Small and In Charge

Health & Fitness and Behavior & Training
Small & In Charge » Tips & Tidbits »

Top 5 Ways to Stop Your Small Dog from Gobbling

By: Alison Kim Perry

Sure your small dog lives the good life: he has an oversized plush dog bed and regular homemade organic treats made especially for him. And, he is living out his days inside a classic cottage house nestled in the quaintest cul-de-sac in town. So why then when chow time rolls around, does your little pooch ravage his meal like he was a stray dog and it was his very last?

Of course it won't be his last meal. You'll make sure of that. But eating fast is what his parents did. And so did their parents, and generations of wild dogs and wolves before them who had to eat in a hurry because they truly didn't know when they would be eating again.

But there are health risks associated with being a greedy gobbler. When your pup inhales his meal, the dry food will absorb the moisture in his tummy, causing his stomach to expand and forcing him to vomit his meal. Other complications include stomach aches, ulcers, constipation and even stomach ruptures.

Even though, your beloved Chihuahua can look forward to regular meals, that don't stop him from eating his kibble quicker than the world's fastest man, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, can make his way to the finish line. So as his owner, how do you break this habit? It's not going to happen overnight, but we're offering five ways to stop your small dog from giving you heartburn.