Choking from eating too fast

[karens73]

Hey everyone,
Max has a problem with slowing down while he eats. He gobbles his food and then starts to choke (the most awful sound in the world) most times he throws up and then eats the vomit. I have tried giving him smaller bites, smaller portions, and wetting the food but he still inhales like a little piggy. When he is eating too fast we try to take the food away, then return it once he has calmed down. Still doesn't work. Any suggestions on how to keep him from killing himself with his food.

[originalfatc]

well, I think first I would have him checked to make sure his esophagus is ok, then if thats alright I would feed him just a bit or two at a time and see if that helps any.

[DiegoDog]

I want to see this one. My dog hoovers his food. I feed him everyday and always a good amount. I mean he has never starved. But he eats like its his last meal and hacks when eating it. Dogs....

[renee]

Years ago, I had to start feeding my lab mix larger sized dog food. It made him slow down and chew his food. I don't know if it was coincidence or really worked, but it's a thought.

[DiegoDog]

I tried that...didn't work, made him choke more

[excellrott]

put a nice clean rock in the middle of his food, so that he has to eat around it. This should slow him down.

[DiegoDog]

...never thought of a rock. Although I will have to use a baseball or something. All the rocks around here are covered in snow. Don't feel like digging 4 feet of snow.

[timtwo]

Just a thought--at one time I was considering adopting a grey hound. One of the web sites mentioned a food bowl that sounded much like the idea excellrot mentioned. If I understood correctly, it was designed like a donut and was made just for this problem. If you can't find one or want to go with something homemade, you should be able to get a rock or something similar at a home improvement center. It has to be heavy enough that it won't move around and can't be carried off.

[DiegoDog]

Still not sure if that would work though. I mean it would slow how fast he'd get the food. But that doesn't mean he'd actually stop to chew it. He just sucks it back without chewing. Infact he does that with all his food...

[DaisyJRT]

Split his dinner into two meals during the day. That way he wouldn't feel so hungry. We feed our GSP two meals a day. If we fed him all at once I know he'd throw up from eating so fast!

[DiegoDog]

He does eat twice a day. morning and night. He still wolfs it down...maybe thats where the term came from

[DaisyJRT]

Can you put your hand in his food while he's eating? Maybe if he's food possessive that's why he hurries....he's afraid you'll eat it! LOL!!:D

[DiegoDog]

Lol he isn't food posseive. Lol but if I go near it he'll eat it even faster. Lol. No I can slow down his intake but I can't make him chew it first lol

[DaisyJRT]

See he's afraid you're going to eat his food! LOL!

[DiegoDog]

But I've never taken food away. I take the bowl when he's done so he just takes it as a "oh I'm not done yet mom!" and gobbles it down

[Furbaby Mom]

Raise the food bowl up on a platform closer to the natural height of his face. He will need to reach for the food a little harder and that will slow him down a bit. Also the donut shaped bowls will help as the food isn't all in one spot.

Good luck!

[karens73]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. Please see my post under new puppy, I was forced to give Max up. I am asking for prayers for his future happiness and safety.

[DiegoDog]

Still wont work for my dog though. I mean you can slow down the amount he can eat at a time, but that still doesn't stop him from sucking it back instead of chewing it first

[DaisyJRT]

I really wouldn't worry about the way your dog eats. As long as he isn't throwing up all the time.

[DiegoDog]

He hacks it up sometimes. You should see him though. He like chokes it down

[Cocoa's Mom]

Try spreading his food out on a large plate, it will definetely slow him down some because the food will be further apart.

I think his throwing up a lot like that should be something to worry about. A call to his vet is definetely in order here.

[dogpaws71]

Try measuring out in a seperate bowl your dogs normal food amount. With your hands put a small amount in his dish. Keep your hands in the food as he eats ( hand feed) Once he eats that give him more. Do this for two weeks.

Please also start a "nothing in life is free policy" with him. This means you have him do something for you to get what he wants. Like before letting him outside have him sit when he sits you let him out. Or before you take him for a walk do the same. If he starts to sit before you tell him to say somehting like "nice job" but do not let him outside. Re-direct him and tell him to sit again. Now when he sits you can say "ok" and let him out. This will help the dog to understand his role in the household, which can help any dog.

Good luck!

[FrankieSmama]

I'm not much help but Frankie does the same thing since he was a baby till now! Believe it or not but he does not/hardly chew...he will just gobble it up and eventually start choking. We've tried giving him a lil bit...taking it away...nothing worked...His still the same....Frankie loves his food!!! he'll swallow it no problem. His okay, nothing wrong with him. But hopefully ur dog will get over this sometime in the future! good luck!!!

Belle