Step 3:
Recognize Characteristics of Food Deprivation
Does the Pet Need Food?
Observe the signs carefully, because some dogs are very thin despite eating enough food, especially elderly dogs and cats. Check back several days in a row at different times, to see if the food bowl is refilled. Look for several signs. A filthy, junky environment can be a clue that basic needs are not being met, also.
- Empty, missing, or overturned food bowl
- Visible ribs, bony backbone, hip bones jut out
- Weak and wobbly, too weak to stand
- Chewed wood, shrubbery
- Teeth worn down from chewing rocks
- Dirty muzzle from eating dirt
- Bad breath from eating feces
This dog was much too thin. When this photo was taken, the dog was so malnourished that it required weeks of veterinary care to recover. See the bony humps above the tail. Call the police or the humane society immediately, if you see a pet's bones sticking out like this.
Quick Quiz Question:
Recall three signs of malnourishment from the list above.
[To check your answers, scroll to top and review the list.]
^ Scroll to Top Next >