What to feed a dog that is always hungry

6 Ways to Help an Extra Hungry Dog

To satisfy dogs cravings without packing on the pounds, the doctors recommended introducing more vegetables into their diets.

Vegetables like carrots and green beans can be added to dogs meals to bulk up the foods fiber content and make the pups feel more full without adding a lot of calories, says Morgan. Grind the vegetables and cook them lightly before serving to your dog.

Veggies can make great snacks between meals, as well, she says.

Just be careful about introducing too much fiber too fast. This can lead to flatulence, constipation, or diarrhea, she says.

Boosting your pups vegetable content may also help curb her hunger in other ways. Chromium, a mineral found in ingredients like broccoli and sweet potatoes, has been shown to help reduce hunger in humans and may also help dogs, Morgan says.

9 Ways To Deal With A Dog That Is Always Hungry

Does your pooch have a bottomless stomach?

You just fed them, but they came begging for more nom-noms.

And you wonder,

How do I correct this behavior?

Keep reading to find out:

• 17 human foods safe for dogs to eat.
• 9 ways to deal with a dog that is always hungry.
• 3 side effects of free-feeding a dog whos always hungry.
• Precisely why you should use food-dispensing toys for your pooch.
• And many, many more

How to deal with a dog that is always hungry?

You can deal with a dog that is always hungry through scheduled feedings. Small but frequent meals are key. Dont free-feed them. You can also use it as a training opportunity by using food-dispensing toys and adding fiber to their diet. Lastly, schedule a vet visit to rule out medical conditions.

9 ways to deal with a dog that is always hungry

#1: Scheduled feedings

PetMD tells us that this gives structure to a dogs life.

It helps them:

• Avoid grazing.
• Have good manners.
• Feel like part of the family.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is free-feeding.

This is a method where dog parents will leave lots of food for their pooch.

And the dog will just eat when they want to.

There are downsides to this:

• Can cause obesity.
• No control of food intake.
• Invites small animals to eat.

But scheduled feedings give you control over what your dog eats. And you can also maintain their weight.

How much should I feed my dog?

According to VCA, the general rule of thumb is:

Once you have the answer you can look at the dog foods calories per cup. And base how much to give your pooch there.

You can find these in the nutrition facts at the back of the dog food sack.

Note: This is just an estimate. And many factors affect how much food to give your pooch.

You have to consider the following:

• Age.
• Weight.
• Allergies.
• Health condition.
• Exercise/activity rate.

For the best diet for your pooch, consult with your vet.

You might also want to know: Feeding Schedule For 5-Week Old Puppy: When & What To Feed

#2: Small but frequent meals

This is great for the grazers.

Those dogs who like to eat slowly or only a little bit at a time.

Measure out your dogs food for the day. And divide it into 4 or 5 portions.

Then you can offer them to your pooch at different intervals.

This feeding method is also suited for growing puppies.

You cant feed puppies a lot at a time.

Their stomachs would burst from all that food at once.

Small but frequent meals are also great for sick or recovering dogs.

Take this situation for example

My friends dog, Hela, contracted a bacterial infection of the stomach.

She got over it. But during her healing process, she wanted to eat a lot.

Her dog parent fed her small meals throughout the day.

And the minute the bowl was in front of Hela, shed gobble up what little food there was inside.

If my friend fed her a lot at once, it couldve meant another round of vomiting for Hela.

Why is this important to remember?

Sick dogs often have sensitive stomachs. Or they dont like to eat a lot.

With recovering pooches you dont want to shock their digestive system.

Especially if theyre healing from an illness that affects their stomachs.

The AKC recommends these bland foods for sick or recovering dogs:

• Pumpkin.
• Baby food.
• Bone broth.
• Chicken and rice.
• Shredded chicken.

Note: Ask your vet if these are okay for pooch, before feeding the foods to them.

Scheduled feedings help them get used to food once again.

#3: Dont free-feed

What is free-feeding?

This is a method for letting your dogs eat unlimited food for the day in their bowls.

Most dog parents use this when their pooch doesnt eat on schedule.

Some do it because their pup doesnt eat enough.

And others do it because its convenient.

What are the dangers of free-feeding?

In #1, I talked a bit about the dangers of free-feeding.

And Ill elaborate on the most glaring one: obesity.

There is no portion control. So it encourages an impulse to eat in dogs.

In the old days, wild dogs didnt have a lot to eat. So they would eat as much as possible when they could.

This trait also appears in our doggos. Especially if we adopt this feeding method.

There are also genetic-related reasons why dogs eat like theres no tomorrow.

