Why Is My Dog Always Hungry?

Generally, dogs are animals prone to gluttony. They're able to eat their whole portion and, on top of that, never turn down a chance to eat more, whether we offer it as a reward or they steal it themselves.

But behind this anxiety around food, certain conditions may be hiding that a vet needs to diagnose and treat. These can be either psychological or physical in origin. Let's look at the most common causes.

How Dogs Eat

Looking at wolves' feeding behavior helps us better understand canine nutrition. This is a predatory species that hunts to feed itself. When it manages to take down large prey, it eats a huge amount of food all at once, very quickly — specifically, 8 kg and up to 20 kg within 24 hours.

If anything's left over, it's buried for later consumption. So, we see the diet's foundation is animal protein, and feeding happens in large amounts irregularly, based on success in finding and hunting prey. In good times, they can eat several times a day.

Domestication has led dogs to add various foods to their menu. Today, they're considered omnivores, though animal protein remains the fundamental ingredient in their diet. Living alongside humans allowed dogs to eat frequently. There's no need for them to overeat, but the ability to consume large amounts of food persists.

The Importance of Food for Dogs

At home, dogs usually receive a complete diet that meets all their nutritional needs. But, to a greater or lesser degree, they're drawn to what their caretakers eat.

This is normal because, first of all, their instinct drives them to eat as much as possible, since they don't know when they'll eat again. Also, for dogs, people are their reference point, and they want to do everything they see us doing — including eating. For us, being social animals like dogs, sharing food is a display of affection.

That's why it's very common for us to offer our dog food, which, without realizing it, reinforces it begging us for food. So, the dog won't understand that we don't always give it food, and this can eventually lead to anxiety and behavioral issues.

Polyphagia in Dogs

Polyphagia is defined as an increase in food intake. The dog eats insatiably, but is still always hungry. It never seems full, even when it wolfs down more than the recommended portion for its characteristics. That said, we need to tell apart polyphagia from normal hunger.

A dog will feel hunger, not polyphagia, if it's given less food than it needs, or low-quality food that doesn't meet all its nutritional needs. We also need to adjust the portion to the dog's physical activity level, and keep in mind its needs vary depending on its life stage.

Also, there are physical and psychological conditions that cause polyphagia. Both can come with other symptoms. That's why, when facing polyphagia, you should see a vet to get a diagnosis and start treatment. If the cause is psychological, the dog will need to be treated by a vet specialized in canine behavior, or an ethologist.

Most Common Causes of Polyphagia

There are various physical illnesses that present with polyphagia as one of their symptoms. Some, luckily, are rare, like hyperthyroidism. But others do affect a significant percentage of dogs.

These include diabetes, malabsorption syndrome, or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. All require veterinary treatment. Pay attention to other symptoms like increased urination, weight loss, malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration.

How to Stop a Dog From Begging for Food

When the issue with food is psychological in nature, besides whatever guidelines the expert considers necessary based on each case, some general measures can be implemented, such as:

• Increase the fiber content in the diet, since it has a satiating effect. To choose an appropriate food, follow your vet's advice.
• Split the daily ration into several meals.
• Establish a feeding routine, meaning offering food at the same times every day. Dogs like predictability, so knowing the schedule reduces their anxiety. Outside of these times, don't give it anything.
• You can offer part of the food in interactive toys. Mental stimulation is another way to combat stress.
• Don't give it any of your food. Ever. If it sometimes gets a reward, it won't understand why it doesn't always get one, which will cause confusion and anxiety.
• On another note, a dog's wellbeing requires both physical and mental stimulation. That's why it's important to dedicate time to it, take it for walks, play with it, and so on. This helps minimize anxiety, including around food.

Bibliography Morris, Desmond. 1988. Dog Watching. Barcelona: Plaza & Janés.