Unlike humans, most animals don’t appear to savor their food by eating it slowly. Some dogs just fill their bellies as fast as possible, whether they’re very hungry or not. Their instinct is stronger than their appreciation for flavors and textures, even if there is no threat of losing their meal to another animal.
In most cases, there is nothing to worry about if your dog doesn’t chew their food; it simply means that you’ve got a guzzler on your hands. However, in some cases, it could lead to digestive problems or be an indication of a medical condition. Thankfully, there are ways to slow your dog’s eating down and improve their digestion.
Why Doesn’t My Dog Chew Their Food?
Although some dogs do chew their food, many don’t. This behavior is instinctual and goes right back to when dogs lived in packs in the wild. Any food that was scavenged would need to be eaten fast before it was eaten by another dog, drew too much attention from other wild animals, or became the reason for a fight to break out. The faster a dog ate their portion of the food and moved on, the safer they were from losing out on a meal or getting hurt.
This behavior could begin early in puppies that were born in large litters, with puppies needing to fight for a nipple on their mother’s body to nurse if there were more puppies than nipples. As the puppies develop and start solids, they may continue to fight for a spot at the bowl with so many little mouths gulping down the food laid down for them.
With this in mind, your dog might be eating without chewing because of their environment. If there is a lot of noise around them, such as machinery, loud music, or screaming children, they may feel as though they are under threat and swallow their food down quickly. If you have several other dogs or pets, they may also try to gulp down their food quickly in fear of those pets getting to their food before they finish it.
A dog is built to eat food quickly as it was a way of survival in their past. If your dog has always been a fast eater and you regularly take them for their veterinary checkups, you probably don’t have anything to worry about.
When Should I Be Worried?
If your dog has always chewed their food but they have suddenly stopped, it might be an indication that something is wrong with them. However, not chewing their food will often be one of a few other signs.
Dental Disease
Dogs that have suddenly stopped chewing their food, whether soft or hard, and also have bad breath, tartar on their teeth, and other signs of dental disease might have started swallowing their food whole because their mouths are too painful to chew the food.
Injury
Another reason could be due to a cut in your dog’s mouth from chewing on something sharp, such as a stone or bone. Tooth fractures are also common from chewing such items. It’s important to take them to the vet for an oral examination to determine what the problem is and to get it treated to reduce the pain or discomfort that your dog is experiencing.
Cancer
Cancers in the mouth can also make it difficult for dogs to chew and swallow. This generally occurs in older animals and you might also notice signs of weight loss, vomiting or discomfort around the mouth.
Parasites
It’s not uncommon for dogs to get internal parasites, such as roundworms. These parasites live and feed in your dog’s intestines, eating away at the nutrients your dog gets from their food. As this happens, your dog loses out on those necessary nutrients and will gulp down their food in a desperate attempt to fill their stomachs. However, they won’t put on weight even if they are given more food than usual.
Poor-Quality Diet
Just as dogs crave more and more food as the parasites steal the nutrients from their bodies, so is the case with diets that don’t have everything your dog needs. A nutrient-deficient diet won’t satisfy your dog and will cause them to always feel hungry, resulting in a dog that gulps down their food instead of chewing it.
The Problem With Gulping Down Whole Food
Some dogs can gulp down whole food and be fine. However, this way of eating can have a negative impact on some dogs and can cause them to have an upset stomach because the food isn’t able to digest well. This may result in your dog throwing up the food they just gulped down. However, for others, it has the potential to cause bloat, which can lead to gastric dilatation and volvulus, or GDV, a condition where the stomach twists and the dog needs life-saving surgery to survive.
Bloat is more common in larger breeds, and although the cause isn’t known, there is a higher chance of it occurring in dogs that ingest a lot of food and or water very quickly.
There are additional factors that can heighten the risk in dogs, such as their age, weight, and more.
Bloat occurs when a dog’s stomach expands due to a large intake of food or gas, usually from eating or drinking too quickly. This condition causes discomfort in the dog’s stomach and can lead to serious complications if the stomach twists, cutting off blood flow and causing damage to the stomach wall. Dogs with GDV may go into shock due to insufficient blood reaching the heart, potentially resulting in damage to vital organs like the spleen. Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial as GDV can be fatal if left untreated.
Symptoms of bloat in dogs include abdominal pain, dry heaving, restlessness, guarding of the stomach, panting, drooling, pale gums, a visibly distended stomach, and an increased heart rate. With timely intervention, dogs can recover within a few days.
To encourage chewing and slow down a dog’s eating pace, it is advisable to seek veterinary advice for a thorough examination. The vet can address issues like parasites, recommend high-quality dog food, and identify any obstacles hindering the dog’s ability to chew properly. Additionally, feeding smaller amounts of food more frequently, avoiding strenuous exercise after meals, and using obstacles in the food bowl to slow down eating can help reduce the risk of bloat.
Various methods, such as using slow-feeding bowls, snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, or dispensing toys, can aid in slowing down a dog’s eating. Choosing larger kibble sizes can also promote chewing. When changing a dog’s diet, it is essential to do so gradually to prevent digestive upset.
If a dog exhibits signs of stress while eating, such as consuming food quickly or feeling threatened by other pets, feeding them in a quiet, separate space can alleviate anxiety and prevent hurried eating.
It is crucial to monitor any changes in a dog’s eating habits and seek medical attention if necessary. By implementing strategies to slow down eating, offering smaller portions, and creating a comfortable eating environment, pet owners can promote better digestion and reduce the risk of bloat in their dogs. information in your own words.
– Information: The dog was found by the side of the road and taken to a local animal shelter.
– Rewrite: A dog was discovered on the roadside and brought to a nearby animal shelter.