Why is my Puppy always Hungry? 4 Signs

Puppy Always Hungry

Maybe you’re questioning why is my puppy always hungry. Sharing 4 signs to look for to see if your puppy is truly hungry and what to do.

Adopting a brand new puppy is always fun, as well as a learning experience. Even if you have a dog at home, you will notice new things in the puppy.

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Almost all young puppies will scarf down every bit of the food you put in their bowl. They eat every bit of it, but they eat it fast compared to adult dogs.

Watching this creates a scenario in which your puppy is hungry even when you are feeding food in bulk. You may start to worry about why my puppy is always hungry. Am I not feeding enough food to my puppy?

And many more questions start popping up in your mind. Don’t worry; we are here with a guide to answer all of your questions. 

First, find out if your puppy’s always hungry behavior is typical, or if there is something to worry about.

Is it normal for my puppy to always be hungry?

In most situations, the “always hungry” behavior of young puppies is normal.

It’s in their nature to demand even the last piece of the carrot off a cutting board. While on the other hand, there can be a chance that your puppy has some medical issue causing them to always be hungry.

There are just a few cases when a puppy is always hungry because of diabetes or Cushing disease, which is less common in young ones.

But wait, how will dog parents differentiate whether their puppy is hungry or just greedy? Further reading of the blog will unlock more guidance for the dog parents.

Is puppy hungry or greedy?

Before jumping to any conclusion, know that dogs are highly obsessed with food. 

If food is near them, dogs will eat it for sure, whether hungry or full. Don’t judge them; they have this behavior because they are not sure if they will find their next meal or not.

But still, it’s part of being a dog parent to learn about ignoring the big begging eyes, and it isn’t very easy.

We know carrying too much weight is not suitable for the puppy because it may increase the risk of diabetes.

1. Quality food

Purchasing branded dog food or cooking food at home is highly recommended. Select food that is rich in protein and all essential nutrients. If your puppy is eating nutritious food it is less likely to be hungry all the time.

2. Appropriate quantity

Almost all dog food products come with basic instructions for specifying the quantity to be fed.

Also, the information is all there according to the weight of the puppies. Follow these guidelines unless your vet is suggesting some additional amount.

3. Observe physical signs

A simple way is to see if your puppy is feeling underfed or not. You should not be able to see the ribs of your puppy; it’s a sign that your puppy has a healthy diet.

While on the other hand, if you are noticing the ribs even without touching the ribcage, your puppy is hungry and underfed.

Skinny puppies will show more hunger and will demand snacks all the time. Once a dog owner has gone through all of the mentioned steps and ruled out, such as feeding high-quality food in the right amount.

Now, the question is how to know if the puppy is hungry or it is just greedy? Keep reading and learn about the clear hunger signs in puppies.

How do you know if the puppy is hungry?

You are enjoying a TV show with a full bowl of food on your lap, and suddenly your puppy starts begging for the food.

Their big brown eyes, bowed down head, and little whimpering simultaneously starts convincing you to provide food.

But, how do you know if your puppy is hungry or it’s just showing its award-winning acting?

1. Notice the ribcage

As mentioned above, checking the ribcage is the best option to identify if your puppy is getting the right amount of food or not.

The ribcage acts as the best indicator of how much food your puppy is eating. The process is the same, run your fingers through the rib cage. If you can slightly feel the rib cage then your puppy is getting enough food.

While on the other hand, if the ribs are evident even without touch, you need to provide more food to the puppy.

2. Your puppy is active.

If you do not feel there is any change in your puppy’s activities, it’s a sign that you are feeding the right amount of food.

However, provide some extra food if your puppy is highly active and you are strict in its exercise hours. Accounting for the calories burned and intake can be a better approach to offering appropriate meals.

3. You missed a meal

There is a possibility that you were not home at the time of your puppy’s meal, and it got missed by you.

Then, it’s clear that your puppy is hungry, and it’s not acting. Not feeding your puppy at the right time can cause overfeeding and sometimes underfeeding.

Serving your puppy meals at a specific time is always a good option.

4. The puppy is extra excited about food

Noticing your puppy is happy and more than excited when you are about to feed it. It mostly happens when your puppy is hungry.

How many times should a puppy be fed?

• 6-12 weeks: Feed your puppy 4 meals a day. 
• 3-6 months: Feed your puppy 3 meals per day. Vets recommend feeding your puppy three times a day because it enhances digestion and keeps the energy consistent.
• 6-12 months: Feed your puppy 2 meals per day.