Many people may be unfamiliar with the term polyphagia. Both cats and dogs may suffer from polyphagia. Once sick, their appetite will increase and their food intake will increase dramatically. There are many reasons for polyphagia, including psychological and physiological reasons. Polyphagia caused by two reasons can lead to different results: weight gain and weight loss.

Common symptoms

Overweight and obesity

Increased appetite

Weight gain or loss

Drink more water

Polyuria

Nutritional malabsorption

Common causes

Aging: The most common cause of polyphagia is aging. Many pets eat more as they age, which may be related to certain medications they take.

Diabetes: Polyphagia may also be one of the manifestations of diabetes. Dogs with diabetes may have a sharp increase in appetite.

Digestive tract problems: If your furry child has health problems in his digestive tract, such as intestinal inflammation, intestinal cancer, etc., it will lead to malabsorption of nutrients and require him to eat more food.

Diagnosis

The pet doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical examination of the furry child and may recommend blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests, endoscopy, etc.

Biochemical testing is mainly used to understand the function of important organs such as the liver and kidneys, and whether there are endocrine system diseases related to pancreatic islet dysfunction.

Blood tests mainly determine whether there is infection in the body, whether there is anemia, etc.

Urine examination mainly determines whether there is proteinuria and urinary tract infection.

Doctors may also use endoscopes to examine digestive tract organs such as the stomach and duodenum.

Treatment

Once the condition can be correctly diagnosed, the pet doctor will design different treatment plans according to the condition and cause.

Whether it is gastrointestinal disease or diabetes, treatment will be based on the disease itself.

If polyphagia is due to psychological problems, it is necessary to closely monitor food intake, improve the diet structure, increase high-fiber foods, and eat smaller meals more frequently in order to control appetite.

Daily care

Even if your furry child’s polyphagia problem has been resolved, you still need to continue to monitor your food intake and develop a healthy weight and nutrition plan.

　Prevention

If polyphagia is caused by incorrectCaused by eating habits, it can be prevented by adjusting the eating habits of the furry child to avoid overeating.

If you have any concerns, it is recommended to contact your pet doctor in time for early treatment.