Your pet's appetite and food intake can reduce gradually or rapidly for many reasons.

Appetite is often a reflection of how a pet feels, so although not specific it can be a general indicator that a pet feels unwell in some way.

Some common causes include:

• Dental or gum discomfort:
• Pyrexia (fever)
• Acute and chronic disease
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Change in diet or food source
• Recent vaccination
• Pet anxiety
• Travel and motion sickness
• New and unfamiliar surroundings

Disease is one of the most common causes of reduced appetite in our pets. Therefore, if you are concerned about your pet's appetite or physical condition, I would strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment at your local veterinary clinic to have your pet examined. This is important in order to rule out an underlying medical condition.

Weight loss associated with reduced appetite should always be investigated by your veterinary surgeon.

While you are waiting for the appointment you can try the following tips on how to improve your pet's appetite:

• Exercise before a meal
• Account for and cut back on treats and human food
• Adding a little warm water to the kibble can improve its palatability
• Include an interactive food toy
• Assess the location your pet's food bowl and bowl type