Is your dog eating his food too fast? Eating too fast can damage your pet's digestive system: he may choke, burp, fart, experience flatulence, and even vomit. Fortunately, there are several ways to slow down your dog's eating habits. You can learn how to slow down your dog's eating habits physically or mentally.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Slowing Your Dog's Eating Habits
Step 1. Fill the dog food bowl differently
Instead of filling the entire bowl with food, try turning the metal bowl upside down. Spread the food around the circle. That way, the dog is forced to circle the bowl to get all the food. He also had to lift his head to move to the other side.
This simple method that doesn't require any new equipment can slow down your dog's eating habits
Step 2. Buy a special food bowl
If you want to buy a plastic bowl, try buying a bowl that has a plastic bulge in the middle. These bowls tend to be slippery, so your dog will have to chase them for food.
You can also buy a food bowl in the form of a puzzle. This way, your dog will have to move the puzzle pieces together to get the food
Step 3. Divide the dog food into portions
You can divide the food into several bowls, then spread it around the room, or you can also divide the food into several muffin tins. In this way, at least the dog has to find his food bowl and the air intake can be minimized because his mouth is full of food.
Step 4. Keep a large rock in the center of the bowl and spread the food around it
Do not use small stones as some dogs will swallow them. For small dogs, keep two or three golf balls in a bowl and spread the food around. This can slow down your dog's eating habits because he has to move the golf balls in order to eat.
This method is only suitable for small dogs who cannot swallow golf balls because they are too large
Step 5. Keep the bowl in a slightly elevated place
If all of the above methods fail, try storing the food bowl on a table or chair that is not too high. In this way, the dog is forced to put his hands on the surface of the table or chair. This method can reduce the amount of air swallowed because the dog's throat is tilted. This method also makes it easier for the dog to burp because he has to keep his head up.
Part 2 of 3: Reprimand the Dog If He Has Competitive Eating Behavior
Step 1. Determine if your dog is a competitive eater
Do you have more than one dog? It may be that the dog eats his food quickly because he is afraid that his food will be stolen by another dog, or he eats quickly because he wants to eat another dog's food. This behavior is called competitive eating behavior.
Step 2. Separate your dog's food bowl
Feed the dog in different bowls and places. That way, each dog you pet can eat food from its own bowl without fear of being stolen by other dogs. If the greedy dog keeps stealing food, try feeding him in another room out of sight of other dogs.
In this way, the victim dog loses his burden, while the greedy dog loses his temptation to get more food
Step 3. Feed your dog regularly
There's a good chance your dog will steal another dog's food because it's a habit. This could be because he is afraid that he will not get food. Feeding him on time will eliminate the fear.
The dog may have had a bad experience that made him do this. For example, the owner comes home late and the hungry dog finds leftovers. When the next meal arrived, he immediately devoured his food quickly, then looked for the leftovers from his friend's bowl because it had become a habit
Step 4. Hold your dog
Distract your dog as soon as he finishes his food. Tell him to sit down and give him a treat. If this is done consistently, instead of eating another dog's food, he will come to you for attention.
Step 5. Keep trying
Change your dog's eating habits vigorously. While not everything will go according to plan, you may find something that can help your dog. Remember that your dog needs time to learn to slow down his eating habits.
If your dog continues to be greedy or aggressive towards food, it may not be a matter of eating speed, but of ownership. In general, dogs tend to be aggressive towards food when they have something that other dogs want
Part 3 of 3: Understanding the Dangers of Eating Too Fast
Step 1. Understand that eating too fast can be detrimental to your health
It sucks when we feed a dog but instead it looks like giving raw chicken to a crocodile. But more importantly, eating food all at once can lead to a number of health problems.
Never ignore habits like eating too fast. Reprimand your dog while keeping an eye on his health
Step 2. Watch out for burping and farting
When a dog devours its food, it also devours large amounts of air. This can cause him to burp or fart. While burping and farting are harmless, they can disturb the comfort of those around them.
Step 3. Watch out if your dog chokes
The faster your dog eats, the less he chews his food. Your dog can choke if a large piece of food, which should have been chewed first, gets into the throat.
Step 4. Watch for symptoms of flatulence
Symptoms include: enlarged abdomen, stooped walking, failure to vomit, lethargy, and pacing. Call your vet if you notice any symptoms of flatulence as this is an emergency. Better to spend money to call the doctor than to put your dog in danger.
