Why does my dog smell bad and act constantly hungry? Are they linked?

Hello. There are many aspects going on here. Firstly, the lump on the other dog won't make your dog sick, however if it smells it could be infection that would make the diabetes uncontrollable. Secondly, if the other dog is diabetic it should be on twuce a day feeding with its insulin, also control of the diabetes will control the constant hunger. It sounds like the other dog needs to be seen by a vet to get control and management of the diabetes. Good luck with them.

There are some disease processes in dogs that can cause an increased appetite. Most notably is an endocrine disorder called Cushing's Disease and the appetite is the result of excessive steroid production in the body. A pet taking steroid medication could also have increased appetite. There are other possible diagnoses as well so if the change is significant a good place to start would be an exam and bloodwork with your family vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am very sorry to hear that Dodger is begging you and following you around. I am sure this is very unsettling for you both. Unfortunately there is quite a range of reasons why Dodger may be exhibiting these behaviours including metabolic diseases like diabetes, intestinal concerns such as parasite infestation, as well as cognitive changes associated with older age. If these behaviours continue to persist, I would advice taking Dodger into see a veterinarian. Though the behaviours may seem relatively mild, they could represent a potentially serious medical condition. Your vet will run diagnostic tests, such as blood work and urine and fecal examinations to determine the precise cause. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Dodger feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

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.

Even with minimal tartar buildup and gingivitis, a dog’s breath may smell without daily/regular tooth brushing (as with humans!). I recommend purchasing an enzymatic (chicken flavored) doggie toothpaste from your local pet store or veterinarian and brushing Marley’s teeth daily (with the enzymatic toothpaste he will not need to rinse and spit). I also recommend bringing him back to have his anal glands specially checked via rectal exam as vets don’t always do a rectal exam on every visit and I have seen dogs with very full anal glands that have not been scooting or licking as per the owner. Good luck!

Changing the food may help with the gas, but is not likely to help with the body odor and bad breath. They tend to smell bad like this when they have infections. For the mouth, this usually requires a good dental cleaning. For the body, this can usually be helped by bathing a few times with a medicated shampoo (can find this in the pet store). As for changing the food, it may require that you feed a lower calorie, less fat sort of food. I recommend starting Diezel on a senior diet food, since he is eight years old. These diets have less calories and may help if fed as directed by the manufacturer. My best recommendation is to have Diezel evaluated by a veterinarian. They will be able to have a good look at these issues and better advise on the best solutions. I hope that helps and all is well with Diezel.

I believe the disorder you are referencing in people is Prader–Willi syndrome, which is a genetic disorder where a person will constantly feel hungry no matter how much they eat. There are also other effects of the disease on that person such as behavioral problems and intellectual disabilities. As far as I'm aware, it does not occur in dogs. It's good that Fionna has been checked for worms, but there are other medical causes that can lead a dog to always be hungry such as diabetes, conditions causing malabsorption of nutrients, and Cushing's disease. I recommend having Fionna seen by a vet again this week for further tests such as a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. Depending on the results of those tests, the vets may want to do further testing to definitively diagnose if she does have a medical condition causing her constant hunger. If one is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. I hope this helps!