Like me, I’m sure you love your dog…
Your dog is your fur baby, and just like with children, it’s only natural to feel concerned when you notice him or her doing something that you don’t quite understand…
You’ve probably asked yourself many times: Is this behavior normal or should I be worried about it?
And if you’re concerned that your dog doesn’t chew food and just swallows it then you’re in the right place because this article will cover the following information…
- My Dog Doesn’t Chew Food… Is That Normal?
- Can My Dog Eat Too Fast?
- Ways To Get Your Dog To Eat Slower…
- Is Your Dog Afraid While He Eats?
In the end, you should have a good understanding of why dogs don’t chew their food and if it’s normal behavior…
And you’ll also have a few tricks you can use to slow down the pace at which your dog eats if you feel he (or she) is wolfing down his kibble just a little too fast…
Let’s get started!
My Dog Doesn’t Chew Anything… Is That Normal?
Dogs lack the ability to chew food in the same way that we humans do. They do chew on things like bones, toys, and on themselves as a way of scratching when they have an itch…
And if their kibble is just too big, they do crunch it down to size before swallowing it…
But they don’t mash up their meals into a paste before swallowing like us humans do, and the reason why is because they don’t need to…
You see, a dog’s esophagus can expand up to five times the size it regularly is in order to swallow food safely…
And they use their sharp teeth to grab their meal, yank it up into their mouths with an upward motion, and then they swallow it in hopefully in just one bite…
From there, the food travels down into their stomach where stomach acid, which is incredibly strong in dogs, breaks it down pretty efficiently…
So if your dog swallows kibble without chewing, don’t panic because that’s the normal way a dog eats his or her food.
Can My Dog Eat Too Fast?
Although it is normal for a dog to swallow his or her food with minimal or no chewing, there are problems that can arise if your dog is eating too fast…
Frequent hiccups and bad breath aside, there’s always a chance of gagging and choking…
Your dog can also upset his stomach which could lead to vomiting or a condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), which can be life-threatening…
GDV is a condition that can arise if your dog is eating too quickly and gulping down air in the process…
This can cause the stomach cavity to swell or bloat, which can lead to the stomach rotating and blocking off the intestines…
If not caught quickly this condition can lead to death. So you’ll want to keep a close eye on your pup if your dog inhales food without chewing…
And be sure to contact a veterinarian is you suspect that something just isn’t right…
Ways To Get Your Dog To Eat Slower…
There are many ways to help slow your pooch down while he’s eating if you suspect he’s vacuuming up the kibble too quickly…
Here are few common methods that you can use to get your dog to eat slower…
Use A Slow Feeder Bowl…
Using a slow feeder bowl is a great way to get your dog to slow down while eating. These are found all over the internet in a ton of different styles, colors, and sizes…
They work by utilizing raised areas built into the bowl that your dog has to navigate with his snout in order to get his meal…
You can even create an impromptu slow-feeding bowl by simply spreading out your dog’s food in a muffin tin (it works great!)…
Hand Feeding…
Hand feeding is another way to get your dog to slow down if he’s a speed demon eater…
It’s great because you get the added benefit of helping to build a bond between you and your pet…
And you can even take that opportunity to work on some dog training, which will come in handy as you train your dog to do other things like go potty in the right place or not to jump up on visitors…
Feeder Puzzles…
Another great way to slow your dog down is to use feeder puzzles…
Places like Amazon or Chewy have a large assortment of feeder puzzles that require your pet to navigate doors, switches, or vials in order to find their food…
This stimulates your dog’s mind and rewards them for successfully navigating the puzzle in the end…
Another version of this is a snuffle mat, which is a great option for older pets or dogs that rely on their nose for work.
Is Your Dog Afraid While He Eats?
If your dog is a rescue or came from a large litter of siblings there is a chance that they could have developed a food guarding habit which causes them to eat and swallow too fast…
This habit rarely forms around puppies because they typically sort out a pecking order with help from their mother, who acts as a sort of mediator when things get out of hand…
However rescue dogs, especially dogs who spent their formidable years either in a shelter or in a bad home, have a bigger tendency to develop food or resource guarding problems…
Keep in mind that food guarding might look cute at first, but it can be a ticking bomb waiting to explode if your dog shares space with other animals or children…
And you should contact a veterinarian if you suspect that your dog does have a food guard problem…
Why Do Some Dogs Start Guarding Their Food…
There are many reasons why a dog can start to become protective over their food in this way…
It’s possible that they aren’t used to getting enough food to eat, and what happens is that the dog inhales food without chewing too quickly…
It’s also possible that they’ve experienced another dog who would regularly take their food, and you can imagine how that might make a dog nervous about taking his time and eating slowly…
Whatever the reason may be, the good news is that there are many ways to help ease those fears and help return your dog to a safer state of mind…
Some of the things you can do to help ease the nerves of your dog while eating are…
- to feed him out of your hand
- to feed him while staying nearby
- to feed him while inside a crate (with or without the door closed)
- to give him plenty of exercise to help ease the anxiety before feeding
It’s also important to note that if your dog does have a food guarding behavior that it can lead to aggression overtime…
So you definitely want to work with your dog to make him or her feel safer while eating…
A couple of basic things you should do are to keep your hands away from his (or her) bowl while he’s eating and make sure to teach small children to do the same…
And you should try to avoid overstimulation and fights with other pets which can happen when food is dropped on the ground either accidentally or on purpose.
Final Thoughts…
If your dog isn’t chewing his food its likely that he’s just eating in the normal way dogs tend to eat…
But if you do have concerns about the way your dog eats or how quickly he is eating, its always a good idea to discuss it with your veterinarian…
Remember, a slow-feeding bowl, puzzle or snuffle mat is great for any dog regardless of how they eat because mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise…
And for help with aggression which can result from food guarding, it’s generally recommended to consult a professional…
Just keep in mind that there are plenty of things you can do with enough one on one time and dedication to help your dog work through those ingrained behaviors…
Every dog is unique, just like we are, but they are designed to eat with little to no chewing…
So unless you suspect that something just isn’t right while they’re eating, there really isn’t too much to worry about.