Does your dog scarf down his food the moment you set it in front of him? Does he seem to consume it all without taking a breath or pausing? Rapid food consumption can cause health issues, particularly in large, deep-chested dogs.
When food is eaten quickly it can cause bloat–a condition where the dog swallows a lot of air along with their food. The excess air can cause the stomach to become enlarged and flip upside down, which renders them unable to digest food and puts pressure on other vital organs. Left unchecked, this condition could become extremely serious. If your dog finishes their food within seconds of you filling their bowl, you may want to consider some methods of slowing their food consumption.
How to Slow Your Dog’s Eating
Luckily, there are many ways to make sure Fido slows down while eating breakfast or dinner.
- Add water. If you notice that your dog eats quickly but often avoids water, fill their food bowl with at least ½ inch of water after adding their kibble. The addition of water makes it harder for your dog to eat their food quickly, and also ensures that they get hydrated in the process.
- Make mealtime a game. Feed your pup in a puzzle toy that they have to knock around or work to figure out how to unlock their food. You can find a wonderfully wide variety of puzzle toys in your local pet store or online. Some need to be hit and knocked about to spill some kibbles, while others have pieces that must be moved or slid in order to uncover the kibbles hidden underneath. Some even spin in multiple directions and can keep your dog occupied for 30-45 minutes while they strive to get every last piece from the feeder. Using puzzle toys is an excellent way to both nurture your dog and provide essential enrichment for them–it engages their brain to problem-solve as they figure out the puzzle and entertains them at the same time.
- Make accessing the food more difficult. Maze feeders act similarly to puzzle feeders–they slow your dog as they eat, and require more focus and attention than a simple bowl. They are designed so that the food is poured into small areas so your dog needs to use their tongue to remove individual food pieces. Mazes are a bit easier than puzzle feeders though, as they don’t need to be knocked about to reach the food. Fido simply has to work a bit harder to pick the food up.
- Raise the bowl and eat at chest level. This allows gravity to aid in swallowing the food as opposed to the dog relying on air to help push the food up their esophagus and into their stomach. This way, even if your dog still eats quickly, they will be swallowing less air and thus less likely to develop bloat.
- Provide snacks instead of meals. If you don’t feel like getting a special feeder, you can just scatter their food consumption throughout the day in smaller portions so that they don’t have the opportunity to scarf down a whole meal at once. Instead of two big meals, break them up into 4 or 5 smaller portions doled out throughout the day.
Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is committed to your dog’s overall health and safety. Training and obedience is an important part of ensuring that your dog leads a happy, confident life. Whether you are in need of puppy training, or your older dog needs a refresher course, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training today.
