Dog Eats Too Fast? Try This Veterinarian-Recommended Solution.

When my friend asked me to dog sit for her black and white terrier mix, I didn’t hesitate. After all, I’m a huge dog lover. But when she gave me feeding instructions, I was surprised. She fed her dog in a special bowl to slow his eating because he ate like it was the first and only opportunity he’d ever get in life. She told me he tended to throw up his dog food after eating unless he ate from the special dog bowl.

Maybe your dog is the same. Gobble anything in sight, ask questions later. 

It turns out, there are dangers when your dog eats too fast. It can make them vomit and worse, they can get painful gas and bloat. Chances are, you’ve felt bloated at times when you’ve eaten too much at mealtime. But if you lay down and rest, it eventually goes away. It’s a temporary health issue for humans.

In dogs, it’s a life-threatening medical condition.

Why Is Dog Bloat Dangerous?

Bloat is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). When a dog’s tummy fills up fast it sometimes expands and presses against the surrounding organs. This causes the intestines, liver, and gall bladder to be squeezed, which can cause the blood flow to slow down because there’s not as much room as before for the blood to circulate. When the blood can’t flow freely, it’s not making its way to your dog’s heart and everywhere it needs to go which can cause your dog to go into shock.  

It can also cause your pet’s stomach to twist and this can cut off the blood flow to other organs.

According to the American Kennel Club, bloat is the top cause of death in deep-chested dog breeds like Great Danes.

You don’t have to be a doctor to see this can be a dangerous, life-threatening event. The symptoms of dog bloat include: 

• Difficulty breathing
• Drooling
• Pacing

If your pooch seems stressed after eating, don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian.

Benefits of Using a Slow Feed Dog Bowl

Besides reducing the risk of serious conditions like dog bloat, there are other benefits of using a slow feeder food bowl too.

First of all, it can help your dog lose weight. When your dog slows down their eating pace instead of gulping everything down, they’ll chew more. Instead of inhaling and then looking at you for more, they’ll take an extra minute or two. When dogs chew and swallow their meals, they end up eating less and feeling fuller longer.

Slower eating can also reduce dog vomiting and gagging after meals. So, less cleanup for you (and less of a waste of that expensive high-quality dog food you buy him). If your dog vomits a large amount after eating, it could be because they inhale a lot of air with their food, and vomiting helps the body regulate itself.

Other Methods of Curbing Fast Eating Habits

Play a version of hide and seek by tucking bits of kibble around your house during your dog’s feeding schedule. It’s an enriching activity that’s fun for your dog! Alternatively, dog owners can put a small amount of food in a muffin tin, snuffle mat, cookie sheet, or food puzzle. Puzzle feeders are dog toys that are excellent for mental stimulation.

Slow feeders are designed to make it just a teensy bit harder for Max to go speed eating. With puzzles, your dog paws the right block or solves some other problem to release the kibble. Some dogs love these as it also engages their brains.

If you are a pet parent with a fast eater, you can see how it’s beneficial to slow your pup’s eating. My friend found the slow feeder bowl worked well for her pup. Which method will you try?

Products to help curb Fido’s speed eating habit

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