Why are beagles always hungry?

Why are beagles always hungry?

If you’re a new beagle owner, you might be confused as to why your pet seems to be hungry all the time. Read on to answer the question: Why are beagles always hungry? 

We’re going to explore possible reasons why your beagle is constantly ravenous, as well as remedies to help quell their insatiable hunger.

Why Beagles Are Always Hungry: Behavioral Reasons

1. Constant snacking from human food 

The number one behavioral reason why beagles howl for food is that many beagles are given treats throughout the day by their owners, who are unable to resist their puppy eyes. In actuality, because of the way beagles digest food, their stomachs are rarely ever empty. This is why beagles and dogs in general don’t need to eat 3 meals a day plus snacks, like humans do. 

When humans cook or eat takeout, beagles smell that and begin salivating for food. Despite their earnest pleas, it’s likely they aren’t as hungry as they make out. It’s simply that they smell the food that humans eat more continuously throughout the day and want it. 

When you feed your beagle throughout the day, this reinforces a bad habit of them constantly begging for food and knowing that, at least some of the time, you will give them food outside of their regular feeding schedule. 

It’s important that you don’t reinforce this bad habit by giving snacks from your human food throughout the day, especially as beagles have a penchant for becoming overweight. 

Why Beagles Are Always Hungry: Medical Reasons

1. Diabetes

If your beagle has diabetes, it’s likely it’ll cause them to appear starving all the time, or in waves. This might confusingly be accompanied by weight loss. When a dog’s body is insulin resistant, they produce too much insulin as a result. This sends a signal to their brain that they’re hungry, so they appear more hungry. 

Keep a lookout for other common symptoms of diabetes in your beagle: weakness and fatigue, increased urination, and excessive thirst. If you suspect your pet has diabetes, consult your vet immediately. 

2. Inability to absorb nutrients 

There’s a few medical conditions that could cause your beagle to be unable to properly absorb nutrients from the food they’re eating. This could be a medical syndrome that needs diagnosing, or a bacterial infection in their small intestine. These conditions are often accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, or vomiting. 

3. Cushing’s Disease – Hyperadrenocorticism

Hyperadrenocorticism causes your dog to produce too much of the hormone glucocorticoid. This disease may strike beagles as young as 4 years old, but it’s more commonly seen in older dogs. Other symptoms include: increased thirst, weight gain, and loss of bladder control. 

Proper Feeding: An Easy Fix

One way to effectively quell hunger in beagles is feeding them a solid nutritious meal on a regular schedule. Here are some principles to follow: 

• Adult beagles should be fed twice a day and no more. 
• Puppies should be fed three times a day and no more. 
• Try to set regular feeding times. 
• Invest in high quality food. Yes, it’s cheaper to feed them the bargain dog food, but high quality food gives you a huge return on investment. It keeps your dog full longer and healthier in the long term. This is one of Amazon’s top-rated beagle food mixes to keep your pet healthy and happy. 

Recap: Why Are Beagles Always Hungry?

• The main behavioral cause is owners continuously giving beagles snacks throughout the day, reinforcing a bad loop of them begging for food at every opportunity. 
• There are several medical conditions that could cause constant hunger. Be on the lookout for other common symptoms of a medical condition like: constant urination, weight gain or weight loss, or loose stools. 
• An easy fix to your beagle’s constant hunger is feeding them on a regular schedule: twice a day for adults. Feed them healthy high protein dog food that will keep them full longer. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Will beagles eat themselves to death? 

Yes, it’s possible for beagles to eat themselves to death. Do not allow them access to an unlimited food supply. If they eat too much dry food and then drink water, the kibble could swell in their stomachs to a dangerous level, cutting off respiratory function and then killing them. 

How many times a day do beagles eat?

An adult beagle eats twice a day and a beagle puppy should feed three times a day. Avoid constant snacking and try to stick to an eating schedule. 

Why are beagles so stubborn?

In reality, beagles aren’t more or less stubborn than most dogs, on average. However, when beagles’ hunting instincts are activated, it’s incredibly difficult for them to focus on anything else. As a result, many people believe beagles are more stubborn than most. For a detailed explanation on this behavioral trait of beagles, check out our article: “Why are beagles so stubborn?” 

How to stop my beagle from eating everything?

Keeping your beagle on a strict eating schedule will help quell their seemingly unending hunger. There could also be a medical condition causing their constant hunger.

Why do beagles eat poop? 

Many dog breeds eat poop. While this may be jarring, don’t be alarmed, it’s totally normal. For more on this behavior and how to stop it, see our article here. 

There you have it. If you’ve implemented the easy fixes and addressed your beagles’ behavioral reasons for constantly being hungry, you will notice a decrease in their constant hunger. 

The question of beagles’ constant hunger is one that often leads people to wonder – “Why Beagles Are The Worst Dogs?” However, we think beagles have been unfairly maligned, and it’s quite easy to fix this behavioral trait of theirs. 

If you don’t notice any changes, or you see accompanying symptoms of poor health, consult a veterinarian immediately as your beagle may have an underlying medical condition. 

Please email me if you have any questions or concerns!

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• Why do beagles sleep so much?
• Can beagles be left alone?
• Do Beagles smell?
• Do Beagles Shed?
• Do Beagles bark a lot?