You’ve likely often seen your dog gulp down its food, but why do dogs eat so fast? The food from their bowls disappears like magic. Was it really there?
While we love to take in every taste and enjoy every bit of our meal, seeing dogs eat so fast sort of hurts. Is the food you made so painstakingly not good enough to be savored?
So, why do they do so? And is there a way of preventing it?
Keep reading to learn how to slow down your little Flash.
Reasons Why Dogs Eat So Fast
Why do dogs eat so fast? Here are a few reasons.
1. It’s A Habit
Why do dogs eat so fast? If your pooch is adopted, it may have lived in the wild before being adopted as a pet. If so, gulping down food is a habit developed over the years.
Wild animals are unsure if they are going to find the next meal, and if they do, there is always the chance that someone might take away their food.
This explains why your adopted pet may be wolfing down its food. But sometimes, animals born and raised under care do so too. Why is that?
Dogs have an innate instinct to do so. So, the more competitive your Fido is, the faster it will eat its food.
2. Your Dog Feels Threatened
Why does my puppy eat so fast? If you have many dogs or even cats, your little pup may feel threatened and eat its food fast.
This, too, is an inbuilt behavior, and your pooch will continue doing so even if you provide it with a separate feeding bowl. This is because it considers its companions as competition and would not like to lose its food to them.
3. Your Dog Has An Intestinal Infection
Why do some dogs eat so fast? If your dog is eating a lot more, wolfing down its food, and is still losing weight, it may have an intestinal infection.
Dogs may acquire worms from food, water, soil, feces, and so on. The parasites grow and multiply and reside in the dog’s intestine.
An infected dog then experiences a change in appetite. It may eat too much or too little and even lose weight.
4. Your Dog Has A Chronic Disease
Another medical reason your dog has suddenly started eating fast could be an underlying health issue.
Diseases like Diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s disease result in an increase in appetite.
Dangers Associated With Eating Too Fast
The most important and common issue associated with eating fast is choking.
Large pieces of food can get stuck in the throat, leading to choking, vomiting, gagging, and regurgitating.
So, if your dog eats too fast and throws up, the reason may be choking.
Did you know? Choking can lead to injury and even death.
Eating fast means your dog gulps air along with food. This causes issues like bloating and Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV).
GDV is a fatal condition, and the dog needs immediate medical intervention. While it can happen to any breed, large-breed dogs are more susceptible and need special attention.
Gulping down food also means your dog is not chewing its food, so it is not receiving the full nutritional benefits of the food.
So if your puppy eats too fast, you must put it on highly nutritious and easily digestible food. Read our review of Sunday’s – by The Upper Pawside, a new dog food brand, to know if the product is ideal for your dog.
Ways To Slow Down Your Fast-Eating Dog
If you want to slow down your fast-eating dog, you can rectify the situation by feeding it separately in a different room.
Here are some tips on how to get a dog to eat slower:
1. Use Special Feed Bowls
Special feed bowls are made in such a way that they slow down the eating process.
These bowls are like an obstacle course that Fido has to go through to get to its food. However, the nozzle can still reach every part of the bowl, so your pet will eat every last bit of food.
These bowls are commonly available for kibble; however, they are also available for raw and canned food.
2. Puzzle Feeder
These feeders will engage your dog and make it work for its food. It is a special feed bowl but more fun. They can be feeding plates or toys divided into compartments that your pet has to go through in search of food.
Others may work as small vending machines that release food after being shaken, rattled, or hit.
3. Partitioned Plate Or Pan
A partitioned plate is an easy and simple way of dividing food into small portions. Putting small amounts in each partition will give your dog defined access to its food and encourage slow eating.
4. Hand Feeding
An easy solution to fast-eating is feeding your dog by hand. It not only ensures your dog eats slowly but also strengthens your bond.
Enjoy dual benefits by turning your feeding session into a feeding-slash-training session. You can teach it basic commands and obedience training.
5. Many Small Meals
Increase the number of meals and reduce the quantity. Small amounts are easy to digest, and even if your dog gobbles up its food, it will ingest comparatively less air, thus reducing the risk of bloating.
Wrapping Up
Your dog may be wolfing down its food out of habit, due to an intestinal infection, a chronic disease, or feeling threatened. It can lead to serious health issues in dogs. It is best to consult with a vet and take the necessary measures.
