication of good health and happiness. So, it makes sense that a good day almost always includes the enjoyment of food and treats. But why does a dog suffer from appetite loss, and what are some ways to boost or maintain a dog’s appetite? Let’s look at both.

Why do dogs lose their appetites? Common causes

When a dog’s appetite begins to decrease, it is often due to a disease or condition such as:

• Cancer
• Kidney disease in dogs
• Liver disease in dogs
• Gastrointestinal (GI) disease (including pancreatitis in dogs)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD in dogs)
• Pain
• Recovering from recent surgery
• Dental disease in dogs
• Tooth root abscess in dogs
• Diabetes in dogs—it can be especially challenging to figure out what to do when a diabetic dog won’t eat

Unfortunately, these and other common illnesses that accompany old age can cause an upset stomach as a side effect. This may be due to either the disease process itself or the medications necessary to manage the condition. Few things are worse than feeling forced to choose between life-extending treatment and your dog’s enjoyment of food.

However, dog parents can rest assured that there are ways to help tempt a dog to eat. Often, the fact that your old dog is not eating is easily overcome with the right tools. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep in mind that, except during hospice care, appetite stimulant medications and tricks to entice your dog to eat are not intended to be a substitute for addressing the underlying condition causing the poor appetite. If your dog is not eating and you don’t know why, please make an appointment with your vet so you can get to the bottom of the issue. Appetite stimulants are part of the solution, not the sole solution, to a poor appetite.

What can I do at home to stimulate my dog’s appetite?

Some dogs just need a boost after a surgery, painful event, or stressful life change, like a move to a new home or bringing home a new baby. For these cases, home remedies for canine appetite loss are often all a dog needs to get back on track.

The good news is that this usually includes some simple techniques and foods most of us already have access to at home. Here are four helpful tips for boosting your dog’s appetite:

1. Warm your dog’s canned food.

When something smells good, it’s more tempting to eat. This is true for both humans and dogs. That’s why, if your dog eats wet or canned dog food, you can try warming it up slightly. If putting it in the microwave, ensure you stir the food well to avoid hot spots that could burn your dog’s mouth. Plus, always test the temperature of the food with a finger before giving it to your dog.

How often does the mouth-watering aroma of dinner wafting out of the oven cause a sudden wave of hunger to hit you? The same goes for our pets!

2. Add something yummy to the food.

For dogs who eat dry food, try adding a small amount of canned dog food or even canned pumpkin for dogs (not pumpkin pie filling) to the food bowl. Depending on your pet’s medical condition, it may be ok to also mix in small amounts of tasty foods like cooked lean hamburger, chicken, or cottage cheese (but check with your vet first).

Some kinds of baby food can also tempt a dog to eat. However, be sure to avoid any baby foods with onion or garlic, as those ingredients are toxic to dogs.

Adding some water to your dog’s dry food and allowing it to sit for a few minutes is another option. This creates a gravy effect that many dogs seem to enjoy. Particularly for dogs who are on a prescription or restricted diet, it can be a great way to make the food more appetizing without compromising any benefits of the diet.

It’s important to note that all of these options are best used to coat your dog’s regular food, so your pet gets a balanced diet of traditional dog food. Except for canned dog food, none of these mix-ins provides all the necessary nutrients for a healthy and complete diet.

3. Try hand-feeding your dog and giving extra TLC at mealtime.

Sometimes our pets just feel better sitting with us and getting some Tender Loving Care—good old vitamin TLC! Consider hand feeding your dog to tempt him or her to eat. This can also help reinforce your bond.

4. Ask your vet about over-the-counter medications to soothe your dog’s stomach

Some stomach acid-reducing medications like famotidine or omeprazole for dogs may be enough to settle mild stomach discomfort. However, you should never decide to try this (or any other medications) without speaking with your veterinarian first. He or she can advise you on the correct medication, dose, timing, and frequency for your dog’s specific condition.

Not all medications are appropriate for all dogs, so rely on your vet’s input.

What are some prescription medications that can boost my dog’s appetite?

In other cases, the at-home strategies aren’t quite enough to get a dog to eat. This is when your vet may decide to prescribe one of the following medications in addition to treating the underlying problem.

Mirtazapine

The anti-nausea and anti-vomiting properties of mirtazapine can help many dogs regain an appetite. Like most of these medications, it is safe to give every day. Veterinarians have been using mirtazapine extensively for a long time, so it is often a first choice.

Entyce® appetite stimulant for dogs

Entyce (capromorelin oral solution) is a newer product that is designed especially for dogs. Entyce is available as a liquid and is administered once a day. These qualities are rapidly making it a popular choice among vets and dog parents. Entyce works uniquely when compared to most other appetite stimulant medications.

While other medications largely rely on reducing or eliminating nausea and vomiting to increase the desire to eat, Entcye works by directly mimicking the hormone ghrelin. This is a substance the body naturally produces to create the feeling of hunger. As an added benefit, Entyce can safely be combined with other appetite stimulants since it works differently.

Cerenia

You may be familiar with Cerenia if your pup suffers from dog car sickness or has experienced bouts of vomiting. It is primarily an anti-nausea medication.

If a pet is not eating because of nausea, sometimes simply controlling the nausea may help improve appetite. After all, we all know how it seems impossible to eat when your stomach doesn’t feel good! A low dose of Cerenia often works well if given daily.

Cerenia for dogs also helps eliminate visceral pain. This is the pain our body doesn’t always know how to tell us is pain, because it comes from inside our bellies. Blocking this discomfort can make our patients much more likely to eat, as well as make them more comfortable.

