Why is my 13-year-old dog suddenly so hungry and raiding trash?

Question

My 13 year old mixed breed dog, Jack, has an insatiable appetite. He appears to never get full and now, for the first time in 13 years, he is knocking over the trash. He is considered good weight, 34lbs, so he’s not undernourished. He is fed twice a day, mix of hard and soft, along with snacks occasionally. He has cataracts and hearing loss. See Jack on the right side of photo. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 13 years and 10 months old | 34 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. A significant increase in appetite can be an indication of a possible metabolic problem. Diabetes is one possibility, but we usually see a great increase in thirst & weight loss even with an increase in appetite. Jack is a senior citizen, so it is always a very good idea to have him examined by your veterinarian & have some basic bloodwork done. He does not look poorly in your picture, but it is better to be proactive in an older dog like Jack. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Why is my 13-year-old dog suddenly so hungry and raiding trash?

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