Always Hungry

[Driver]

Why is it that no matter how much I feed my dog; she acts like she hasnt eaten in days? always begging in the kitchen when you are preapring meals or in the fridge - trying to get into the garbage - trying to get into the closet where her food is stored - inhaling her meals - uncontroablly drooling while I before I tell her it is ok to go to her dish. Poor thing - could it be worms?

[Winston]

I know cats have an insatiable hunger when they have tape worms? not 100% sure if dogs get the same type of worms as a cat??

Have you tried to seperate the meals to a couple of times a day? maybe too long in between meals? I know some folks split it up so they dont go so long before another meal?

Maybe a quick check up or have a stol sample checked at the vets?

Good Luck you always feel bad when you think they are hungry!

[Longblades]

It could be worms. Is her coat losing condition? A simple fecal float at your Vet's might set your mind at ease.

But do I remember correctly that your dog is part Lab? That is typical Lab. There is a saying that DNA testing on dogs found that Labs were genetically related to goats, pigs and vacuum cleaners.

If your dog is otherwise healthy don't fall for it. Be especially careful of your garbage because Labs, and other dogs too, will literally eat almost anything. A sharp tin can lid? With a minute speck of food still on it? A Lab will eat it. You see the dangers. And of course you don't want an overweight dog either.

[tenderfoot]

Labs tend to act like they are starving all of the time.

You can break her meals into smaller more frequent meals but that may not fix things, in fact it could make it worse because she will get into the habit of constantly being fed.

Her needy behavior could be old habits from her previous life. Her previous family might have fed her when she begged and she learned to be demanding.

You can add more fiber to her diet with steamed veggies or a couple of table spoons of canned pumpkin (pure fiber) to her meals. Do not use pumpkin pie mix - it has added ingredients that could cause loose stools. The added fiber should help to fill her up.

You also need to discourage her begging. Set a boundary around the dining room table that she is not welcome to enter until the meal is over. She is not allow in the kitchen when you are in there. Teach her "leave it" and practice around the garbage can and the food closet.

Does she have lots of things to do? A busy brain & body doesnt have time to be pestering you. Make sure she has lots of toys to play with, and you can even freeze some canned food in a kong to keep her busy for longer while she eats her frozen meal.

[luckypenny]

It wouldn't hurt to bring in a stool sample to the vets to check for intestinal parasites.

Originally Posted by Longblades

There is a saying that DNA testing on dogs found that Labs were genetically related to goats, pigs and vacuum cleaners.

Tenderfoot's suggestion to fill and freeze Kongs really does work to help satiate a dog's appetite. We often use Kongs to feed our dogs meals from. If you're feeding kibble, you can mix with a bit of canned food, unsalted cottage cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, etc to make it stick together before freezing.

[Driver]

Thanks everyone,
It must be just the lab in her. I have taken her to the vet for a stool analysis as she is being treated for giardia. She is healthy otherwise. As far as manners in the kitchen during our meal times, I do make her go outside the room and lie down - she does do that.