Golden retrievers have a reputation for having a strong interest in food, and you may find them always hungry. However, when their hunger becomes excessive and persistent, it may indicate an issue that requires further investigation.
The main reason for your golden retriever being always hungry could be due to an inappropriate diet or not being fed properly. Other reasons include stress, boredom, pregnancy, medication reaction, aging, a cold living environment, and a serious underlying medical condition.
It’s crucial to ensure that your golden retriever’s persistent hunger isn’t associated with a serious medical condition that can affect their longevity and well-being. Let’s look at the possible reasons, symptoms, diagnosis, tips, and more!
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What is Increased Appetite?
In medical terms, increased appetite is known as polyphagia or hyperphagia. Hunger and satiety, the feeling of being full after eating, are regulated by the central nervous system (CNS) in humans and animals.
According to research, appetite and satiety are controlled via neuronal and hormonal signals.
Another study indicates that the neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) produced in the brain stimulates appetite, which can also lead to weight gain.
With abnormalities in the CNS, your dog may have an increased appetite. Identifying the primary reason behind their increased hunger may be a complex process, as polyphagia can be caused by many other factors too.
Why do golden retrievers eat so much?
Various factors, including physiological, psychological, and environmental influences, can cause increased appetite.
Physiological causes may include aging, pregnancy, low-quality/poor diet, metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalances, or medications for underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or gastrointestinal issues.
Psychological factors such as stress or anxiety can also contribute to increased appetite.
Additionally, environmental factors like increased physical activity, changes in routine, environmental temperatures, or exposure to food-related cues (like taste and smell) can trigger heightened hunger.
Types of Polyphagia
Polyphagia (increased appetite) can be categorized into three types.
1. Primary Polyphagia
This type is rare and is caused by the destruction of the satiety center in the brain, often due to hypothalamic tumors, infection in the CNS, or injury to the head.
It is typically accompanied by other signs like blindness, seizures, weakness, and behavioral changes that indicate a central nervous system disease.
2. Secondary Polyphagia
This is the more common form of polyphagia and is often a result of underlying diseases or an improper diet (low-nutrient meals).
Various medical conditions like diabetes, pancreatic endocrine insufficiency, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, and digestive issues like intestinal parasites and inflammatory bowel syndrome can lead to an excessive appetite in dogs.
3. Drug-Induced Polyphagia
Certain medications can cause an increase in food intake due to their side effects. Some of them are listed below.
- Corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory)
- Anti-seizure drugs
- Glucocorticoid hormones (type of steroid)
- Benzodiazepines (treatment of anxiety and behavioral disorders)
- Progestins
- Antihistamines (for allergies)
Symptoms of Increased Appetite in Dogs
Watching out for the symptoms of increased appetite in dogs is crucial to identify and address the underlying cause. The following indicators necessitate immediate veterinary attention for your dog.
- Alterations in weight, including both weight loss and weight gain
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Demonstrating behavior that signifies constant hunger, like persistent begging or scavenging
- Lack of energy
- Abdominal bloating or shrinkage of muscle
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Possible Reasons Why Your Golden Retriever is Always Hungry
Do golden retrievers eat a lot? Well, golden retrievers love to eat, but this relentless hunger can be distressing for both the dog and its owner, as it disrupts the normal feeding routine and can lead to overfeeding or unhealthy dietary habits.
Let’s look at the possible reasons why your golden retriever is always hungry.
1. They Need To Be Fed More
If a golden retriever is not receiving enough food or is being provided with a portion too small for their size and activity level, they may experience constant hunger.
Feeding your dog an appropriate amount of high-quality dog food based on age, weight, and energy requirements is essential. After all, your dog needs a sufficient amount of food daily to fulfill their energy requirements.
For instance, the daily calorie requirement for a super-active young dog will be higher than for an older dog living a sedentary life. It’s better to discuss daily calorie intake with your vet for your golden retriever.
Another obvious reason could be that you switched your pup from puppy food to adult food too early. Since adult food is not as nutritionally dense as puppy food, you may have to deal with a hungry golden retriever puppy.
RECOMMENDED READING: When Should My Golden Retriever Puppy Switch To Adult Food?
2. Underlying Diseases or Illnesses
If your golden retriever is always hungry, it can be because of underlying diseases or illnesses that never grab our attention in normal situations. Some of them are as below.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that appears when the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels due to a low amount of insulin production or inability to utilize insulin effectively.
In addition to symptoms like excessive thirst, weight loss, and frequent urination, you will also notice your golden retriever has an increased appetite because their body isn’t able to get all the required glucose, an important energy source.
Hypoglycemia, known as low blood sugar levels, can also trigger excessive hunger in dogs as they crave more to bring their sugar levels back to normal.
If you suspect your golden retriever has diabetes, it’s essential to consult your vet for proper diagnosis and management.
