Why is my Mate eating so fast?
Every dog is different. If there is more than one dog in your household, they might be trying to compete or make sure no one starts eating their food. Another reason may be that they love their food so much they want to eat it all up in one go! While this is a good thing that they are loving their food, it poses some risks for your dog.
Why your dog shouldn’t eat fast.
When your Mate eats too fast, there are a few risks. Let’s talk about why!
If your pup eats too fast, there is the risk of choking. If there are large chunks or different types of food, mixture of kibble and fresh food for example, it can get stuck or without the proper chewing increases the risk of choking.
Another risk is that if they eat too fast, it can make themselves throw up. This can also lead to bloating which is a major risk. When pups speed through meal time and inhale all their food, bloating is a very possible outcome which can put their life at risk.
How do I solve the issue?
Mental Fitness
Try to stimulate their mind whether that be a slow feeder bowl, lick mat, or puzzle bowl. This will slow down their meal time and reinforce habits when it comes to eating.
Smaller Meals, Throughout the Day
If using a slow feeder or puzzle bowl doesn’t help solve the issue, try and space out their meal times. If you feed them half of their breakfast in the morning, then an hour or two after following that rate it will force them to take their time. Not shoveling all their meals in one go.
More than one animal? Change Where they Eat
If you have more than one animal in your house, try separating them when it comes to meal time. Whether it's a cat or a dog, sometimes your pet may feel overwhelmed and try to compete for their food to finish first, or they may be used to other pets eating their food before they finish.
Nothing working? Try and Meet with Your Vet
If none of these tips work, we would suggest meeting with your Vet. They will have tips that will help your pup specifically because all dogs are different! Your Vet may suggest a different food so that your Mate is absorbing the proper nutrients, not leaving them hungry and wanting to eat their food fast.