For example

AKC tells us that the following dog breeds are more prone to overeating:

• Pug.
• Beagle.
• Rottweiler.
• Bull Terrier.
• Dachshund.
• Great Pyrenees.
• Golden Retriever.
• Labrador Retriever.
• Norwegian Elkhound.
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

East Valley Animal Hospital says it also creates an opportunity for resource guarding.

Especially if there are multiple dogs in your house.

In this case, there is a possibility of malnutrition. As the assertive dogs get to eat more. While the others eat less or none at all.

#4: Schedule a vet visit

Sometimes the reason for an always-hungry pooch is a medical condition.

Here are 3 diseases that cause excessive eating in dogs:

Diabetes

This disease happes because their endocrine system doesnt produce enough insulin.

MSD Manual states that your pooch could have it when theyre always hungry.

And they also display these symptoms:

• Weight loss.
• Cloudy eyes.
• Increased urination.
• Decreased appetite.
• Recurring infections.
• Excessive water drinking.

Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid plays an important role in hormone production.

But there are times when it produces too much. As a result, the dogs metabolism gets really fast.

And this is why theyre always hungry.

Here are the other signs to look out for:

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Weight loss.
• Fast heart rate.
• Enlarged heart.
• Heart murmurs.
• Hyper-excitability.
• Increased urination.
• Large thyroid gland.
• Shortness of breath.
• Congestive heart failure.
• An increased amount of poop.

Cushings disease

This disease in older dogs.

And the cause is the overproduction of the stress hormone, cortisol.

It results in low blood sugar.

So the dogs body tries to compensate for it by eating a lot.

Aside from overeating, observe your dog for the other signs:

• Panting.
• Hair loss.
• Lethargy.
• Thinning of skin.
• Muscle weakness.
• Frequent urination.
• Excessive drinking.
• Enlarged abdomen.

These conditions are very serious. And theyre life-threatening or life-long for your pooch.

So if you notice the signs in your dog, dont hesitate to bring them to the vet.

They have to do many tests to confirm their diagnosis.

Also, take note of the answers to these questions:

• When did the signs start to show?
• Have the symptoms increased in appearance after you first noticed them?
• Does your dog have pre-existing medical conditions? And are they taking medicine for it?

The answers will help to let your vet narrow down the causes. Overall, it makes for a more accurate diagnosis.

#5: Dont fall for puppy dog eyes

Its not easy resisting those soulful gazes when you eat.

Or their whines and barks while youre having a bite.

But you must stand your ground.

Stick to your dogs meal plan and feeding schedule.

In the long run, its best for your doggo.

Feeding them human or table food can cause a lot of issues.

It tends to contain more salt and fat than what dogs need.

Salty foods decrease water retention. Which can cause constipation.

And fatty meals can cause pancreatitis, states PetMD.

Pancreatitis

Its a condition where the pancreas releases digestive enzymes too early.

Or before the food even gets inside the digestive tract.

It causes the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Severe abdominal pain.

Fatty food means high calories, which can lead to obesity.

Obesity

It happens when dogs go over their recommended weight.

According to this study, it contributes to poor life quality. And a shorter lifespan.

This occurred in all the 12 breeds of over 50,000 dogs used in the research.

Scary right?

But dont worry!

Another study reassures us that controlled calorie reduction and exercise can help.

So do your best to resist those puppy dog eyes begging for your food.

If you must give them human food, prepare it separately. And without salt, fat, or spices.

According to the AKC, dogs can eat these:

• Milk.
• Ham.
• Corn.
• Pork.
• Eggs.
• Tuna.
• Bread.
• Yogurt.
• Turkey.
• Quinoa.
• Cheese.
• Salmon.
• Peanuts.
• Popcorn.
• Coconut.
• Cashews.
• Peanut butter.

You might also be interested in: Can Dogs Eat Alfredo? 7 Ingredients Reviewed + 7 Dangers

#6: Use it as a training opportunity

If your pooch goes gaga for food, then capitalize on that.

Food-motivated dogs are easy to train.

You might say theyd do anything for food.

So make the most of it by teaching them new commands.

Or cool tricks just like the ones in the video below.

These are easy for your dog to learn.

Watch this video for 6 new tricks to teach your dog in 1 day:

#7: Use food dispensing toys

If your pup is always hungry, try rationing their food.

And make their new diet fun.

You can do this by introducing food-dispensing toys or toy puzzles.

Stuff their food into the toy. And make them use their brains when eating.

You can buy all of these online:

It doesnt just make it exciting. The activity also helps them get physical exercise.