Conveniently, Cerenia can be administered in your vet’s office as an injection, so your dog doesn’t need to take a pill or liquid for it to start helping. Then you can follow up with Cerenia in pill form at home if needed.

Meclizine

Meclizine is another anti-vomiting medication that is especially helpful for treating a lack of appetite due to old dog vestibular disease. Vestibular disease interferes with a dog’s sense of balance, which can lead to dizziness. Affected dogs may be unable to stand and may not want to eat because their world is spinning. The vertigo, or spinning sensation, makes them nauseous. Meclizine for dogs can relieve the nausea and associated loss of appetite, making it easier to feed a dog with vestibular disease.

Dronabinol

Dronabinol is a synthetic form of THC that is FDA-approved for use in humans as an appetite stimulant for adults with AIDS and to help manage nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy in people with cancer. While there are no studies looking at using dronabinol or other synthetic cannabinoids as appetite stimulants in dogs, they may be worth a try if none of the other appetite stimulants are helping anymore. However, adverse effects of dronabinol include incoordination, regurgitation, or sedation.

It is important to keep in mind that dronabinol is an FDA-approved medication that your vet may prescribe off-label for your dog. You should not give your dog other forms of THC like gummies, baked goods, or the cannabis plant itself, as this could be dangerous. Veterinary ERs are seeing more and more cases of cannabis toxicity in pets due to the legalization of marijuana in some states.

There’s been some discussion about other CBD products for dogs, which are coming onto the market, but they don’t currently appear to be helpful as an appetite stimulant for dogs.

How do you give your dog medicine when they won’t eat?

How many times have I heard clients laugh when I suggest a pill to get their dog to eat? I get it! Most of us are using food to hide your dog’s pills in. If you have already tried the suggestions in my article on how to give your dog pills (and read the comments because there are some great ideas there, too), then it might be time to think about compounded medications.

These are prescription medicines that a specialty pharmacy has made into formulations that are not commercially available. This makes the medication as palatable and easy to give as possible. Sometimes this means the pharmacy will create a liquid or chewable flavored formulation of the drug. A few of the more popular flavors are chicken, beef, or marshmallow (yes, our pets love marshmallow flavor!). 

In other situations, the compounding pharmacy may be able to formulate the medication as a cream that you apply to hairless skin, usually on the inner ear flap. This is known as a transdermal formulation and relies on the medicines being absorbed through the skin.

Transdermal medication is especially helpful for a pet who won’t eat in the first place. However, not all medicines work well as transdermal formulations, and the absorption of the medication can be variable.

To learn more about compounded medications, check out the AVMA’s compounding FAQs for pet owners.

Do appetite stimulants for dogs actually work?

I firmly believe that when the loving attention of a pet parent is coupled with the diligence of a committed veterinarian, the appropriate medication or combination of therapies can bring back the enjoyment of food and a healthy appetite. Finding the right approach can take time and often changes as a disease progresses. But it can be done!

The proof is in the (empty) dog dish

One of my favorite patients receiving hospice care was a much-loved older Dachshund with a host of chronic medical concerns. His owners were willing to change and adapt both his and their routines and medications as he progressively changed his very particular old dog habits. Initially, we used just mirtazapine every other day, and that was enough to get him back to his meals. That first successful phone call was a joy for us all!

When his owners noticed that he was picking out just his favorite treats and leaving his real meals again, we increased his dose to daily use. When that too failed to keep him from emptying his food dish, we spoke at length about the benefits of using the human medication dronabinol, which did gift him some extra happy time with his family.

Frequently asked questions about canine appetite stimulants

Are prescription appetite stimulant medications safe to use with other medications?

Many dogs who need appetite stimulants are already on other medications because they have a chronic condition that is making them less interested in eating. While vets do commonly combine appetite stimulants with other medications or supplements, some interact poorly with one another. Thus, it is essential that you tell your vet all the medicines and supplements your dog is taking (even the over-the-counter ones). This helps your vet decide which of the appetite stimulant medications would be safest for your dog’s particular situation.

How long does it take for a canine appetite stimulant to work?

While there is some variation from drug to drug and dog to dog, Entyce, Cerenia, and Meclizine all start working within 1 to 2 hours. On the other hand, mirtazapine may take 12-24 hours, or sometimes up to two days, to begin increasing the dog’s appetite.

It is important to remember, too, that “working” means different things for different medications. Entyce functions to directly boost appetite in that timeframe. However, Cerenia and meclizine make the dog less nauseous within 1 to 2 hours, and then hopefully the dog will be willing to eat sometime after that.

Once the appetite stimulants start working, how much food should I feed my dog?

Most of the time, going back to feeding your dog his or her usual amount of food is sufficient once his or her appetite picks up again. You don’t necessarily need to feed your dog extra food to make up for the time when he or she wasn’t eating.

However, if you are concerned and think your dog may need more calories, please consult your veterinarian. He or she would be happy to work with you to create a feeding plan tailored specifically for your dog.

Your veterinarian is here to help

As a vet, it is so gratifying to give a pet back something that gives him or her joy. Hearing from a dog parent that a previously uninterested, not hungry, and sad dog is once again happily licking the bowl clean is one of the most rewarding parts of hospice and older dog care. 

If your dog is losing his or her appetite, talk to your veterinarian. There are so many options that can help your dog regain an appetite (and so many reasons dogs lose their appetite). Your vet can help get to the bottom of the problem so your dog can start getting to the bottom of the food dish again.

What has worked to give your dog’s appetite a boost?

Please comment below. We can learn so much from each other.

This post was originally published on July 8, 2021 and updated on October 16, 2025.