Central Nervous System Lesion
If the part of the central nervous system that controls appetite and satiety is damaged due to an injury or disease like a tumor, it can affect your dog’s appetite regulation.
Cushing’s Disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
Cushing’s disease is generally caused when the adrenal gland releases a lot of stress hormones (cortisol). Increased cortisol levels stimulate appetite.
Therefore, your dog may be excessively hungry and thirsty and urinate more.
Malabsorption of Nutrients
Infections or intestinal parasites can disrupt the proper absorption of nutrients, leaving your dog feeling perpetually hungry.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Various gastrointestinal disorders can cause your golden retriever to always be hungry.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a condition where cells responsible for producing digestive hormones don’t work properly. As a result, your dog may be extremely hungry.
Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) causes the muscles of the intestines not to function normally and can also cause increased appetite.
Hyperthyroidism
The release of increased levels of thyroid hormones leads to a higher metabolism, which can lead to your dog always feeling hungry.
Some other common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are increased thirst, urination, and lethargy.
3. Living in Colder Environments
If you live in a colder area with your fellow golden retriever, you will notice their constant hunger as they need more nutrients to keep themselves warmer.
In a study conducted on husky and beagle dogs, their daily caloric intake increased during winter and decreased during summer.
4. Boredom or Stress
Dogs may exhibit increased appetite due to boredom or stress. When dogs are not mentally stimulated or lack physical activity, they may eat to alleviate boredom. They may even start showing inappropriate behavior.
RELATED: When Do Golden Retriever Puppies Get Easier?
Providing your golden retriever with regular exercise, mental stimulation, and interactive toys can help prevent excessive hunger due to boredom.
Furthermore, they may be stressed about moving to a new place, changing furniture in your house, or adopting a new pet.
Just like some of us binge eat when we stress, dogs can do the same to cope with stress. You can take guidance from your vet on this.
5. Separation Anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety may experience heightened stress and anxiety when left alone for a long period or when you haven’t been spending quality time with them lately.
This can lead to increased appetite as a coping mechanism. They may seek comfort in food during periods of separation.
Your golden retriever may exhibit these signs of separation anxiety.
RELATED: Why Is My Golden Retriever Puppy Being Aggressive?
Also Read: Why Do Golden Retrievers Bark So Much?
You can read the tips here for dealing with your dog’s separation anxiety. Working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist can also help address the underlying issue and develop the right plan.
6. Not Getting Enough Nutrients From Their Diet
If a dog’s diet lacks essential nutrients or is of poor quality, they may not feel satiated even after eating. A low-quality or imbalanced diet can also lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Feed your golden retriever a well-balanced diet that meets their specific dietary needs. Always look at the ingredients before buying dog food and ensure they are high-quality.
Consulting a veterinarian or a canine nutritionist can help you select the proper diet for your dog.
7. The Aging Process
Is your older dog suddenly hungry all the time? As dogs age, they may not be as physically active as they used to be, which can lead to obesity.
In fact, a study suggests that triglycerides (a type of fat) were higher in older dogs.
Since they won’t have anything else to do than rest, they will probably have food on their mind round the clock. Just like we humans binge eat when we’re bored.
However, some senior dogs may still exhibit an increased appetite due to reduced nutrient absorption or underlying health conditions.
Your dog’s face may also start turning white when they start aging. Other aging symptoms include increased thirst, lethargy, coughing, and smelly breath.
RELATED: Do Golden Retriever Puppies Change Color?
Regular veterinary check-ups and adjusting the diet to meet the specific needs of senior dogs are a must.
8. Medication Reaction
As we discussed above, one of the side effects of certain medications is increased appetite.
For example, corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory), anti-seizure drugs, glucocorticoid hormones (type of steroid), benzodiazepines (treatment of anxiety and behavioral disorders), progestins, and antihistamines (for allergies) can lead to excessive hunger.
If your golden retriever has recently started taking new medicines, it’s worth discussing with your vet whether appetite changes could be related to medication side effects.
They may change their medication if necessary or share useful tips with you to control their hunger.
9. Natural Opportunists
Golden retrievers are natural scavengers and opportunistic eaters, which means they may constantly search for food, even when they are not truly hungry. No wonder they are called retrievers.
Their instincts can influence this behavior and may seem like an insatiable appetite to you. However, you can talk to your vet about this behavior, and they will help you address it efficiently.
10. Pregnancy
If you’re wondering, “Why is my female dog always hungry all of a sudden? It could mean that she is pregnant, which can be confirmed with an ultrasound or a pregnancy test to measure her hormone levels.
Due to pregnancy, she may experience an increased appetite as her body requires more energy to support the developing puppies.
Research says that you should expect a gradual increase in caloric intake and body weight as the pregnancy progresses.
Even lactating dogs may eat a lot to meet their high-energy needs and may return to normal when their puppies are completely weaned, which is also when puppies can leave their mother.
