Does your dog not chew, gobble? Although it may seem insignificant a priori, the truth is that it is a harmful behavior and that it can lead to different he alth problems if it is maintained over time. Whatever the reason why the dog eats too fast, on our site we offer you some very useful tips so you can solve it, although it will always be convenient to carry out a review at the vet to rule out any
Keep reading this article to find out what to do if your dog eats too fast, don't waste a minute and take note of each suggestion that we offer you. Help your dog eat properly!
Why is my dog eating too fast?
There are many causes that can cause a dog to eat excessively quickly and, although he can be worked on, it is important to discover the cause that causes it. Sometimes we can talk about stress or anxiety, caused by the lack of walks or an environment with too many stimuli. It can also appear when we have more than one dog or if our best friend is simply very greedy
Nevertheless, excessively fast food intake can favor the accumulation of gas and the dreaded torsion of the stomach, which is also a veterinary emergency. This lethal and sudden pathology occurs when a large amount of food, liquid and air accumulates in the stomach, causing the organ to turn on itself. It can also happen that the dog chokes on food or eats without chewing, so that he ends up vomiting.
These signs indicate that something is wrong, so it is always advisable to make a veterinary visit to assess the state of he alth of the dog.
What to do if my dog eats too fast?
Here are some basic measures to prevent your dog from eating too quickly:
1. Distribute the doses of food
If you offer your dog only one meal a day, it may happen that the rest of the time he does not feel satiated and, therefore, when you give him food, he devours it as quickly as possible. In this case it may be advisable to divide the food into two or three servings Remember that you must properly follow the quantities suggested by the food package you use. You can use a kitchen scale to get used to the exact dosage required. An excess could lead to the dog being overweight.
two. Use dog food dispensing toys
On the market we can find a multitude of food dispensing toys and accessories that, in addition to stimulating the dog, allow it to eat its food little by little. Among some of the most popular approved toys on the market we find the kong. Basically it has a slot in which we can deposit pâté or think, as well as play making several layers.
Just fill the kong's space with his usual feed and let he empty it little by little, this way he will eat slowly because the toy itself does not allow to do it faster. In addition, it stimulates and relaxes you. You can also give him food by sowing, an exercise that, in addition to stimulating his sense of smell, will provide him with a lot of relaxation.
3. Reduces your stress levels
A factor that can cause a dog to ravenously eat can be stress Dogs that live in shelters, those that spend day in the garden, those who show behavior problems, suffer from lack of walks or exercise, loneliness or lack of mental stimulation experience anxiety and stress. What causes anxious eating behavior Do you think your dog is stress-free? Before making any statements, review the five freedoms of animal welfare and our article on stress in dogs.
4. Buy an anti-voracity feeder for dogs
On the market we find bowls for anxious dogs, these are bowls that have reliefs and shapes on the base, preventing the dog from gobbling or eating voraciously. Generally, these are cheap products that are very easy to find, either in an online store or in a physical pet products store.
These products, like the kong or other intelligence toys, help the dog to eat more slowly, but also relax and stimulate his mind.
5. Self-control exercise for dogs
To finish, it may be highly advisable to regularly carry out a very simple self-control exercise with our dog. We explain how to carry it out step by step:
- Get a piece of food and hide it in your fist.
- Bring your fist to the level of your dog's face and wait. Your best friend is likely to try to nibble on your hand or scratch it with his paws. Don't open your fist.
- Once he stops engaging in these behaviors, open your hand and reward him for holding on.
- Little by little you will have to increase the waiting time.
If it's not clear to you, in this video we'll show you how to do it:
