Should I give my puppy more food if he seems hungry

Should You Keep Feeding a Hungry Puppy? (Puppy Hunger Solved)

If you have a food-crazed puppy in your home, you may wonder just how hungry the average puppy should be.

Most puppies are excited for their meal times each day, but should they still be searching for more food afterwards?

We want to help you get to the bottom of your puppys constant hunger, so lets dive into the details of a standard puppy diet, and what could cause them to be so hungry all the time.

Whether or not you should keep feeding a hungry puppy depends on several factors. It it important to consider their current nutritional intake, age, rate of growth, and health before determining whether more food is appropriate.

Do Puppies Need A Special Diet?

If you have a growing puppy in your family, you will need to make sure they are eating a diet formulated for their age range.

• Puppies require food created specifically for dogs under the age of 1, as they need additional calories and nutrients to keep up with their growing bodies.

Puppy food is fortified with each ingredient a puppy needs to grow big and strong.

Puppy diets include added calories, specific amino acids, balanced fats, and more calcium than the average adult dog food.

If a puppy does not consume a diet that is made for their age range, they can run into developmental issues down the line.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you are feeding a puppy diet that is created for their size. For example, if you have a large breed puppy, you will want to feed them a diet that is created for large breed pups.

Do Puppies Need To Eat More Than Adult Dogs?

Not only should puppies eat a diet that is made specifically for their age range, but they will also need to consume more calories to keep up with their growth requirements.

While each type of kibble will have feeding guidelines on the package, there are some standard guidelines to follow.

Lets insert a puppy feeding guideline chart below for their daily serving of food:

Be sure to always look at the feeding instructions on the package of kibble you choose for your pup, as there will be an accurate feeding chart based on that specific diet.

Additional Info AKC

How Many Times A Day Should I Feed My Puppy?

Youre now aware of the general amount of food you should feed your puppy as they grow, but you will also need to break their daily feeding amount into multiple meals.

Not only is a puppys stomach unable to hold as much food as a time when they are growing, but they will need extra boosts of energy throughout the day to protect them from low blood sugar.

A puppy that is anywhere from 6 weeks to 5 months will need to have their food broken into 3-4 meals a day, and a puppy over 6 months of age will typically do just fine with 2-3 meals per day.

Just keep in mind that the smaller the breed, the more meals they require, as they are more at risk of developing a low blood sugar with big gaps in between their meals.

5 Reasons Why Your Puppy Is Always Hungry?

Now that weve discussed the standard feeding guidelines for puppies, its time to dive into the reasons why your puppy may still be hungry after their feedings.

Ranging from underfeeding to underlying health conditions, lets discuss the potential causes below!

1. Food Is Exciting

If it seems like your puppy is licking their food bowl clean after each meal and wagging their tail for more, it could just be because eating is exciting to them.

Most puppies just love to eat, and dont want the fun to stop once they finish their meal. It also takes a few minutes for your puppy to process that they are full, so this could lead to them acting as if they want more food directly after they have finished.

2. We Are Reinforcing The Behavior

If you always give into your puppy and offer them more food after their meals, they may have grown to expect it now. Many of our dogs bad behaviors are a result of us reinforcing them accidentally, and this could be the case with our growing puppies.

If you know you are feeding your puppy an appropriate amount for their weight and age range, try standing strong the next time they beg for more food. After about a week of you doing so, they should finally accept that it is no longer a part of their routine.

3. They Are Not Being Fed Enough

If you are not following the standard guidelines for feeding, then it is possible that you arent feeding your puppy enough.

This is also possible if you have an extremely active puppy that is constantly burning calories, as they may need more food to keep up with their energy output. You can either refer to the chart we listed above for a general guideline for feedings, as well as reaching out to your vet for guidance.

4. They Are In The Middle Of A Growth Spurt

Does it seem like your puppy grew a foot overnight? If this is the case for your rapidly growing puppy, then it may be time to increase their feeding amounts.

Our pups need a lot of fuel to keep up with their growing bodies, so they may simply require a few more calories to be satisfied throughout the day.

