Why Does My Dog Seem to Eat Less in Summer?

When the days are long and the heat has set in, you might notice your dog turning up their nose at breakfast or leaving dinner half-eaten. 

While this change in appetite can be concerning at first, it’s often a natural response to the season. Just like us, dogs feel the shift in temperature, and their eating habits tend to follow suit. 

Let’s explore why your pup may be eating less and how you can support your furry friend this sunny season.

What you will learn:

• Why dogs often eat less during the summer, including how heat, hormonal changes, and seasonal shifts naturally affect their appetite and metabolism.
  
  
• How diet, hydration, and feeding routines can be adjusted to support your dog's well-being during hot weather, with practical tips for keeping meals appealing and nutritious.
  
  
• The role of emotional and environmental factors in influencing your dog's eating habits, plus signs to watch for that may indicate when veterinary attention is needed.

Seasonal Shifts That Affect Your Dog’s Appetite

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), summer is associated with the fire element, which governs the heart and small intestine. This seasonal connection stirs up yang energy in dogs, leading to internal heat that naturally suppresses appetite.

Rather than being a cause for alarm, this reduced appetite is often the body’s intuitive way of staying cool and balanced. By eating less, dogs limit the internal heat generated during digestion, helping them maintain a comfortable internal temperature. 

In holistic traditions, summer is also the time of detoxification. Just as nature sheds the old to make space for renewal, your dog instinctively eats lighter meals to support the body’s natural cleansing processes.

The Role of Heat in Appetite Suppression

When it’s hot outside, your dog’s priority is staying cool, and digestion can get in the way. 

Eating and processing food requires energy, and that process generates heat. For dogs, who regulate their body temperature primarily through panting, every degree of added warmth counts. Eating less helps them avoid additional metabolic heat, allowing their cooling systems to work more effectively.

Most dogs naturally become less active during the hottest parts of the day, conserving energy by napping or lounging in the shade. With lower activity levels comes a reduced need for calories. 

In many ways, dogs are incredibly in tune with their environment, so if they’re eating less during summer, it’s often because their body simply doesn’t need as much fuel.

How Food Influences Summer Eating

In summer, your dog’s body works harder to stay cool, and heavy, processed meals can become a burden rather than a benefit.

Heavily Processed vs. Fresh Foods

Dry kibble requires more effort to break down and metabolize. This added digestive work generates internal heat, something your dog instinctively tries to avoid in summer. 

Raw and lightly cooked diets are easier on the system and often contain higher moisture content, making them more appealing during warmer months. 

Hydration Comes First

Dogs may bypass meals altogether in favor of drinking water, especially during the hottest parts of the day. 

Supporting this shift is easy: offer water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon (seedless), or zucchini. 

You can also mix in hydrating additions like homemade bone broth or cooled herbal teas like chamomile and nettle infusions, which are gentle and soothing.

Emotional and Environmental Disruptions

Summer brings noise, travel, and changes to the daily rhythm that can throw your dog off balance. Fireworks, thunderstorms, road trips, visitors, and shifting routines can all contribute to increased stress. For sensitive dogs, these disruptions can lead to reduced appetite.

Dogs are highly attuned to their surroundings and often mirror the emotional energy of their household. If your summer schedule feels chaotic or overstimulated, your dog may respond by eating less or skipping meals entirely. 

Offering meals in a calm, quiet setting and maintaining consistency, such as feeding at the same times each day, helps ease anxiety and support steadier eating habits throughout the season.

When to Worry About Summer Appetite Changes

If your dog skips a meal here and there but otherwise seems energetic and hydrated, it’s likely just a seasonal adjustment. However, there are times when reduced eating is a red flag rather than a natural response.

Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following alongside decreased appetite:

• Sudden or noticeable weight loss.
  
  
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
  
  
• Lethargy or unusual fatigue.
  
  
• Excessive panting or signs of heat stress.

3 Tips to Encourage Healthy Eating in Hot Weather

1. Feed in the cooler hours of the day: Offer meals early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are lower. Dogs are more likely to eat when they’re not trying to cool down, and digestion is easier when the body isn’t already working to beat the heat.
   
   
2. Switch to cooling proteins: In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, some proteins (e.g., duck or white fish) are considered “cooling” and can help balance excess heat in the body.
   
   
3. Add fresh, hydrating veggies like cucumber and spinach: These moisture-rich vegetables support hydration and provide essential nutrients and fiber. 

Support Your Dog’s Summer Health With Volhard Nutrition!

If your dog’s appetite is waning in the heat, Volhard’s fresh, balanced diets offer a lighter, more digestible alternative to heavy kibble. Our diets are easy on the digestive system and rich in natural hydration. 

For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, contact us and check out our other blogs!

Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert canine nutrition coaches offer online consultations to help more dog parents discover why and how to feed their dogs the healthiest foods!

Speaking to a Volhard canine nutrition coach will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind.

If you want to contact one of our Volhard canine nutrition coaches, don't hesitate to access our consultation page!

References

1. Basko, Ihor. "Food therapy to reduce the stress of summer climate changes." American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, 1 Feb. 2009, https://doi.org/10.59565/001c.83752. Accessed 16 May 2025.
   
   
2. Paleckova, Katerina. "Feeding Tips for Hot Summer Days." Dogs Naturally - Natural Dog Health And Nutrition, 12 Dec. 2021, www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/feeding-tips-for-hot-summer-days/. Accessed 16 May 2025.
   
   
3. "Learn about TCVM." American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, 2 Feb. 2022, ajtcvm.org/learn-about-tcvm/. Accessed 16 May 2025.