Eating Problem

Tabitha

Tabitha

Forums Enthusiast
I'm having some trouble with Jody's eating habits. Is not that he isn't eating, that's the problem, he's eating to fast! When I give him his food he started gulping it down without chewing, but he wasn't going to fast and I know it's common for dogs not to chew there kibble, so I wasn't very worried. But every time F-kap finishes before him, he goes nuts trying to finish before (he thinks) it gets stolen. It's never been a huge problem until recently. Today after F-kap was done Jody started eating like made! I had to pull him away because he was choking himself! I took the rest of his food away and had to hold him to make him calm down. His breathing was very shaky. Then he started coughing, convulsing, quivering from nose to tail, very tents, and had sucked in his stomach so hard I could feel every last rib in his body! Can anyone give me some advise to make this STOP! I'm so scared he's gonna hurt himself one of theses days or worse!:fl
 
There's a few things you can do.

You can put his kibble in a treat dispensing toy like a kong wobbler http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882654 or tug-a -chug http://www.petco.com/product/113818/Premier-Pet-Busy-Buddy-Tug-a-jug-Dog-Treat-Dispensing-Toy.aspx. Pet stores and amazon sell all different kinds of food dispensing toys. Of course you would have to feed F-Kap in a separate room, so the other dogs don't eat his food.

There are also slow down bowls. This makes it harder for him to gulp down all his food at once. Some examples:
http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fast-Food-Slow-Feed-Bowl/dp/B000PE30MQ
http://www.wag.com/html/sg/dog-bowls-that-slow-down-eating.html

I use a stainless steel ball made for dog bowls. It's just a large ball that you place in their bowl to slow them down. http://www.petfooddirect.com/Produc...n-Pacer-Stainless-Steel-Feeding-Ball-for-Dogs
 
Separate the dogs to remove the tension. My dogs all eat in crate or separate rooms so they don't feel threatened.

I also float the kibble in water, which slows them down some. And since kibble is in general, dehydrating, this gives them a boost on the evenings water intake.
 
ClantyreSheltie said:
Separate the dogs to remove the tension. My dogs all eat in crate or separate rooms so they don't feel threatened.

I also float the kibble in water, which slows them down some. And since kibble is in general, dehydrating, this gives them a boost on the evenings water intake.
Click to expand...

It's working! Today he was the slowest eater in the pack (which has NEVER happened)! I've done this in the past and he still gobbled his food way to fast! I can't understand why he decided to be good this time, but if he keeps it up I really don't care:biggrin2:! I'm still considering a slow eating bowl, I like the new cool one Jess showed me, just encase he picks up old habits! I also want to get them some crates, probably gonna have to be used, but hey whatever works, right?!
Thank you ALL for your help!
Tabs
 
All of mine eat out of a bowl designed to slow down the eating (not that it always works with Natalie). Glad he did slow down.
 
We feed out 2 about 10 feet apart. Roxie gobbles her food really fast, too. Whoever feeds the dogs stays right there next to Roxie. We interrupt her eating several times to pet her, talk to her, just slow her down. She's good-natured about it, and as soon we let her go, she's back to warp speed eating again.

Meanwhile, Forrest is slowly eating his food, one kibble at a time. In the evening they get a spoonful of canned food mixed in their kibble, Forrest somehow manages to eat the wet food & we have to make him finish the rest. While Roxie waits to lick his bowl as soon as he's excused from it. :biggrin2:
 
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