If you dog finishes his meal in seconds and leaves his plate spotless before you can blink, you may be wondering what this quick behavior means. Is it just hunger or is there something else behind this speed of eating?
According to the veterinariansdevouring food in a hurry could have causes ranging from anxiety to acquired eating habits, in addition to evoking certain health problems that are important to be aware of. Eating so quickly can cause digestive issues, ranging from mild discomfort to more serious situations like bloating and stomach twisting.
The reasons why your dog devours his food quickly
There is various causes why your dog eats fast. Here are some of the most common:
- Natural instinct: returns tothe innate instincts of dogsto the days of the wolf in the wild. The urge to search for food and devour it when they find it is still strong.
- A less demanding palate: These animals have fewer taste buds, so they experience fewer taste sensations from their food. The most important thing for them is to eat and not taste the food.
- Beat the competition: If you have two dogs at home who eat at the same time, one may eat more quickly because it sees the other as an intruder. They may also have had to compete for food as puppies with their littermates.
- Irregular meal times: If you don’t follow a regular feeding protocol or schedule, your dog may eat more quickly to ensure he gets food. Maybe you don’t know when you’ll come back to it.
- Health problems: Eating too quickly can be a warning sign. Dogs can be insatiably hungry because parasites are stealing their food. Changes in hormone levels that tell your dog he is satisfied may be one of the causes of increased appetite.
Consequences of fast feeding your pet
Eating quickly can be a sign of an illness that needs to be treated. Additionally, it can make the dog sick. If the dog eats quickly, it may suffer digestive problems and vomiting.
Dogs who do not take the time to chew all of their food may stifling and stifling. By swallowing food in this way, dogs can suffer from accumulation of gas and belching and flatulence.
A more serious consequence of ingesting food is that it can increase the risk of your four-legged friend suffering from gastric dilatation and volvulus (GVD).
Tips to Make Your Dog Eat Slower
It is essential that your dog slows down when eating to avoid suffering health problems. These are tosome recommendations from experts:
- Increase the number of times he eats: give him smaller portions throughout the day.
- Use a feeder with obstacles: they are specially designed so that these animals eat more slowly.
- Divide the food into several portions and place them in different containers throughout the house: this will encourage gradual eating.
- Introduce commands with words like “slow,” “gentle,” “quiet” and repeat them every time he does it correctly.
To understand why does your dog eat so fast can help improve your daily health and well-being. If this behavior is due to anxiety or digestive issues, there is methods to help you eat more slowly and enjoy your food in a healthy way. Consult a veterinarian if you notice drastic changes in their eating habits.
