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Increased Appetite in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 12/06/2015Updated: 04/21/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Increased Appetite?
Hunger and the feeling of being full after eating (satiety) are controlled by the central nervous system. Abnormalities in the CNS can cause increased appetite, as can several other factors such as stress, an underlying disease, or cancer. Because appetite changes are so common in many illnesses and situations, diagnosing the reason for it can be a complex process. Polyphagia can indicate serious disease. Any alteration in your pet’s eating behavior should be checked by the veterinarian.
Increased appetite is known as polyphagia in veterinary terms. If your dog seems to be continuously hungry and his behavior dictates that he requires food in excess of the norm, further investigation is warranted. This is especially true if the appetite has recently increased. A visit to the veterinarian is needed in order to diagnose an underlying cause, and to determine how the insatiable appetite is affecting his weight (another important marker of canine health).
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Symptoms of Increased Appetite in Dogs
Prompt action in dealing with an increased appetite is conducive to determining the exact cause. Polyphagia complications can range in severity. The following symptoms can indicate that your dog must be seen by the veterinarian without delay.
- Weight changes can include both loss or gain
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Exhibiting behavior indicating constant hunger
- Lethargy
- Abdominal bloating
If the polyphagia is due to an underlying disease, you may see symptoms such as those listed below. Symptoms will vary depending on the cause:
- Depression
- Neurological signs can include pacing, circling, blindness
- Lethargy
- Muscle weakness
- Panting
- Soft stool or diarrhea
- Trembling
- Vomiting or regurgitation
- Increased thirst
Types
Polyphagia can be classified as follows.
- Primary
- Caused by destruction of the satiety center, for example, trauma. This is rare.
- There will likely be additional neurological signs of a CNS disease
- Secondary
- More common than primary polyphagia
- Diseases, parasites and the improper diet can result in secondary polyphagia
- Drug Induced
- Corticosteroids and anti seizure medicine, for example, can increase food intake
Causes of Increased Appetite in Dogs
If your canine companion is showing signs of constant hunger, the situation can be worrisome, and can often lead to very unfavorable behavior on the part of your dog (such as begging). In order to return your pet to his normal state of well-being, you will want to take him to the veterinarian without delay. Causes for the increased appetite are great in number. Some are listed below.
- A lesion in the central nervous system
- Hypoglycemia
- Low-calorie or unbalanced diet
- Overfeeding
- Learned behavior of begging for food
- Stress can cause your dog to increase eating habits
- Infection
- Continual living in a low environmental temperature
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Increased exercise
- An endocrine or hormone related disease like diabetes mellitus or hyperadrenocorticism
- Malabsorption or maldigestion of food due to illness or parasites
- Pancreatic atrophy
- Increased rate of gastric emptying
- Cancer
- Medications like thyroid supplements, corticosteroids sedatives or anticonvulsants
Diagnosis of Increased Appetite in Dogs
The veterinarian will, under most normal circumstances, begin with a physical examination while discussing your observations and concerns. Possible findings may include muscle wasting, alopecia (hair loss), ataxia (loss of control of bodily movements), and abdominal or hepatic enlargement.
Laboratory tests can be great indicators of why your dog seems to have an insatiable appetite. The tests can reveal various results.
- Complete Blood Count
- Presence of anemia will be evaluated through red blood cell count
- An increase in white blood cells could point to intestinal parasitism or hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)
- Serum Biochemical Profile
- Changes to glucose, proteins and enzymes may be discovered
- Increase in alkaline phosphatase can mean Cushing’s Disease, recent corticosteroid administration or diabetes mellitus
- Urinalysis
- We will check for blood, protein and glucose
- Poorly concentrated urine can occur in e.g. diabetes and Cushing's Disease
- Fecal Flotation
- This procedure is done to check for parasites
Additional diagnostic imaging might be needed, in the form of a radiograph, ultrasound, endoscopy, CT scan or MRI scan.
Treatment of Increased Appetite in Dogs
The treatment protocol for your canine family member will vary depending on the underlying cause of the polyphagia. The veterinarian has the knowledge to help you deal with any sort of at home therapy required for successful resolution of the appetite changes.
For example, a drug-induced increase in appetite may be indeed temporary, and will wane with time, even with the continued use of the prescribed medication.
In the instance of an apparent insatiable appetite caused by stress or learned behavior, you will receive direct advice and best practices on how to deal with the problem. The veterinary caregiver may suggest behavioral therapy for a habitual eater. A dog suffering from a stress-induced neverending desire to eat may benefit from the simple removal or reduction of the stressor. No doubt, the veterinarian will ask you to feed your dog only as per the caloric requirements to maintain the good health of your pet. Don’t be discouraged; behavioral issues take time to resolve. Patience and kindness are the best remedies.
If there is a serious underlying disease, of course, it must be dealt with and in turn, the appetite problem should also resolve. For example, diabetes mellitus will require insulin injections and dietary adjustments. A parasitic infestation will be eradicated with medication. Diseases like cancer may involve treatment in the form of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, and perhaps all three.
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Recovery of Increased Appetite in Dogs
The prognosis, by all means, is dependent on the cause of the polyphagia. Continual communication with the veterinary caregiver will be part of the home care and management. The veterinarian will advise on the need for repeat blood tests, imaging follow-up and dietary advice. Return visits to the clinic will depend upon the initial cause of the polyphagia. As always, working together with the veterinary specialist is best for the continued comfort and welfare of your dog.
Increased Appetite Average Cost
From 121 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
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Increased Appetite Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Boston Terrier
Pepper
9 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itching
My vet put my dog on a diet to lose four pounds. She is a Boston Terrier and is very food motivated. I thought the vet said to reduce her food to one cup a day. After two weeks, Pepper really went crazy when I fed her and really demonstrated a need for more kibble. I read the feeding amounts and realized that one cup a day is for an 11 pound dog. Pepper, should weigh 24 pounds so I upped the amount of food I was giving her to 1 1/2 cups per day. She gets one small biscuit each time we go out side (five times a day) and I have stopped giving her human food. The vet prescribed Royal Canin Hydrolized Protein dog food because my pet has food allergies, including sensitivity to poultry. I have never seen my pooch act so hungry in the five years I've owned her. She would leave her old food sitting all day - but now when it's feeding time, she gobbles it all up within two minutes. She does seem to be drinking more water but has no other symptoms. The new food has chicken meal as an ingredient but I was assured it wouldn't cause any issues. I am worried about the increased appetite.
She is taking hydroxizine 25 mg / up to 3 times a day.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
A dog may have an increased appetite when changing food for a few different reasons; the new food is highly palatable, the food isn’t filling or it isn’t fulfilling their nutritional needs. As far as measuring food, when you are trying to get a dog to loose weight, a decrease in the quantity of food is required to assist with the weight loss (depending on the product). You would need to talk with your Veterinarian (as they know Pepper’s history better) to change the food or to add a low nutrition bulking agent to fill her up keeping her full for longer. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
waiting on a reply
Feb. 12, 2018
Valerie M.
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Average Cost
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