What happens if my puppy eats too much food?
The consequences of a puppy eating too much food depends on the frequency with which it happens. A one-off event, for example, will require you to watch them closely for symptoms of Bloat.
The main symptoms that go hand in hand with eating too much in one sitting are regurgitating food and diarrhea. Both can lead to dehydration that can be fatal if not dealt with quickly.
The severity of an overeating puppy can range from one unfortunate vomit spot on your new rug, to a serious and life-threatening condition like GDV (Gastric Dilation and Volvulus) also known as Bloat.
If your puppy is eating too much on a daily basis, it can also lead to severe health consequences down the road.
A puppy’s growing bones are vulnerable to wear and tear of extra weight. Overweight or obese puppies are also more prone to develop chronic diseases later in life.
If your puppy eats too much all at once, they will probably regurgitate their food. This is a good indicator of a puppy overeating.
The difference between vomiting and regurgitating is that regurgitation is the act of simply bringing up undigested food from the stomach. It happens quickly, with little fuss, as though the puppy is just expelling the extra food.
On the other hand, vomiting is more related to nausea and illness. Whatever is vomited is more already digested to some degree, and there will likely be a lot of active heaving and clenching stomach muscles.
So if regurgitating occurs often after meals, the servings are likely too big.
Chronic vomiting on the other hand may be a sign of a more serious problem and you should take your puppy to see their vet.
Feeding the correct amount can be difficult, but a fresh food service can fix this problem, and other feeding issues as well. We have a post that can help you with this, PetPlate: Should You Use It?
What if my puppy ate too much and is now bloated?
If your puppy ate too much it’s best to keep an eye on them until they have a normal bowel movement or they regurgitate some of the food.
They may have a swollen stomach, but so long as they are not showing any signs of pain or discomfort, it should be nothing more than a warning to be careful that you limit the food your puppy has available to them in the future.
During this time, it’s important to look for signs of distress. Occasionally, gas can build up in the intestines and become trapped. That trapped air can cause the intestines to twist in dogs, leading to gastric dilatation-volvulus or bloat.
It is not difficult to spot. If your puppy has GDV, they will be in pain. They will struggle to vomit and defecate and will likely whine or cry while finding a comfortable position in which to lie down. In these cases, they need to be rushed to a vet immediately.
Bloat is a very serious condition requiring immediate medical attention. Even when treated, GDV has a relatively high fatality rate of between 10% and 26.8%.
Up your puppy’s play and exercise
An extra twenty minutes playing catch, walking around the block one more time, or bringing your pup for a short swim can reduce that chubby tummy.
A simple trip to the vet could save your puppy some major aches and pains in their adult life. So you can develop a good weight management program.
Your puppy deserves to grow up with a healthy ideal weight, and you’re the only one who can make the changes they need so checking if you’re overfeeding your puppy and make changes today!
Your puppy deserves to grow up with a healthy ideal weight, and you’re the only one who can make the changes they need so checking if you’re overfeeding your puppy and make changes today!
Are You Giving Your Puppy TOO MANY Treats?
Parents of newborns obsess over feeding their babies. Is my baby getting enough food? Too much? How can I tell? And parents of newborn puppies are no different. Theres a lot to learn about how much you should feed your puppy once hes been weaned from his mothers milk. We talked with top veterinarians and pet nutritionists about how much should a puppy eat—and when. Heres what they had to say.