If you are a seasoned dog parent, you will know the significance of a regular feeding schedule. Newbies might find it tricky because it is easy to give in to a pet who looks at you with imploring eyes. But you shouldn’t link food with love for your canine companion, as overfeeding can do more harm than good. Once you follow your vet’s diet recommendations and monitor your pet’s diet, you will know how much is enough. Yet, some dogs always seem to act hungry.
Voracious eaters are hard to deal with. You may feed them on time and give some extra treats, but it seems your pet can never get enough. Even worse, you may end up feeding it more than its needs only to get over the guilt. Remember that you must stick with feeding schedules and portion sizes in control to maintain your pet’s health. It may take some effort if you have an ever-hungry canine to handle, but you must follow a pattern. Here are some expert-recommended tips that can help.
Get to Exploring With Your Pet
Like kids, dogs cannot control their appetite. You cannot expect them to understand when it is time to stop. The simplest way to deal with a hungry dog is by providing them with activities to do throughout the day if it seems like they too much into food. Meaningful distractions can take their mind off food and hunger- perhaps the only thing they have to look forward to.
You may consider indulging in activities they enjoy. Taking your dog out for an exploratory walk to a new neighborhood, part of town or or drive is a good idea. Let them sniff until their heart is content! New sights, new smells and new experiences are all ways to enrich how full your pet can be!
Playing with kids and training sessions also help you distract the pet. It also gives you a chance to spend quality time together. The good thing about using exercise and walks as distraction strategies are that they help with weight management. There are good chances that overeating may lead to excess weight gain. But physical workouts deliver the dual benefits of keeping your pet busy and healthy.
Schedule a Vet Visit
Some dogs are inherently voracious eaters, while others change habits over time. If you notice a sudden increase in your per’s appetite, a medical condition could be the culprit. You should be even more concerned if the animal is eating a lot yet not gaining weight. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, and Cushing’s disease can cause excess hunger in dogs.
Internal parasites can also cause a sudden increase in hunger levels in canines. A change in your pet’s eating patterns may not seem like a serious issue, but you must schedule a vet visit right away. The specialist may ask you to wait and watch and follow some behavioral changes. Alternatively, they could recommend diagnostic tests right away if something seems amiss.
Consider a Diet Switch
Your vet will probably recommend a diet switch for a hungry canine, whether healthy or sick. You may try some common-sense changes at home even before visiting the specialist. Ideally, Raw Dog Food will keep your pet full. It strengthens bones and immunity, improves skin coat health, and ensures dental health. You can double the benefits of raw food by adding fiber-rich vegetables like carrots and green beats to the canine diet. It becomes a nutritious and filling food combination that keeps the animal satiated for longer. The good thing is that it satisfies cravings without packing on the pounds. Veggies make excellent fillers between meals too. Also, make sure it has enough water during the day.
Feed More Often
If your dog acts hungry more often than it should, feeding it frequently makes sense. Multiple small meals instead of one or two big ones is a better alternative. It keeps the animal busy and satisfied throughout the day. But you can make up for the extra sessions by cutting down on the portion size. Do not rely on your judgment while deciding the ideal portion size for the pet. Speak with your vet to figure out the exact requirements for the day and divide the recommended quantity into smaller meals. Make sure that you do not exceed the total daily serving. The last thing you want to handle is an overweight pet, so be judicious about feeding multiple meals.
Cut Back on Treats
The worst thing you can do for an over-hungry dog is double up on treats. You may spoil them by rewarding them with food every time they obey your orders. It can actually lead to an increase in appetite over time. If your dog is habitual to frequent treats, make sure it unlearns that behavior. Avoid using food treats for positive reinforcement, and opt for other alternatives like kind words, playtime, toys, and hugs. If the animal still expects treats, switch to veggies because these are low on calories and high on nutrients. Count treat calories to ensure you do not cross the daily limits.
Free Entertainment
Remember how bored and small life became when we were all stuck in lockdown. Minimal distractions and not much variety to grab our attention externally. Dogs and domesticated animals enjoy variety too! If you have a screendoor- use it, a window overlooking a street, pull back the curtain, live on a quiet street- install a bird feeder and let your pup enjoy watching the comings and goings of birds, people and squirrels. Also, theres such thing as dog tv, the radio and and regular TV. Explore and see what brings your pup joy!
Never Give in to Begging
As a rule, you must never give in to begging, no matter how much you love your furry companion. Overfeeding may even make the dog hungrier, so send out the message loud and clear the first time it begs for food. Dogs are creatures of habit, and you can condition them with rules and discipline. Let the animal know that it will get food only at the right time. Be firm every time, and you will not have to struggle with overfeeding issues. Also, avoid feeding human food to the canine because it can be harmful and even dangerous for these animals.
As a dog parent, you are responsible for keeping the pet healthy and happy. Balanced nutrition and a proper feeding schedule get you on the right track. But canine appetite is susceptible to fluctuations, and you should be concerned every time you notice a change. While underfeeding is a concern, you cannot overlook voracious appetite too. It is as much a problem as low appetite is. If your dog seems to be hungry at all times, you must take it to a vet sooner rather than later. At the same time, follow these simple measures to handle the concern with the right kind of training.
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