Why Are Dogs Always Hungry? (Normal, Old & Diabetic Dogs)

Why Are Dogs Always Hungry

Having dogs always make you think that dogs’ stomachs are bottomless pits that you keep on feeding time and time again.

It usually does not make sense to most people as to why dogs keep on feeding every single time of the day.

They are always ready to gobble up more food all the damn time!

So why are dogs always hungry or at least seem to be always hungry?

 

Dogs are always hungry or at least always seem hungry mainly due to the primal nature. What does this even mean? This technically means that your canine is always hungry because that’s what they know how to do. How exactly can we explain that? Dogs have their other canine relatives such as wolves who tend to stick to a ‘meal plan’ that says ‘famine or food’. This is an easier way of explaining that it is in dogs’ primal nature to eat when presented the chancer when they see it.

 

This means once your canine friend sees that opportunity to eat, they will take it up cheerfully and also the other way round.

It is like they don’t seem to be hungry unless presented the opportunity to see food and realize they are hungry.

There may also be some underlying health conditions your dog may be suffering from.

Thus making them need to eat all the time, for example, diabetes.

 

Below is all you need to know about dogs and their apparent endless hunger.

The information will touch upon the differences on the issue in normal, diabetic, and elderly dogs.

 

What is meant by the term ‘primal nature’ when it comes to hunger and dogs

puppy eating

Primal nature technically explains what their bodies are meant to do.

It is sort of an automatic reaction to certain circumstances.

Which could even sometimes override the amount of training they have gotten.

When it comes to dogs’ primal nature concerning food, there is the mentality that out of sight out of mind.

 

This phrase tends to sum up how dogs eat.

When they see food, they will not hesitate to eat.

And if the food is not there, that is okay as well and they will not eat.

 

This is further explained by the fact that dogs are hunters.

That is their nature. When hunting, once they find their prey, they will always eat to their fill not worrying about remains.

After this, they can go days without having to eat again until when they next find food where the same procedure will be carried out.

 

 

Learn More:

Why Do Dogs Hate the Color Red

 

 

How does the above relate to your domesticated pup?

In case you are wondering why this seems to touch more on wild dogs and what they do, that is used to help you understand their nature as the dog family.

Now, how does this affect you and your domesticated and well-trained dog?

As said before, dogs have a mentality that when food is presented, they will eat, if not, they will not.

 

These are scenarios such as when you get used to giving them food so many times a day.

Each time they get food, they will eat and will get used to that routine.

It could also be when eating, and you always give your dog some food, they will gladly take it.

If you do not, they will not necessitate the need to eat in their bodies.

 

 

Other reasons that would cause your dog to have a large appetite?

dog posing with food

The other main conditions are usually health conditions that may require a proper health checkup meaning another trip to the vet.

 

Below are the possible health conditions that may be indicated by your dog’s large appetite:

 

1. Your dog may have an underlying untreated condition of diabetes.

This is usually one of the first suspicions when it comes to your dog having a large appetite.

The big question is how?

It’s a very simple explanation.

When your dog eats, the food is meant to serve as starch or carbohydrates in your body.

Thus allowing the body to break it down to glucose which then can be used in the body cells.

 

For that process to occur, there has to be the presence of glucose in the body which facilitates the conversion of the starch into glucose.

Without enough insulin, the body is made to feel like it is short of the required amount of glucose while overlooking the amount of starch in the body.

This makes your dog feel hungry to balance the amount of glucose in the body.

The shortage of insulin hormone in the body is, therefore, one of the types of diabetes.

 

2. Your dog may be suffering from Cushing’s disease

The other reason would be Cushing’s disease in dogs.

This disease is caused by the overproduction of the glucocorticoid hormone that is released to help your dog deal with stress.

Overproduction of this hormone often leads to an increased appetite in your dog due to the presence of the hormone in your dog’s system.

 

3. Your dog may be suffering from malabsorption

This is more like a malfunctioning in the way absorption is meant to work in the body.

This makes it slightly difficult for dogs to properly absorb the nutrients found in their food.

This makes it seem like there is a deficit in nutrients in the body making the dog hungry all the time.

Because the bodies’ nutritional needs are not being met however much they eat.

 

4. Your dog may be suffering from a condition known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)

It is a condition that is common in dog breeds such as German Shepherds.

It is a condition that leads to a drop in the enzyme levels in the enzymes required to digest food in a dog’s body.

This then causes your dog to release a lot of undigested food which communicates with the body as not being full.

This then makes your dog want to eat more because the body has no nutrients from the food eaten.

 

Once you notice that your dog has suddenly started to eat a large amount of food out of the blues that should be a cause for alarm.

If you are not sure about your dog’s feeding habits and suspect that there may be a problem, always visit the vet for more assistance.

 

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Russel

A pet owner who loves to share useful facts and information about a variety of animals.