Increased Appetite in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 12/06/2015Updated: 04/21/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
Increased Appetite in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
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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Increased Appetite Average Cost
From 121 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,600
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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
Average Cost
$1,600
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Increased Appetite Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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Bichon Frise
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Eleven Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Fat Stomach And Crazy Hungry All The Time.. Breaks Into
Does she need medical attention??
Aug. 1, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. It is hard to say without seeing her whether she needs medical attention or not, or whether she may just have an increased appetite. If it has been a while since her last exam, it may be a good idea just to have a good General check up for her, and discuss her problems with your veterinarian. They will be able to see if she actually has a problem, or she just has an increased appetite. I hope that all goes well for her.
Aug. 1, 2020
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Siberian Husky
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dog-age-icon
2 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Increased Thirst Increase Appetite
I just put a seresto collar on my dog three days ago, and since then she’s been eating more and drinking more water. Is this a sign or something serious?
July 13, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. While increased eating and drinking are not side effects from a Seresto collar, there may be something else going on with your dog. If this is a sudden change that you have noticed, it would be best to have her seen by a veterinarian so that they can examine her and make sure she is okay. It may just be that there is a change in the weather, or this might be a short-term thing for her, but if it continues it would be best to have examined. I hope that all goes well for her.
July 13, 2020
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German Shepherd
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Sierra
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5 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Increased Appetite
My GSD is 5 year old female. She has always been a very picky eater. Since this summer (very hot and humid), her appetite is increased, i no longer have to tempt her with treats in her food. Also i've been giving her extra food. her poop looks normal. but i'm still worried, she looks thinner. Her energy is good and she seems happy. should i be worried?
Aug. 28, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
If Sierra seems to be maintaining her weight, not getting too heavy or too thin, you may not have anything to worry about, and this may be normal for her. If she seems to be gaining weight or losing weight, than it would be a good idea to have her examined by a veterinarian to make sure that she doesn't have a problem.
Aug. 28, 2018
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Belgian Malinois
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Emmylou
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1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Circling, Pacing, Thirst
Tries To Eat The Paint Off The Wall
Tries To Eat The Paint On The Wall
Eats The Toilet Paper
My dog seems like she’s always starving. Wondering if there is something more severe wrong with her. I adopted her 8 months ago and she had heart worms but as of June 2nd, we got a rid of them but I’m still concerned
June 8, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are many cases of increased appetite in dogs which may include hormonal conditions, malabsorption, other digestive issues, behaviour, pica, some infections, parasites among other causes; there is no one specific cause I can suggest without examining Emmylou first and possibly doing a few tests. You should review the diet to ensure that the food is breed, age appropriate and in a sufficient quantity and visit your Veterinarian for a general checkup and a discuss of the symptoms. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 9, 2018
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Maltese
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Rigby
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3 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Extreme Hunger
Gaining Weight
Eats Paper
Eats Plants
My dog is 3 years old Maltese rescue which I have had for 8 months. He is constantly hungry will eat paper, toilet paper, plants and munches on grass like a cow. It is just getting worse. He has gained 3 lbs since we got him. I brought him to the VET they found nothing wrong with his blood tests and stool sample which were all normal. I don't know if I should bring him back or what to do. It is getting uncontrollable.
June 4, 2018
0 Recommendations
You should return to your Veterinarian for another examination as other causes like hormonal conditions and others need to be ruled out; sometimes an increased appetite is purely behavioural and a dog will eat a lot just out of behaviour (no medical cause). These cases can be difficult because we need to be sure that we’ve ruled out all other causes before settling on a behavioural cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM https://wagwalking.com/training/not-eat-grass
June 5, 2018
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Schnoodle
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Bonzi
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8 Months
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My 8 month old Bonzi is practically begging for more food an hour or so after I feed him. I'm not sure if he is going through a growth spurt or what. I have been giving him a little extra when he begs and he eats it too. Is there another reason he could be begging for more food? He's been doing it at every meal for the last 3 days.
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Chihuahua
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Chula
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14 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Increased Hunger
My baby was diagnosed with CHF last year around October , with a heart murmur lV . She started benazapril QD at that time. This March she started having some fluid accumulation in her lungs and was started on pimobenden bid and furosemide QD. She has been extremely hyperactive and breathing very fast . She is always hungry and only seems to want to eat. She drinks plenty of water thank goodness, but nothing seems to make her happy except when she gets food. She started having seizures and had a stroke about two weeks ago and was started on keppra, she hasn’t had another seizure or stroke since then. I’m just wondering if this behavior is from the heart medication or is it just another symptom of her declining health and possible malabsorption of food due to her old age? I started just giving her half of the benazapril and pimobenden and she seems to have calmed down a bit , but is still always starving. Is it safe to half these meds? She seems to have responded well to the decrease in dose, but I don’t want to be harming her by doing so.
Increased Appetite Average Cost
From 121 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,600
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