Dogs that eat too quick are vulnerable to choking, abdomen issues, and bloat. Here are 5 methods to encourage your canine to eat his meals extra slowly.
You’re most likely accustomed to the expression to “wolf down” meals. The saying is an outdated one — it goes again tons of of years, a minimum of — and regardless that not many people have ever seen an precise wolf, everyone knows that “gorging down” means to eat ravenously, at alarming velocity. Is this beginning to sound like we’re speaking about your canine?
While some canine rigorously chew and revel in every chunk of meals, others inhale it so quick it’s important to surprise if any chewing was concerned in any respect. Unfortunately, having your canine eat this shortly might be harmful.
Some of those risks are apparent. Like us, canine can choke in the event that they eat too quick, or trigger themselves vomiting and abdomen ache. But with canine, fast ingestion of meals additionally will increase the danger of a critical medical situation known as bloat. This is a life-threatening problem that comes on all of the sudden when the stomach expands from meals consumption. The enlarged abdomen can twist and require hospitalization and surgical procedure.
There’s no higher time than the subsequent meal to start out slowing down your pup’s consuming habits. There are a lot of methods to do that, so that you’ll have the ability to discover one which works together with your canine — or combine it up and swap between them.
1. Place a tennis ball in his meals bowl
A food-motivated canine is often too busy specializing in his dinner to even take into consideration the ball. But as a result of he has to eat across the ball, it slows down his consuming.
2. Hand-feed your pup
This means, you management the velocity of consumption. This can be an effective way so as to add some coaching into feeding time, utilizing meals as a reward for easy behaviors. Over time, hand-feeding often ends in a canine that eats extra slowly when fed from his bowl.
3. Freeze your canine’s meals
This will even assist maintain your pup hydrated! You can freeze his meals in sure kinds of bowl to make it simpler. I wish to freeze my very own canine’ meals in Sleepypod Yummy bowls. This can be an effective way to carry his meals alongside in the event you journey collectively. If you’re feeding kibble, combine in some water, goat’s milk, or bone broth to freeze it.
4. Put his meals in interactive puzzle video games and toys
Providing mental enrichment throughout feeding time is an effective way to tire out these busy minds whereas making him eat slower. I additionally like stuffing a Kong with meals the canine has to work for. Toppl toys by West Paw work for this as nicely.
5. Use a gradual feeder bowl
These bowls characteristic grooves and completely different shapes that unfold the meals out and stop your canine from taking huge bites.
I’ve plenty of enjoyable switching up mealtimes with these methods, and hope you and your pup give them a strive. Remember, slower consuming is healthier on your canine’s well being and well-being.
