Acupoint to Boost Appetite

Classical Acupoint – Shan Gen, Base of the Mountain, Appetite Point

Does your cat or dog belong to Finicky Eaters Anonymous (FEA)? Does your dog or cat turn up his nose at anything you put in front of him? There’s an acupoint for that!

Loss of Appetite 
First, high quality food plus the dog or cat’s ability to metabolize nutrients plays an important role in his health and longevity. There are times when your dog or cat won’t eat what you provide for no apparent reason. If the animal doesn’t eat for over 24 hours, it’s wise to have your holistic veterinarian give your pet a thorough check up. Cats are small and can lose weight very quickly so a vet check is essential. Dogs are usually motivated eaters, so not eating can be an indicator of pain or illness.

If your pet is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea emergency care is indicated. Vomiting and/or diarrhea can quickly cause severe dehydration. There are many reasons your dog or cat refuses to eat ranging from illness to stress. Ruling out illness, injury, poisoning, or identifying disruptive stress which is causing your cat to be anxious is always the first step. Follow your holistic veterinarian’s recommendations.

When your animal buddy seems whimsical about what he eats or doesn’t eat and there’s no underlying medical problem, offering different varieties of food to see what appeals to him is the next step. Often when recovering from illness, medical procedures, or dealing with a chronic medical condition lose their interest in food. Many animals respond to stressful situations by not eating. And, aging issues can lead to a loss of appetite.

Acupressure Can Help 
Once you know all is well and your dog or cat is just being picky especially if he or she has a history of being a bit picky you can help resolve his resistance to eating with a little acupressure. Even if there’s a medical issue and you have consulted your holistic veterinarian, taking an integrative approach by combining acupressure with your veterinarian’s recommendations can restore your cat’s appetite more readily.

Shan Gen, Base of the Mountain 
The Classical Acupoint, Shan Gen, is used to specifically encourage an animal’s desire to eat when they are reluctant to take the first bite.

Shan Gen is located slightly back from your cat’s nose toward his eyes on the center line for both dogs and cats. It’s a noninvasive acupoint and has the added value of most animals finding it relaxing.

Technique 
Start at the edge of the nose and gently rub back toward your dog or cat’s eyes using the soft tip of your pointer finger. Repeat rubbing that spot for a slow count to 20. You can repeat this procedure as often as you and your pet enjoy doing it.