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Some dogs are slow eaters, taking their time to chew every little piece and enjoy each bite. Others seem to swallow their food whole without even bothering to consider what it is they鈥檙e eating. They eat so fast you can barely blink an eye before the entire meal is gone. These dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and . Unfortunately, eating so quickly can be quite dangerous for our dogs.
Risks of Eating Too Quickly
If left unchecked, your dog鈥檚 quick eating habits could have a serious impact on their health. First, they may choke, which is obviously life-threatening. Eating too quickly can also lead to vomiting and discomfort, as well.
Second, eating quickly may increase the risk of a serious medical condition called bloat. Bloat (formally known as gastric dilatation-volvulus or 鈥淕DV鈥�) occurs when the stomach (or intestines) expands and may twist within the abdomen. This is immediately life threatening, and dogs will go into shock very quickly. When a dog eats too fast, they gulp down an excessive amount of air along with his food, causing the expansion and, therefore, increasing the chances of bloat.
There is also a condition called 鈥渇ood bloat鈥� which isn鈥檛 a true GDV. It鈥檚 just huge amounts of food that have been ingested sitting in the stomach. This condition doesn鈥檛 cause shock. However, if there鈥檚 even a remote chance a dog appears bloated, you should take them to see a veterinarian immediately.
Helping Our Dogs Eat More Slowly
So how can we help our dogs eat at a slower pace? Unfortunately, we can鈥檛 just sit them down and have a talk about safety. But there are some creative ways to help encourage healthy consumption. With , you鈥檙e almost certain to find one your dog enjoys.
Feed Them With a Slow-Feeder Bowl
There are many different brands of available on the market specifically for dogs that eat too quickly. All of them seem to do a great job, but you might want to read reviews to make sure people have had good success using a specific product with a dog similar to yours.
You can also make your own slow-feeder bowl by using two bowls to feed your dog. Take a bowl one or two sizes larger than your dog鈥檚 and set it down flat. Then, take your dog鈥檚 regular dish and place it upside down into the large bowl. This will create a gap between the two bowls that you can fill with your dog鈥檚 food. Since the gap is big enough for your dog to reach the , but not so big that they can take gulps, they鈥檒l be forced to eat more slowly.
Give Them a Food Puzzle
are another excellent way to slow down your dog鈥檚 eating. They鈥檙e similar to slow-feeders, as they generally have different nooks and crannies for your dog鈥檚 food to fit into, making it impossible for your dog to take large gulps of food. There are many different puzzles available, from ones that lie flat on the ground to toys that dispense food while your dog plays with them, and all are viable options.
Use a Cookie Sheet or Muffin Pan
Spreading your dog鈥檚 food across a makes it very difficult for your dog to gulp down large amounts, especially if you feed kibble. Your dog will be forced to take tiny bites and pick up a lot of pieces with their tongue (which takes quite a bit of time), and therefore will eat much more slowly. The same goes for using a . Fill each small muffin cup with a little bit of food, and use the entire pan. Even if your dog鈥檚 muzzle can reach easily into the cups, the meal will be broken down into smaller portions, and the excessive gulping will be eliminated.
Hand Feed Your Dog
Some dogs love being hand fed. While many owners don鈥檛 necessarily have time to sit there and hand feed their dogs, you can use training time as mealtime. Use your dog鈥檚 regular food as rewards during obedience training or any other training. Consider working on various tricks for food, and break everything down into small steps. This makes mealtime fun and safe, since your dog won鈥檛 be able to inhale large amounts of food.
Feed Your Dog Smaller Portions Throughout the Day
Feeding your dog smaller amounts of food two to three times throughout the day, rather than a large meal in the evening, has also been shown to reduce the risk of bloat. Consult your veterinarian for advice on how much your specific dog should be eating each day.