RELATED: When Can Golden Retriever Puppies Leave Their Mother?
It’s essential to provide her with a well-balanced diet specifically formulated for pregnant and lactating dogs and consult a veterinarian for guidance throughout pregnancy and even postpartum.
Why It’s Bad for Your Dog to Eat Too Much?
It is essential to avoid overfeeding your dog because it can have negative consequences on their health and well-being.
Following are some reasons why it is bad for your dog to overeat.
Obesity
Why is my overweight dog always hungry? If your dog has been overeating for quite some time now, they may have developed a habit of eating more.
In addition, petMD says that overfeeding can lead to obesity and reduce the production of a hormone (leptin) that controls hunger.
This way, your overweight dog may always be hungry.
Obesity can adversely impact the health and longevity of your golden retriever and lead to diabetes, orthopedic disease, cardiorespiratory disease, urinary disorders, reproductive disorders, mammary tumors, and dermatological diseases.
Digestive Issues
When dogs overeat, their digestive system may struggle to handle excess food, and its efficiency also declines. This causes digestive upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
Rapid or excessive eating can also increase the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a life-threatening condition where the stomach twists and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Pancreatitis
Dogs that eat a lot of fatty food in one sitting and those with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, an organ responsible for producing digestive enzymes.
Pancreatitis triggers the release of these enzymes as soon as they are released in the body, leading to inflammation and severe abdominal pain.
Pancreatitis requires prompt veterinary care and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Nutritional Imbalances
Dogs require a balanced diet to meet their dietary needs. When dogs overeat, they may consume excessive amounts of food without getting a balanced variety of nutrients.
Overeating can result in limited food variety and poor nutrient absorption, contributing to nutritional imbalances and malnutrition in dogs.
It’s essential to provide your dog with appropriate portions of a balanced diet to meet their nutritional requirements.
You can also follow your golden retriever feeding chart approved by your vet to avoid overfeeding and their well-being.
Behavioral Signs That Your Golden Retriever Needs More Food
Notice your golden retriever’s body language and behavior after feeding them, as it can tell if they need more food. This can be helpful for you to identify if they need to be checked by your vet, especially if you’ve already fed them a proper meal advised by your vet.
Look out for the following hunger signs exhibited by your dog.
1. Pacing Around You While You Eat
When your golden retriever paces around you while you’re eating, it indicates they are still hungry and hoping for more food. This behavior is often accompanied by intense staring, drooling, or nudging to get your attention.
RELATED: Do Golden Retrievers Drool?
Dogs have a very strong sense of smell, and the aroma of food can make them eager for additional nourishment.
2. Finishing Food Quickly
If your golden retriever rushes to finish their meal quickly, it suggests they expect to be fed more by you. They may gulp down their food without taking breaks and chewing correctly or eating frantically, hoping for more food.
3. Intense and Keen Look
Golden retrievers are known for their strong bond with their owners. The intense gaze and focused attention they give you after finishing their meal suggest they are trying to communicate their hunger and hope for an extra serving
You may also find your dog always hungry and panting near food, which is common in dogs to tell you they are hungry.
RELATED: Do Golden Retrievers Pant A Lot?
4. Increased Vocalization or Whining
When golden retrievers are hungry or unsatisfied with their food, they may increase their vocalizations to get your attention. They may start whining, whimpering, or barking more frequently than usual.
5. Exhibiting Scavenging Behavior
If your golden retriever can’t satisfy their hunger, they may exhibit scavenging behavior.
This can include rummaging through trash cans, searching for food on countertops, or attempting to steal food from other pets (if you have more in your household).
RELATED: Why Do Golden Retrievers Steal Things?
Diagnosis of Increased Appetite
Your vet will physically examine your dog by checking for, let’s say, abdominal enlargement and hair loss, which usually indicate an underlying health condition.
They will also ask how your dog has been behaving lately or what concerns you the most.
They will try to diagnose any underlying disease that may be causing their increased appetite by starting with the least-invasive procedures. For example, blood work, urine tests, stool tests, ultrasounds, x-rays, and CT/MRI scans.
They should show up any abnormalities in their health that may signal an underlying disease. Your vet might want an endoscopy done if nothing’s diagnosed with these tests.
Endoscopy allows direct visualization of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines and can help detect abnormalities such as inflammation, ulcers, or tumors.
Biopsies can also be obtained during endoscopy for further analysis.
How Will Your Vet Treat the Increased Appetite of Your Golden Retriever?
The treatment approach for increased appetite in dogs depends on the underlying cause identified by a veterinarian.
If the increased appetite results from medication, it may be a temporary side effect that diminishes over time without having to discontinue it. Your vet may also be able to recommend an alternative that doesn’t cause excessive appetite.
