Some pets swallow their food so quickly that they never get a chance to taste it, let alone chew it, as if they will never see it again. If your dog or cat is eating their meals faster than they should and seems food-obsessed, there are some methods you can use to modify their behavior.
Why is eating quickly bad?
First, why should you be concerned about your pet’s eating speed? Pets don’t chew their food properly, which can lead to choking or gagging if they eat too quickly. Also, because this type of eating behavior is often associated with greedy behavior, it can lead to aggressive behavior if other pets or people approach while the animal is eating. In households with children or other animals, an animal that gobbles up food can be dangerous to anyone who perceives the animal as a competitor for food.
There is also a condition called Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) that is seen in some animals, especially large breed dogs. Rapid eating and swallowing can cause the stomach to fill with excess air, liquid, and food, distending (stretching) the stomach cavity. As the stomach distends, it can twist (volvulus) on its axis, making it impossible for food to pass from the stomach to the intestines. When this happens, the animal can go into shock and die quickly.
What is causing this behavior?
For some puppies and kittens, mealtimes become a race to get enough food before their siblings or adult cats run out. The feeding may have begun while they were nursing. This becomes a pattern of behavior that carries over into the new home. This behavior may be most noticeable when there are other animals in the home, but it may also be seen even after the competition is gone.
Of course, there are also underlying conditions that could cause this behaviour – your pet could have a parasitic infection that is affecting their body’s ability to absorb the nutrients in the food. It could also be that the food is not nutritious enough for the animal’s needs, resulting in the animal feeling hungrier than it should be.
What can you do?
There are a few solutions you can try to change your pet’s behavior. One way is to put an object, such as a toy or ball, that is too big for your pet to swallow in the food bowl with the food, so your pet is forced to eat around the object. Another way to use the same idea is to separate the food by putting a smaller bowl inside a larger one. Place the smaller bowl upside down inside the larger one and pour the food into the space around the smaller bowl. This way your pet will only be able to eat a little at a time from a smaller space. Or, if time is not an issue, you can feed your pet small amounts throughout the day to avoid eating large amounts all at once.
There are also feeding bowls designed to slow down an animal’s eating speed. These bowls often have pegs recessed into the bowl’s recess, preventing the animal from grabbing a large bite in one go. Other products are made to distribute food slowly. There are timed dishes that allow a specific amount to be fed at once, dishes with compartments that the animal must adjust to reach a small amount of food (such as a sliding dish that can be moved with a paw or nose), or bowls that contain food but that your pet must manipulate to get the contents out of the bowl.
Nutritionally, it is high quality and easy to digest cat food. Dog food This will ensure that the child’s nutritional needs are being met.
And, of course, you should check your pet for parasites. A regular checkup with your vet should catch anything that shouldn’t be there, and if you find anything, you can treat it before it becomes a life-threatening problem. Either way, if your pet is acting aggressively while eating, and you have children or other pets in the house, you need to protect them by making sure they have a space where they can eat without feeling threatened or defensive.
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Featured Image: iStock.com/LightFieldStudios