5. Underlying Health Conditions

Some underlying health conditions in puppies can increase their hunger levels each day. These conditions include intestinal parasites, malnourishment, and even nausea leading to pica.

While these issues are always possible, they are typically accompanied by other noticeable symptoms.

Any of the above conditions can lead to weight loss, lethargy, shifting appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and a dull coat. If you notice any abnormal symptoms in your puppy, we suggest having them seen by your vet right away.

Additional Info PetMd

Am I Feeding My Puppy Enough?

We went over the standard feeding guidelines for puppies above, but there are other ways to make sure you are giving your puppy an appropriate amount of food.

To make sure your puppy is within a healthy weight range, lets list a few questions you should ask yourself when looking at your pup:

• Can I easily feel my puppys ribs when petting them? (This is a good thing, as we dont want out puppies to have so much fat that we cannot easily feel their ribs)

• Can I see the outline of my puppies ribs? (If so, this could mean they are slightly underweight)

• When looking at my puppy when standing over them, do I see a slight waistline or a drastic waistline? (A slight waistline is normal, while a drastic waistline could mean they are underweight)

• Does my puppy have a belly that sags or droops when looking at them from the side? (If so, they could be a bit overweight)

If you asked yourself the questions above and your pup doesnt have any concerning traits to their appearance, then you are likely feeding your puppy just enough.

However, if your puppy could be either underweight or overweight based on these questions, we suggest having them seen by your vet for guidance on their feeding amounts going forward.

Should I Give My Puppy More Food If They Are Hungry?

So if your puppy is still hungry, should you give them more food? The answer to this question will vary based on the situation.

To make sure you act accordingly when your puppy begs for more food, lets list when it is and isnt appropriate to give your puppy more food.

You can give your puppy more food if:

• They are growing at a rapid rate, as they often need an increase in feeding amounts
• If it has been more than an hour since their last meal and they are still appearing hungry
• They are at a healthy weight and they are active each day, as they may need a slight increase in feeding amounts
• You have had them cleared of any underlying health conditions

You should hold off on giving your puppy more food if:

• They have just finished their food, as they may not realize they are full yet
• Your vet says they are overweight for their age range and wants you to follow strict feeding guidelines
• You have gotten approval for their feeding amounts based on their weight and age
• They are displaying signs of an underlying health condition, as we suggest seeking veterinary guidance in this situation.

If your puppy falls into the category of holding off on food, it does not mean they cant get more food, but we simply suggest reaching out to your vet first.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes our puppies just love food, while other times we actually need to increase their feeding amounts.

Be sure to review the feeding chart and causes of hunger we discussed above, and you can make the best decision regarding your pups meals going forward.

My Puppy Is Always Hungry: 5 Reasons For This & How To Help

When you become an owner of a new puppy, you want to take the best care of him possible. We all want to ensure our furry friends are happy and healthy and, of course, well-fed.

The problem is, we have a soft spot for puppy dog eyes and our dogs seem to know it. They will stare right into our souls whenever they feel like another treat and this can end up being quite often.

Not to mention the times our dogs scarf down any tiny bits of food weve placed in their bowl or scavenge through our trash cans!

This behavior has made me think that my puppy is always hungry, no matter how much I feed him. This ended up being a false alarm, as there are more reasons why our dogs seem to ask for food all the time, and the culprit isnt always hunger.

This article is for you if you, too, have been baffled by the My puppy is always hungry! realization. We have gathered a list of the many reasons our dogs might be asking us for food. Youll be surprised to find out that you might not be dealing with a hungry puppy after all.

Heres what weve found:

Why Is My Puppy Always Hungry?

My puppy is always hungry is a sentence most veterinarians hear all the time. Puppies of all dog breeds seem to have an increased appetite and always behave as if they havent had enough food.

But what about when you have the same problem with an adult dog or even a senior one? And how can you know if youre giving your puppy the right amount of dog food?

