"Wolfing" food

[steingre]

One of my four Shorthairs must think he's a wolf; he a
"attacks" his dry food, downing his twice-a-day portion in several mouthfuls, and great gulps- usually, less than ten seconds, total! It's dry food; I don't enen know how he gets it done!

Anyone else ever see this, or have any ideas about how to slow him down just a bit? I worry about possible problems, although he seems to be doing quite well- just over a year old!

[ohiogsp]

There is lots of tricks to get them to slow down. You could give him a little at a time or put it in something hard to get it out of "kong of example". You could put something "big rock for example" on top of the food in the bowl so he has to eat around and under it, use a hang on bucket that is small in diameter so he can't open his mouth so far. Unless he a coughing or choking it is probably alright. Is he thin maybe he is just hungry? Do you worm him regulary? If you gave him more food would he stop or slow down? How much does he weigh and how much do you feed him?

[ezzy333]

If he is doing well why worry about it? there will be enough stuff to worry about later.

Ezzy

[bklyn hunter]

i am having the same problem.she was not eating her food at first and i thought it was that it was to much.so i tried a little feeding her twice a day and thats when wolfin her food started didn't think any thing but started to burf up alittle bit and it was whole back to 3 times a day to slow her down still she feels like someone is going to take it away.alittle better progress but i can't keep running home for lunch to feed her and then let her hold it in for the rest of the day.

[ezzy333]

Wolfing their food is a normal way for dogs to eat. This was the only way in the wild where they had to compete. I love to see a dog that wants to eat immediately when fed. My two now are completely different but one eats quickly and eats everything and the other is dainty. The two I had a few years ago got fed once a day and they were through in about 30 seconds. Both lived long healthy lives with no trips to the vet and no nutritional problems.

Ezzy

[hoffmann35]

I agree with Ezzy. Mine does the same, it takes a minute and he is done. I haven't worried about it at all cause all seems well and healthy.

[Dave Quindt]

Pour the food on a cookie sheet; it makes the dog pick up the kibble piece by piece. That will turn a "wolfer" into a methodical eater.

I like a dog that puts his head down and eats, but wolfing food down can sometimes lead to problems. Those wolfers tend to puke food back up, which can lead to digestion and nutrition problems.

FWIW,
Dave

[Chaingang]

Those wolfers tend to puke food back up, which can lead to digestion and nutrition problems.

FWIW,
Dave

I'll vouch for the puking back up scenario, had it happen a few times. Now I give him half the portion, wait till he finishes, give him a minute to swallow, then give him the rest. Seems to work much better.

[bklyn hunter]

i tried that and she ended eating the 2nd portion even faster

[hubweims]

ask your vet as i am sure they have encountered it before and might have some different ideas as well. the cookie sheet sounds like a good one as does putting an obstacle in it. one problem with wolfing is blout which all large breasted dogs are prone to. by wolfing and swallowing air with her food it can lead to blout. which, if not immediately seeing the signs usually leads to death. not saying that all wolfers get it, but if it happens it is usually too late to get dog to vet and fixed. if you are feeding her from an elevated feed bowl, try putting it on the ground. this will sometimes cut their pace back a bit. many believe that the elevated bowls make it easier for the dog to feed thus enhancing gourging and the swallowing of air, and all dogs prone to blout should be fed from the ground. do a google on blout in dogs.

[ezzy333]

I think you are talking about bloat. I also think you may be getting a twisted stomach involved also. I am not aware that a deep chest has anything to do with bloat from swallowed air but I know they think it does with the twisted stomach. Anyway make sure you read about it as there is material written about it that will help clear it up for any of you. I need to re-read it too as I don't remember it the way it is being explained here.

Ezzy

[mtlee]

Here's a pretty good article....seems to contradict the feeding regimen I've heard most sporting dog owners advocate??

http://www.eclipse.net/~bobaloo/bloat.htm

[hubweims]

sorry for the typo. must have been having a brain fart. anyways here is one article on it:

Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it. It is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans are particularly at risk. This page provides links to information on bloat and summarizes some of the key points we found in the sites we researched. Although we have summarized information we found about possible symptoms, causes, methods of prevention, and breeds at risk, we cannot attest to the accuracy. Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information.

If you believe your dog is experiencing bloat, please get your dog to a veterinarian immediately! Bloat can kill in less than an hour, so time is of the essence. Notify your vet to alert them you're on your way with a suspected bloat case. Better to be safe than sorry!

The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a significant contributing factor also. Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.

Be prepared! Know in advance what you would do if your dog bloated. New

If your regular vet doesn't have 24-hour emergency service, know which nearby vet you would use. Keep the phone number handy.
Always keep a product with simethicone on hand (e.g., Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Gas-X, etc.) in case your dog has gas. If you can reduce or slow the gas, you've probably bought yourself a little more time to get to a vet if your dog is bloating.

[hubweims]

i might add that if you research gsp's that this is a common concern as they are a deep chested dog as most sporting or hunting dogs are.

[big steve46]

I sort of free feed as I leave dry feed for 2-3 days which negates the need to "wolf' the food although my dog doesn't "wolf" food anyway. Course he's a Llewellin Setter which makes him smarter.

[Ruffshooter]

I have one Brittany that wolfs food. The only problem I see after 5 years is he will get a bunch got in his throat then hacks it up problem solved. Although at time you think you might have perform the heimlick manuver. In the wild food is not dry and goes down easier than the dry food we feed. I like the rock in the dish method to slow them down I think I will try it my self. I am not sure why, probally for my sanity.

[PntrRookie]

Funny this came up, I came a cross an ad in the Pointing Dog Journal last night for a bowl that has three "hills" in it. You pout the food in the bowl and the dog has to eat around the "hills". It slows them down because they can not gulp it all up at once. It is on Page 61 - It is a product review by Jason Smith...

My GSP has done this for years and it is more of an annoying habit for me not him.

[steingre]

Got my copy of PDJ today- one day after I ordered the "brake-fast Food Bowl!

I'll let everyone know how it works!

I agree with most of you that it is probably more of a nusiance than anything else...but at least my friends and family won't exclaim "Oh, my God!" when they see him eat!!

[nj gsp]

My wife says the only thing different between my GSP and a shark is my dog can't breathe underwater. She circles before dinner time, I heel her right up to the bowl, and when I release her to eat the nictitating membrane slides over her eyes, those jaws open, the lips roll back, and you can hear Quint singing "Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies..."

We found an anti-gulping dish at a yard sale a few years ago, and we've used it with other dogs. It is heavy porcelain, I think it's fairly old. I haven't seen them for sale anywhere. It has a bunch of raised rounded nubs in the bottom the dog is forced to eat around. I'll see if I can post a pic.

Before we got the dish, we tried a brick in the food bowl (a trick my wife says is used with horses) with a different dog, and it did work somewhat, but I'm afraid with this one she would try to eat the brick.

[honeyrun]

You might also try adding water to the food. This makes it harder for the dog to gulp the food and the water also helps with the digestion.

[big steve46]

If it's mainly Gsps and Brittanys doing this, could it be due to their short tails throwing them offbalance?

[ezzy333]

Probably is due to the short tails. They just don't have much to hold them back when eating or hunting.

Ezzy

[steingre]

The bowl worked like a charm- with one exception: the makers have never met my determined "chewer"- he had a hole through the side in less than 24 hours!

So, it looks like I'll have to try to come up with a "metallic" solution...or resign myself to watching Gus inhale his portion in seconds...!!