While watching Fido speed eat might be cute, it’s actually dangerous. When a dog eats too fast, they can gag, vomit, or choke. Fortunately, there are ways to slow down a dog that eats too fast.
What Causes A Dog To Eat Too Fast?
There are different reasons why your pooch is a speed eater.
- They may have had to compete for food with other puppies in their litter and that habit is now ingrained in them.
- Their food may not have enough nutritional value, which makes them feel hungry and desperate for digestible nutrients.
- A health problem, such as a parasite, may be behind this behavior.
Talk To Your Veterinarian
It’s important to talk to your veterinarian to rule out any problems with your pooch or their food. Your vet can rule out parasites and assure you whether Rover’s food is actually nutritious.
If you need to change your canine companion’s food, do so under the guidance of your veterinarian. Changing food too quickly can cause messy gastrointestinal problems.
Feed Your Pooch More Often
If you only feed your dog once or twice a day, that could be another reason why they get ravenous once the bowl comes out.
Consider splitting the same amount of food into three, four, or even five smaller meals. This is also psychological; if your pet knows more food is coming, they might not eat like there’s no tomorrow.
Use A Muffin Pan Or A Bundt Pan
If you use a muffin pan or a Bundt pan instead of the traditional doggie bowl, your dog will have to work a little to get all of their food.
You can either use it the traditional way where you put food in each of the cups or flip the pan upside down and make it more like a puzzle. Either way, Fido eats more slowly.
Consider Placing A Ball Or A Small Toy In The Food Bowl
Placing a ball or a small toy in the food bowl is a nice obstacle and distraction. However, it needs to be too big to swallow.