And by the end, theyre probably too tired to think about food for a few hours.

#8: Maintain a healthy weight

The AVMA explains that keeping our dogs at their optimal weight has a lot of benefits.

It lowers the risk of diseases such as:

• Diabetes.
• Some cancers.
• Kidney problems.
• Respiratory disease.
• High blood pressure.

And it also helps prevent conditions like:

• Arthritis.
• Low life expectancy.
• Bone, muscle, or joint injury.

How do I find out if my pet has a healthy weight?

You can use this healthy weight tool from PetMD.

But only take it as a reference point.

The best option is to have your pooch examined by the vet.

They will recommend the best food choices. And the different exercise plans available.

But remember that it takes commitment on your part.

Thats if you want to help your pooch lose or gain weight.

#9: Add more fiber to their meals

Sometimes dogs scarf down their food because they dont feel full.

Adding fiber-rich foods to their diet can help. They also aid in digestion.

Theyre also a source of additional nutrients and vitamins for your pooch. As fruits and veggies have a lot of fiber.

AKC lists safe fiber-rich food for dogs

For fruits you can add:

• Pears
• Apples.
• Oranges.
• Peaches.
• Bananas.
• Mangoes.
• Blueberries.
• Cucumbers.
• Cranberries.
• Cantaloupes.
• Watermelons.

And you may not be a fan of vegetables, but your pooch can be.

Heres what you can put in their bowls:

• Peas.
• Celery.
• Carrots.
• Broccoli.
• Brussel sprouts (moderate, causes gas).

Note: Always consult with your vet if these are okay additions to your dogs diet.

Gradually add these to their meals. So that your poochs stomach gets used to it.

Why Is My Dog Always Hungry?

To say that some dogs can be greedy is an understatement. However, theres a difference between pets using all their cunning to get a scrap or two off the dining table and those who are constantly crying out for more food, even after theyve been fed.

This incessant barking and whining might start off merely as irritating, but the longer it goes on, the more a parent might suspect that somethings wrong with their dog why are they still hungry?

Well, theres a whole array of reasons and parents might have to undertake a little detective work to get to the bottom of it.

Its in their genes

Interestingly, your dogs seemingly insatiable appetite might lie in their ancestry. Todays cuddly canines were domesticated from wolves tens of thousands of years ago, but they retain some of their lupine instincts.

Like many hunting animals, wolves in the wild tend to eat as much as they can in one sitting, which safeguards against a few barren days of hunting.¹ This is also the reason you might see your dog burying bones or toys wolves do the same to hide away an emergency supply of food just in case the going gets tough.

As such, your dog might still think they need to eat to ward off a potential stretch of famine, which, of course, they dont need to worry about.

Whats more, the domestication process might also hold a few clues. When humans were training dogs to complete tasks, the animals who responded well to treat incentives would be the ones selected to breed. Over the generations, this would result in dogs eager to work hard in exchange for food.

Today, your dog might not do anything more strenuous than run around in the park once a day, but this instinct may well have been hard-wired into their genetic makeup.

One recent study identified a gene variation in Labradors and Flat Coat Retrievers, which affects the part of the brain that regulates hunger and feeling full after a meal. Its estimated up to one in four Labs carry this variant and this makes them susceptible to obesity.²

Its useful for parents to consider this evolutionary explanation when their dog is begging for more food or treats, but like many other undesirable behaviors, it can be trained out too with a little patience and tough love.

Its a problem with their diet

Although your dog might be channeling their inner wolf when begging for food, they might also just be trying to communicate that their current diet isnt fit for their needs.

Am I feeding my dog enough?

Theres no harm in a parent taking stock of what they feed their dog.

For example, if theyre exercising a lot or working throughout the day, you might want to consider upping their allowance. You can always lower it if you start to notice weight gain.

However, it could just come down to quantity.

If a dog is being fed a really nutrient-dense food something like an 80:20 high-meat recipe they only need a small quantity, especially if they do not have a particularly active lifestyle, says Laura Ward, in-house nutritionist at Dog Food Advisor. Although its providing the nutrients needed, it might not be filling them up or satisfying them.

One way to remedy this is to look for recipes that are high in fiber.

This can add more bulk and aid satiety, which is why youll see it in many veterinary weight loss foods, says Ward.

If you struggle to find high-fiber dog food, some vets recommend adding vegetables, such as sweet potato or green beans, to their meals. You could use these as treats as well, which leads us to

Am I giving my dog the right type of food?

One place to look for clues is in their poop. Indeed, this is what nutritional scientists do when theyre working out just how digestible a dog food is.

