You put the bowl down. Your dog looks at it. Your dog looks at you. Your dog lies back down. This is a betrayal unlike anything you have experienced in this relationship.

Before you start running through worst-case scenarios or filming a worried video for the vet's WhatsApp, take a breath. If it is May and temperatures are above 38 degrees, your dog's suddenly picky attitude toward food is almost certainly not a medical emergency. It is summer.

The Biology of Not Wanting Lunch

When a dog's body is managing heat, digestion gets deprioritised. Blood flow shifts away from the gut and toward the surfaces of the body that can help release heat. The hormones and signals that normally trigger hunger get quieter. The result is a dog that is physically less interested in food, which is a completely reasonable biological response to being hot.

Humans do this too, by the way. Nobody wants a heavy biryani in 42-degree heat. We reach for lighter things, cooler things, smaller portions. Your dog is doing the same calculation, just without the ability to explain it to you.

What You Can Do

Try offering smaller meals at cooler times of day. Early morning and late evening are your best windows. Mix a little water or unsalted broth into the food to make it more palatable and to sneak in some hydration. Wet food, even mixed in small quantities with regular kibble, is often more appealing in heat than dry biscuits.

If your dog skips a meal in peak summer heat, that is usually fine. Two missed meals in a row, particularly if the dog is also lethargic in ways that are not explained by the temperature, are worth checking with your vet. But occasional reduced appetite during a heat wave? That is your dog being sensible. They will eat when they are ready. Respect the process.