How many times have you placed your pet’s food down on the ground, then before you know it, the whole thing is already gone? Too many pet owners have dogs that will scarf down their entire bowl of food within seconds. Not only does it seem insane, it also just isn’t healthy.
How to Slow Down Dog Eating
It’s extremely important to slow down the rate your dog eats and swallows their food, especially in larger dogs. Eating too fast can lead to problems such as choking, obesity of even canine bloat (discussed below). We have listed a few recommended tips to make sure that your dog is on a proper eating schedule and eating right.
- Make sure that your dog is on a proper eating schedule. They should be fed the same time every day, usually twice or three times per day depending on meal size.
- A slow feeder can drastically slow down the eating process. Instead of the dog being able to open their mouth and just suck everything in, a feeder bowl will break of the food and slow down the rate and amount of food a dog can get in their mouths.
- Should you decide to change your dog’s food or diet plan, it’s always important to check with a veterinarian first. Complications may include different ingredients and serving sizes.
What is Canine Bloat?
As mentioned earlier, when dogs are eating their food too fast, it can cause many problems. One of the more serious problems is canine bloat, also known as gastric torsion. This sometimes fatal condition may occur when your dog drinks or eats too much, too quickly. Symptoms of canine bloat include:
- restlessness
- abdominal distension
- dry heaving
- increased heart rate
- excessive salvation
An excellent way to slow down the rate that your dog is eating their food, is to use a slow feeder dog blow. You can purchase one from your local PetSmart store, or click here to purchase it through their web site. A slow feeder dog bowl is just like any other dog bowl, except that is has obstacles built into the bowl which slows down the eating process, and helps the dog avoid eating large amount of food at one time and possible choking… hence lowering the risk your dog will get canine bloat.
