Dear Inhaling: Please take your dog to your veterinarian for a complete check-up to make sure that there is no underlying medical condition that would cause this type of behavior. Once your vet gives her a clean bill of health, I would move forward with cutting back the portions of both food and water and feed your dog several times throughout the day. Ive also heard of success with slowing down the eating process by putting large objects in the bowl, such as clean smooth rocks or large rubber balls or toys, so that your pet has to work her way around them to find kibble, thus slowing her down.
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If gulping too much cold water too fast is making her vomit (I had a dog who did this) another idea might be to give her ice cubes rather than a bowl of water for hydration to slow her down. Does she live with other dogs? If so, you may want to feed her separately in another room as well to avoid her feeling as if she needs to compete with another dog for food. Ive also heard of people playing hide and seek by putting kibble around the home and making mealtime a game in order to curb a ravenous appetite. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
Dear AKC: We have an American Eskimo that just turned 4 years old. She will eat her food really fast or drink lots and lots of water really fast.Therefore causing her to hack and gag. She also has issues with vomiting on a regular basis. Is this normal for her breed? We are unsure how we can stop all of the inhaling of the food or the vomiting. Do you have any suggestions? — Inhaling Intensely
So why is your dog eating so fast? First, you will want to rule out any medical cause. Your veterinarian may want to test your dog for certain diseases like diabetes mellitus or a hormone-related problem such as Cushings disease. If your dog is on any medication, ask if the side effects include increased appetite. Your veterinarian can also test for intestinal parasites, which can rob your dog of essential nutrients and increase hunger.
Make your own food puzzles for a creative boost for you and your dog. Cupcake or muffin tins filled with morsels of dry food and covered with appropriately sized balls can also be a way to slow down greedy eaters. Your dog must remove the ball to reach the food (Just be sure the balls are too big for your dog to swallow!). These same tins can also be flipped upside down. Place the kibble in between the mounds. Your dog will have fun figuring out how to get to the food.
Some dogs are nibblers. Many dogs are gobblers. They devour their meal as soon as the bowl hits the floor. It makes you wonder if they even taste what they are eating. Gulping with such gusto can present some problems for your dog, but there are some things you can do to ease your worries and slow the roll to and from the bowl.
Every dog is different, so try different approaches. See what works best for you and your dog. Keep him happy and safe and have a little fun at the same time!
Make a game out of mealtime. Hide the food in various locations throughout the house or even in the yard. Your dog will have to “hunt” for his food. This will not only provide some playtime, but some exercise too!
It’s impossible to distinguish between bloat and GDV (vets can’t even tell the difference without an X-ray). So if you see your dog lying down in pain after eating and that could be a warning sign, get them to the vet ASAP. Surgery can possibly save a pup from GDV if it’s caught quickly enough.
If your dog vomits after eating, it’s possible that he’s eating too quickly. When dogs gobble up their food, they can ingest big pieces of kibble without properly chewing them first. Fast eating also cases dogs to take in too much air. Both unchewed food and air can cause your dog to throw up after eating too fast. This is a problem both your pup and your carpets, of course!
If all else fails, try some good old portion control for your dog. First, check if you are feeding your dog the proper amount for her size. Then try divvying up her dinner into smaller portions. Your pup can’t dive into a big, fast dinner if you’re only giving her a little nibble at a time. Divide your dog’s meal into four smaller servings and give her one every 10 to 15 minutes until she’s finished her supper—slowly.
Think yours could stand to stop scarfing? Use these tips to help him slow his roll.
If your dog lies down following feeding time or seems lethargic, that could be a sign that their stomach hurts. And if they’ve also gulped down too much air, that could also result in bloat (when the stomach is expanded beyond its capacity too rapidly) or, in the worst case, a condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (or GDV). During GDV, the dog’s expanded stomach flops around and flips over itself. “When this happens, the stomach is distended with water, air, and food,” says Ward. “The esophagus and the intestines end up getting completely shut off, which cuts off blood supply to the stomach and the aorta. At that point, you have limited time to save your dog’s life—they can die within hours.”
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Some dogs eat so fast that a reasonable person would bet good money that they either think their speediness will make a steak appear, or they think they only have 60 seconds before their kibble self-destructs. Many dogs do this throughout their lives without a problem â but they are flirting with disaster.
Eating so quickly doesnât allow dogs to chew or even really taste their food. More worrisome is that a dog speed eating can cause choking, gagging, vomiting, and an even more serious condition called Gastric Dilation (colloquially known as bloat). Canine bloat can result from a dog eating too much or too fast. The stomach expands because gasses build up to the point that the stomach can twist within the dogâs abdomen, preventing the gasses from escaping. The result: Circulation can be cut off to the stomach as well as to other organs including the heart. Dogs can die within hours of the onset of bloat, so it is a serious condition that requires immediate emergency medical attention if you suspect it. The bottom line? Eating fast is more than unsightly â itâs potentially dangerous.