Why is My Golden Retriever Always Hungry?

Golden retriever

There are so many possible reasons why your Golden Retriever is always hungry. This post talks about the causes and solutions to this problem.

Golden retriever dog hungry

Is your Golden Retriever dog behaving differently to food? You might have landed on this post after noticing your dog starving even after eating. You must be wondering – Why is my golden retriever always hungry?

These changes in behavior could be due to various reasons. Some possible reasons are lack of sufficient nutrients, illness, diabetes, stress, and separation anxiety.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The breed is loyal, affectionate, family-friendly, and fun-loving. These are the personality traits that make them this popular.

Because of energetic and playful personality, you can have a fun time with your golden retriever for long hours. Golden Retrievers don’t get bored spending time with their owners.

With a high energy level comes great responsibility. This includes focusing on diet and regular exercise. As goldens are highly energetic, they need physical activities on a daily basis. Lack of enough physical activities can lead to excess barking, chewing, and destructive behavior.

Possible Reasons Why Your Goldie is Always Hungry

Let’s talk about possible reasons why your canine is always hungry:

Not getting sufficient nutrients from the diet

First things first, Golden Retriever is a highly energetic dog breed. Food quality and nutrients it gets from regular food creates a big impact. When an owner feeds low-quality food (just to save some bucks), the dog is likely

Cheap food does not fulfill hunger because it does not contain all the required nutrients. To keep a Golden stay happy and healthy, quality food is a must. Try feeding more nutritious food and you may notice changes.

Illness

Illness could be another possible reason why your golden retriever is always starving. Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel, intestinal cancer, and bacterial overgrowth are some diseases when golden retrievers always stay hungry. If you feel your canine is suffering from any illness, it’s best to consult with your vet.

Cut on treats

You might have built the habit of giving treats to your golden retriever. And your pup has perceived it as a part of their meal. The sudden cut down on treats or your Golden’s favorite chews can also be the possible reason behind hunger. If you want to minimize treats, consider using another method for rewarding (for example, play snuggle).

Separation anxiety

Separation is another possible cause behind excess hunger in golden retrievers. If your golden retriever dog eats too much when you are not around, separation anxiety could be the reason. What you can do is try to avoid leaving your pup alone for longer periods.

Boredom or stress

As we know golden retrievers are so energetic. To keep them happy, physical and mental stimulation are crucial. When a golden retriever doesn’t get enough exercise on a regular basis and is bored, he/she starts behaving differently. Stress could also be the possible cause behind it. See your pup’s daily lifestyle, find things that are causing stress, and try to avoid them.

Also Read: How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy?

How To Deal With A Hungry Golden Retriever?

There are various possible reasons why a golden retriever is hungry. Now, the question is – what are the solutions to this problem?

Firstly, you need to take your pup to your vet as there are possibilities that he/she may be hungry due to any medical condition (like diabetes, thyroid).

If the medical condition isn’t the reason behind hunger, there may be an issue with your Golden Retriever food or the diet routine you follow. Your canine may not be getting enough nutrients from the food. Talk to your vet and plan meals accordingly.

Final Thoughts

The sudden change in the eating behavior of a golden retriever can be a concern. As we have seen, there can be different reasons why your golden retriever is hungry.

This behavioral change may not seem a big deal, but in some cases, it could be due to a health condition. It’s advisable to talk to your veterinarian about the issue.


TRAIN YOUR CANINE! ⬇️

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Brandon Dickinson

Brandon Dickinson

I love playing and spending time with pups. On RetrieverPaws, I share tips, guides, and my experiences with retriever dogs (Labrador and Golden Retrievers mainly).

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