If youre thinking: My puppy is always hungry why is this happening? here are some of the possible reasons behind this behavior:

Adapting to a Schedule

If you have a new puppy that always seems hungry, chances are youre feeding him at a different schedule than the breeder.

When you take a puppy into his new forever home, youre making huge changes in his life overnight. This leaves them not just having to adjust to a new living environment, but their body might also require some time to adjust.

Newborn puppies have a feeding source available right there next to them, in the shape of their mother. Most breeders dont entirely switch their puppies to dry food until they go to their new homes, which is why this is such a shock to their digestive tract.

Suddenly, your puppy is going from a constant supply of food to eating only two to four times a day. This is a huge change for him, and you have to train him that hell get food according to a schedule.

Over time, your puppy should stop begging you for food all the time, and hell learn that hell get it at a specific time and not whenever he asks.

Instincts

If youre thinking: My puppy is always hungry, no matter how much he eats, chances are that this is because of his instincts.

In the wild, dogs are opportunistic eaters. They can spend days without any access to food. As a result, when they do manage to find food, theyll eat as much as they can. This is the same reason many dogs express food aggression. They wont share their food, as they require it to survive.

Many wild dogs and wolves will scavenge for food and bury any leftovers so they can have them later. Does that sound familiar? If your dog is constantly trying to dig in the trash can, he is simply following his survival instincts.

Regular feeding can help teach them that they wont starve if they dont eat all the time. However, this wont help a dogs insatiable appetite, and you have to be the one to control how much they eat and when.

Survival Mode

If you have an adult dog that is always hungry, chances are you adopted him when he was older than a few months. A dogs food-seeking behavior tends to be due to his upbringing.

If your puppy has spent some time as a stray, theyve likely learned that they have to eat a lot to survive. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is challenging to stop, but if you stick to a feeding schedule, you can teach him that he wont stay hungry.

Youve Reinforced This Behavior

Have you succumbed to the puppy eyes your dog has been giving you? If youve given him table scraps when he begged you for some, then youre partially to blame for this bad behavior.

If your dog realizes hell get food when he begs for it, hell keep on doing this, even when that annoys you. This is why you should never give in to your dogs pleas no matter how adorable he is.

A good idea is to lock your dog in another room when youre eating. This will stop him from wanting to beg, and it will keep you from giving him just a bite. You have to teach him that begging doesnt achieve anything.

Health Problems

Unfortunately, sometimes the answer to your puppys never-ending hunger is health problems. If youve noticed: My dog is always hungry and losing weight, he might be having problems with parasites, or there might be medical causes behind it.

Parasites are especially common in puppies. In fact, some puppies are even born with a parasitic infection they inherit from their mothers.

Worms are the most common parasites in dogs. They will stick onto the intestinal walls and absorb all the nutrients from the food your dog eats. This can lead to an increased appetite and malnutrition.

Cushings disease or hyperadrenocorticism is another health issue that can cause an increased appetite. If a dog has this disease, his body will produce too much glucocorticoid, a stress-regulating hormone. Too much glucocorticoid causes your dog to be hungry all the time.

Diabetes can affect dogs of any age. Dogs with diabetes will lack insulin, which normally helps glucose get into the blood cells. As a result, your pup isnt getting enough nutrients.

Hyperthyroidism is another reason your dog might be eating a lot without any weight gain. This condition occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, making your dog hungry all the time.

If youre wondering: My puppy is always hungry, but why isnt he gaining any weight? it would be a good idea to take him to the local vet, who might be able to rule out any of these health concerns.

Keep in mind that young puppies have a much faster metabolism than older dogs. They can eat a lot without weight gain. However, if you notice they are becoming underweight, this is a red flag.

How Much Food Does My Puppy Need?

While you may worry that your puppy is hungry all the time, how can you know if youre giving him enough food? Understanding a dogs nutritional needs is very important when creating a feeding schedule, as it can tell you when is the time for the next meal.

Overfeeding is just as bad for your puppys health as underfeeding, and you need to help him create good eating habits. Many dog owners think nothing bad will happen if they give their puppy one more treat, but this couldnt be further from the truth.