If insatiable appetite is due to learned behavior, your vet may recommend behavioral therapy to help your dog better cope with habitual eating patterns.
If your golden retriever wants to eat constantly due to stress or anxiety, your vet will diagnose the cause of stress or anxiety and help eliminate it.
If a serious underlying disease is present, it must be addressed to effectively resolve the appetite problem related to it.
For instance, diabetes may require insulin injections and adjustments to their diet. Parasitic infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Cancer may need to be treated through a procedure deemed most effective by your vet, like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Each case will require a tailored approach based on the specific diagnosis and the veterinarian’s recommendations.
How to Deal With a Dog That Is Always Hungry?
Once your vet has confirmed that your dog’s increased appetite isn’t linked to an underlying health condition, they will share at-home tips with you to better deal with their hunger.
Here are also some effective ways for you to better deal with your constantly hungry golden retriever.
1. Resist Giving In To Begging
It’s important not to give in to the temptation to overfeed your dog as they stare at you with their hard-to-resist puppy-dog eyes.
You should completely ignore them when they show begging behavior, but ensure you never scold or be rude to them. Alternatively, you can provide them with a safe chew toy or just a few frozen fruit treats.
RECOMMENDED READING: What Fruits Can Golden Retrievers Not Eat?
Your dog should be able to respond to basic obedience commands like “stop” or “leave”. If they behave well, you should reward them with praise, hugs, and some treats.
2. Increase Fiber in the Diet
Including fiber-rich foods in your dog’s diet can help them feel fuller for longer without adding excessive calories. Fiber is also ideal for maintaining a healthy weight and improving digestion.
Vegetables like carrots, green beans, and pumpkin and fruits like strawberries, apples, and mangoes are good sources of fiber that can be added to their meals or used as healthy snacks.
Remember not to give your golden retriever too much fiber, which may cause digestive issues.
3. Feed Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Instead of providing one or two large meals, consider feeding your dog multiple small meals throughout the day.
You must consult your vet to determine your dog’s appropriate daily food intake and divide it into smaller portions.
Feeding your dog in the morning, late afternoon, and before bedtime can help reduce their appetite throughout the day, but it’s best to discuss it with your vet.
4. Provide Distractions
Try diverting your dog’s attention away from hunger. Instead of always offering treats, engage them in activities like going for a car ride or a walk. Moreover, it is also an excellent opportunity to work on training exercises.
You can help reduce their cravings while spending quality time together by providing mental and physical stimulation. Additionally, exercise is beneficial for dogs that tend to overeat.
5. Ensure They Are Properly Fed
It’s essential to ensure that your golden retriever receives adequate food daily that includes sufficient protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals based on age, size, and activity level.
Consult your vet to determine your dog’s appropriate portion sizes and feeding frequency. Feeding them the right amount will help prevent excessive hunger and maintain their health.
6. Plan Physical Activities
Regular exercise is essential for dogs to maintain a healthy weight and burn off excess energy if you’ve been dealing with a hyper dog.
RECOMMENDED READING: Why Is My Golden Retriever So Hyper?
Engaging your dog in physical activities such as walks, playtime, or interactive games helps distract them from their constant hunger and provides mental and physical stimulation.
Physical activities can help curb their cravings out of boredom and promote overall well-being.
7. Make Adjustments to Feeding Habits
Consider adjusting your dog’s feeding habits to help manage their hunger. For example, a safe puzzle toy or a vet-recommended slow-feeder bowl can prolong mealtime and satisfy them.
These devices encourage slower eating and prevent gulping down food too quickly, which can contribute to a sense of constant hunger.
Additionally, feeding meals in a quiet and calm environment can help minimize distractions and allow your dog to focus on their food.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are golden retrievers prone to overeating?
Golden retrievers love food, but not all of them tend to overeat. They may have started overeating due to stress, learned behaviors, or an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and gastrointestinal disorders, which must be diagnosed by a vet.
2. How many times should a golden retriever eat?
Golden retrievers should typically eat at least twice a day, divided into morning and evening feedings. However, the specific feeding frequency and portion size may vary based on age, size, health condition, and activity level. Consulting with a vet can provide personalized recommendations for your dog.
3. How do you break a dog’s food obsession?
The best way to break a dog’s food obsession is by strictly following a food schedule. You should also ensure they follow basic obedience commands like “stop” and “leave” when they beg for food or try to grab a bite. Their positive behavior should always be rewarded with praise and a few treats.
Conclusion
For a golden retriever that’s always hungry, you should first ensure they are being fed high-quality food properly as per their nutritional needs. Consistent hunger can also be linked to underlying conditions, including hyperthyroidism, stress, and Cushing’s disease. It’s essential to get them checked by your vet to rule out any serious issues related to increased appetite.
Proper hydration is also necessary for your dog’s well-being. We recommend you read this article next – How Much Water Should a Golden Retriever Puppy Drink?