If your dogs producing loose or very large stools, it can be that their food is not being well digested, says Laura Ward, in-house nutritionist at Dog Food Advisor. Although the food contains all of the nutrients needed, these arent being accessed by the dog and therefore they might be still looking for food too.

You might want to consider switching over to dog food with a high digestibility score. Although these figures can sometimes be difficult to find, any product scoring above 88% digestible is considered excellent, while anything less than 75% is poor.

Am I giving my dog too many treats?

Another reason your dog might constantly be angling for more food is theyve worked out their parents are a soft touch when it comes to doling out the treats.

In comparison to pet food, treats are designed to be calorie-rich and extra-tasty, as dogs are more likely to take on board new skills when offered them. However, theyre not as nutritionally complete as pet food and its the equivalent of giving a young child unlimited access to ice cream they might not know when to stop.

Alternatively, your dog might have learned to associate begging for treats with a bit of TLC.

Is your dog actually hungry or do they just want interaction or attention from their parents? asks Ward. Often begging is a learned behavior because it has a nice outcome for our dogs.

One of the most frequently repeated bits of advice on this topic is to keep treats beneath 10% of your dogs calorific allowance so as not to encourage them to keep looking up at you with those big, irresistible eyes.

Its a symptom of an illness

Keep an eye out for other symptoms your dog might be displaying along with an increased appetite. This could include:

• Increased urination or defecation
• Increased thirst
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Weight gain or loss
• Changes in muscle or belly size

If you spot any of these changes, you should book an appointment with your vet and theyll be able to carry out tests to see if theres a deeper malaise behind their hunger.

Does my dog have worms or a parasite?

One of the reasons a dog may appear unsatisfied with the amount of food put before them is that something is stopping the nutrients from being absorbed into their system.

For example, parasites living inside your dogs organs, such as worms, might be essentially stealing your dogs dinner, leaving them to feel as if they havent eaten at all.

This can also lead to weight loss, an upset or bloated stomach, lethargy or a dull-looking coat. At the same time, you might be able to spot worms in your dogs poop or see them scraping their bum across the floor.

Thankfully, theres a large variety of deworming medication available to treat the infestation and preventative measures can also help reduce the likelihood of a recurrence.

Does my dog have irritable bowel syndrome?

Another condition that prevents nutrients from being absorbed into your dogs body is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a chronically upset stomach and intestines, and leads to episodes of diarrhea and constipation.

As the digestive process is interrupted, it can also lead to an increased appetite, although the opposite can sometimes be true as well.

Vets can undertake a number of tests to see if IBS is the cause of your dogs heightened appetite and will usually prescribe medication and a dietary change to avoid major flare-ups.

Does my dog have diabetes?

Diabetes is another condition that can cause increased hunger. This is when the body is unable to regulate blood sugar effectively due to an insufficient supply of insulin.

Without enough insulin, the glucose is unable to reach your dogs cells and be converted into energy. Just as with worms, theyll be eating, but they wont be experiencing the expected benefits and may subsequently seek even more food to fill that gap.

At the same time, your dog might experience increased thirst, more frequent urination or weight loss.

Unfortunately, diabetes cant be cured, but the condition can be managed with insulin injections and a carefully monitored diet care that should be covered by a good pet insurance plan.

Does my dog have Cushings Disease?

Like diabetes, Cushings Disease or hyperadrenocorticism is another hormonal dysfunction that can cause increased appetite in dogs. Its caused by a tumor in the pituitary or adrenal glands causing an excess amount of cortisol to be produced.

Its usually first spotted in dogs older than eight years and the accompanying symptoms can often be confused with aging things like heightened thirst, lethargy, hair loss and more frequent urination, especially at night.

Depending on the location of the tumor, surgery or radiation therapy can sometimes remove the underlying cause, but medication is the most common treatment option again, the cost of which should be helped by a good pet insurance plan.

Does my dog have depression?

On other occasions, the problem doesnt lie with the dogs body, but rather in their head.

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from depression and very often, this can affect their appetite. Some pets will go completely off their food, while others will comfort eat and seem constantly hungry.

There are a range of other warning signs to look out for if you think this is the case, from general lethargy and withdrawal to unexpectedly aggressive behavior and clinginess.

If your pet appears withdrawn, parents are recommended to consider what changes in the environment or daily routine might have caused their pet distress. This could be parents returning to work, a new pet or child in the house, or an injury.

With this in mind, its possible to try to lift their spirits, be that by scheduling more playtime or buying more toys to keep them mentally stimulated. Vets can prescribe medication to help in more extreme circumstances.