The smartest thing would be to talk to your vet about the right amount of food your puppy requires. Most of the time, this will depend on things such as dog breed and size and his activity levels. Large breeds that are active will require more calories than small lap dogs.

Here are the most important facts all pet parents should know:

How Many Mealtimes Per Day?

If you have a small puppy, be prepared to feed him about four times a day. Puppies require lots of small meals as their metabolism is faster, which is also the reason puppies will want to poop much more often than adult dogs.

As he grows older or becomes overweight, this is a sign that he is overeating and that its time to cut down a meal. An older puppy should be fed 2 to 3 times a day.

Adult dogs should eat no more than twice a day unless they are working dogs with higher activity levels. Active dogs require more small meals a day as this can provide them with enough energy to go through their day.

Food Needs

The amount of dog food required will depend mostly on the size of your dog. This should make sense. A large dog should eat more than small breeds.

However, the main indicator of how much food a puppy should eat is his weight.

For example, a 10-pound German Shepherd puppy will require 2 cups of food daily (not per meal!), and a 40-pound Labrador puppy will still require 5 cups of puppy food even though an adult German Shepherd will likely require more food than an adult Labrador.

On the other hand, a small, 5-pound Chihuahua puppy will need no more than one cup of food per day. A 10-pound Bulldog puppy will also require 2 cups of food, just like a 10-pound German Shepherd pup.

This is because a growing puppy requires a good amount of food, no matter how large hell grow up to be. However, this can change in adult dogs, as youll notice his behavior and how active he is throughout the day.

The daily calorie intake will depend on the dogs activity levels. A working dog cannot eat the same food as a dog whos being kept as a family pet. They will require more calories and high-quality dog food without any fillers.

Fillers can lead to obesity as they contain empty calories that wont do much for a hungry dog. Theyll make him feel full, but wont provide him with any energy, so your dog will end up feeling hungry again in a matter of hours.

Keep in mind that puppies should eat wet food until they are old enough to chew on a kibble. For large dogs, this is usually when they reach 10 weeks of age. Smaller dog breeds have smaller teeth, which is why they might not be prepared for dry food until they are at least 14 weeks old.

How Do I Know My Puppy Is Eating Enough?

When I was still an inexperienced dog owner, I noticed that my puppy was always hungry, but I didnt know whether he had bad habits when it comes to eating or if I wasnt feeding him enough.

Young puppies especially can have a bloated tummy, which can make us think they are overweight, even if theyre not eating enough.

Fortunately, there are ways to notice whether your puppy is underweight or overweight. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when looking at your pup:

1.Can I easily see his ribs?

2. Can I easily feel his ribs?

3. When I look at my dog from above, do I see his waistline?

4. Does my puppys abdomen sag when looking from the side?

The answers to these questions will tell you everything you need to know. Well elaborate:

If you can see your puppys ribs, this is a clear sign that youre not feeding him enough. Dont go overboard or give him human food. Just increase the amount of puppy food youre already giving him

If you can easily feel your pups ribs, it might be a good idea to give him a bit more food every day. However, if he has a fine layer of fat over his ribs, this means youre doing fine.

If your puppy has a clear waistline when looking from above, this means he is perfectly healthy. Underfed puppies have a too slender waist, while overfed ones tend to not have a clear waistline at all.

If a puppy has a saggy gut, they are probably a bit overweight. This alone shouldnt be a cause for concern, though. Most puppies, just like babies, have a little bit of tummy fat. However, you might want to lower the amount of food youre giving them by just a bit.

If your puppy doesnt have a waist and has a really saggy tummy, he is venturing into obesity, and you should lower the amount of puppy food youre giving him. If you think your puppy is really overweight, you might even want to take him to the vet.

Of course, all puppies are different, and some dog breeds will always look chubbier than others. However, these guidelines are a general rule of thumb that can help you determine whether your dog is eating too much or too little.

Bad Habits

Many pet owners make mistakes when feeding their pets. They do this out of best intentions, as they simply cannot stand the thought of their beloved companion being hungry for a second.

