Make Dog Eat Slower – It’s no secret to me: Dogs love food. Very hungry dogs will scarf down everything in front of them without coming up for air. But while a dog’s speed-eating habits aren’t usually a cause for concern, eating too quickly can cause a variety of problems: choking, gagging, vomiting, and even dangerous conditions like bloat, says Carol Osborne, DVM, at Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
So how can you slow down your dog’s eating to keep them healthy and happy? Follow these 11 vet-recommended tactics to help your pup enjoy the scent a little longer.
Make Dog Eat Slower
The dangers of fast eating How to slow down your dog’s eating How often should I feed my dog?
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If your dog eats too quickly, it is likely that their food is not being chewed properly. Similar to humans, fast eating can carry several risks, some potentially life-threatening.
Fortunately, bloat and other health issues can be prevented by slowing down your dog’s eating. Here are some tips to try for your dog’s next meal.
If your furry friend is gobbling up their kibble, try one of these feeding methods to slow the pace at mealtime:
According to dr. Osborne, the key to slowing down your dog’s eating is to hand-feed your dog small, multiple meals a day. But if you work outside the home and don’t have time to do this, an automatic feeder can do it for you. Look for a programmable feeder that dispenses a small amount of food every few hours.
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Food puzzles make mealtimes safer by hiding or obstructing small amounts of dry food from your dog, allowing them to use their brains to solve the “mystery” of how to get those tasty morsels! These puzzle toys slow down your poo by forcing them to pick up the single bits from around small obstacles – meaning your fast eater can’t grab whole mouthfuls of food at once. In addition, they are ideal for mental stimulation and enrichment.
Looking for a DIY approach? Try distributing your dog food in a muffin pan. The multiple divots filled with food will slow your dog down as they go from cup to cup.
If you have several dogs, they can treat mealtime as a competition where the winner eats the most food (so the others can’t have it). To prevent them from wolfing down their food as a competition, try feeding your dogs in separate rooms.
Think of a sniffer mat as a place mat for your dog – except these place mats are made with large strips of fabric to hide your dog’s food and encourage them to use their nose and feed. Dr. Chyrle Bonk, DVM, veterinarian at Clearwater Valley Veterinary Clinic in Orofino, Idaho, says that both food puzzles and sniffing mats help keep a dog full longer, which can reduce gorging, in addition to preventing risky food hoovering.
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No matter how often you feed your dog throughout the day (remember: multiple small meals are better), try to feed your dog around the same times each day. This can reduce the pace of their eating, says Jennifer Quammen, DVM, chief veterinary officer for TeleVet in Walton, Kentucky, perhaps because it makes mealtime less of an unexpected surprise.
If you feed your dog wet food, consider watering it down, says Quammen. Your dog will have to drink the water to get to the food, which can slow down the eating process.
Unlike regular food bowls, slow feeder dog bowls have ridges in the bottom of the bowl that the kibble slides between. This helps slow down your dog’s eating as they can only grab one or two pieces at a time, preventing them from gobbling down mouthfuls of food without chewing and reducing the amount of air they swallow.
Try putting large objects, such as a tennis ball or other dog toys, in your dog’s bowl so that they have to eat around them. Make sure the objects are large enough that your dog cannot swallow or choke on them.
What Should I Feed My Puppy?
Consider getting a special toy for your dog to play with to get their dog food out. Treat toys are often used alongside dog treats to provide mental enrichment for dogs – but for a food-motivated dog, kibbles will be just as rewarding. Plus, most treat dispenser toys dispense those tasty morsels one at a time, meaning there’s no fast and furious eating fest for your pup.
You know your dog is motivated by food – why not use it to your advantage? Make a game out of feeding by having your dog do tricks to get a few pieces of kibble out of your hand. This will keep their eating rate safe and reinforce the training commands they know as a bonus.
Follow these tips from Dr. Osborne to decide how much to feed your dog. As always, bring any concerns or questions to your vet to get recommendations tailored to your unique pup.
With the above tips and a little luck, your dog will be displaying proper table manners in no time. Considering switching your puppy to a new food? Find out how.
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Expert input for this story provided by: Dr. Chyrle Bonk, DVM, veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers; Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, at Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; and Jennifer Quammen, DVM, at Grants Lick Veterinary Hospital in Butler, Kentucky. If your dog is inhaling every ounce of their dinner without stopping to blink, you may have found yourself asking the question – how do I make my dogs eat slower? Eating fast can lead to a variety of problems, from indigestion to choking hazards, and even more serious conditions like bloating. In this guide, we’ll explore effective strategies and tools for you to try out with your dog, including using slow-feed dog bowls, to help your dog (safely) enjoy their dinner.
Totally valid question. Before you look at how to get your dog to eat more slowly, it’s important to understand why this is useful to know. Fast eating can lead to several problems, varying in severity:
Digestive problems: Eating too quickly often causes air to be swallowed along with the food, causing discomfort for your dog after they finish eating.
Choking: Fast eaters are at greater risk of choking on their food, which is obviously both dangerous and frightening.
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Bloating : This is the most serious and potentially fatal condition; caused when dogs swallow their food, followed by running around/exercising soon after. Bloating occurs when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food or liquid, causing it to distend.
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Dog slow feeders are specially designed with ridges and segments that make it harder for your dog to swallow their food. These bowls encourage your dog to take smaller bites, and as a result – slower eating and better digestion.
Variety of designs: Slow feeders come in a variety of patterns and sizes, making them suitable for dogs of all breeds and sizes.
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Engaging: The interactive designs can turn mealtime into a stimulating activity, engaging your dog’s mind and letting them use their head to solve a problem.
Another effective strategy is to control the portions you feed your dog. Instead of giving them one big meal, try breaking up their daily food intake into smaller, more frequent meals. Or place different sized portions apart from each other, meaning your dog has to finish one before moving on to the next. Smaller size food bowls are also a simple way to control portion size, we offer different sizes of regular dog food bowls here.
If you prefer a more practical approach, there are several do-it-yourself methods to slow down your dog’s eating:
Spread out the food: Whether it’s scattering cookies on the floor, throwing treats in different directions, or using things like sniffer mats. All are effective in slowing down the pace at which your dog eats. If you have never heard of snuff mats, you can read further here.
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Hand feeding: Hand feeding your dog small amounts of food can help you control their eating speed. This method can also be used to train your dog at the same time, e.g. teach them a ‘touch’ command before they get their reward.
Dogs will often react to the environment they are in and to external stimuli around them. A calm and quiet environment can significantly affect the speed at which your dog eats. We can all be guilty of chasing our dog at dinner time. But ensuring your dog is calm during mealtimes means they are less likely to rush straight into their food.
We have covered a broad aspect of methods on the subject of ‘How to get my dog to eat more slowly’, it is important to remember that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. You may have to try different methods to find the one that clicks for your dog. Whether you opt for slow feeders, portion control or other training techniques, each method can effectively help your dog enjoy a safer meal.
Remember, every dog is unique, so it may take some trial and error to find the perfect solution for your pet. With a little patience and persistence, you can help your dog develop healthier eating habits, which ultimately means you’ll be more
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