However, if you let your dog develop bad eating habits, youll do more harm than good.

Here are some things you should avoid:

Not Having a Feeding Schedule

If you dont have a feeding schedule, your pup will likely behave as if he is constantly hungry. This is because theyll develop anxiety out of not knowing when their next meal will be.

Puppies will know exactly when its dinner time once youve started feeding them on a schedule. However, if they know theyll get food whenever they ask for it, theyll never stop begging.

Feeding Dogs Table Scraps

Giving human food and table scraps to your dog is always a terrible idea, especially if you have a growing puppy. This makes it challenging to keep track of what your dog is eating.

Of course, this means your entire family has to be with you on this. If youre feeding your pooch on a schedule, but your father is giving him table scraps without you knowing, your dog might end up overweight, and you wont know the reason behind it.

Overfeeding

We cannot stress this enough: overfeeding is the main reason dogs become obese. While chubby puppies might look cute, there is nothing healthy about having an obese dog.

Obesity can lead to many problems, especially in large breeds prone to orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia.

My Puppy Is Always Hungry Can I Prevent Begging?

Depending on whats causing your dog to constantly ask for more food, you might find it easy or challenging to stop this bad habit and his constant food cravings.

Overall, the best possible thing is to stick to your feeding schedule, no matter the event or the behaviors your dog is expressing. As time goes by, your dog will learn that hell only eat when its mealtime.

There are a couple of things you might want to try if you want to speed up these efforts:

Give More Frequent Meals

When you bring a new puppy home, you should give him many small meals. As mentioned before, four meals should be enough. This will ease his transition from breastfeeding. As time goes by and your puppy gets used to eating wet food, lower the number of daily meals.

If you suddenly make your puppy eat two meals a day, his body will be in shock, and hell have cravings most of the time. This isnt something youd want.

Add Water to the Kibble

When a puppy starts eating dry food, he might not be used to it. This can make him eat more or less of it than he should, which will make him hungry all day long.

However, if you add some water to his kibble, youll ensure he is hydrated enough. He might even eat slower than he normally would, which will help his tummy feel full.

As he grows older, reduce the amount of water until you leave him with nothing but kibbles. This is the healthiest way to ensure he is eating the right amount of food and that his transition to dry food goes well.

Use Some Type of Obstacle

One of the reasons your puppy might be feeling hungry all the time is that he is eating too fast. The same happens with humans. The faster you eat your food, the more food youll think you need.

If you make an obstacle, youll make your pup eat slower. This doesnt have to be something complicated. Adding a cup in the middle of the feeding bowl can be enough. Your puppy will have to eat around it, which will make him eat slower than he normally would.

You can even find many specially designed food bowls made for fast eaters. These can also help prevent bloating or calm down puppies that get overly excited during mealtime.

Consult Your Vet

If you feel like there is something wrong with your puppy and his eating habits, you might want to consult your vet just to be on the safe side.

Unfortunately, there are some medical causes behind the constant hunger some puppies feel. While they are rare, and most of the time, your puppy is simply excited about his food, it isnt a bad idea to check with a professional. This can help you sleep calmly.

The Final Word

All puppies have unique needs. Before you think, My puppy is always hungry, am I doing something wrong? you should take a good look at him. Is he too big or too small for his age? If he isnt, then the reason is pure bad behavior or instincts.

However, if your puppy seems overweight or underweight, you might want to change the amount of food youre giving him. Proper nutrition is essential for your dogs future health.

Fortunately, if you do a bit of research and closely monitor your pups weight, you shouldnt have any problems helping him develop healthy eating habits and with that, a healthy future.

If your puppy is being annoying and constantly begging for food, the most important thing is to not give in to his begging. Never break the feeding routine, and dont give him table scraps. This will help him understand that hell only eat according to a schedule and not when he begs for long enough.

Finally, there is nothing wrong with consulting a professional behaviorist, especially if your puppys behavior has become too challenging to handle.

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