Why Does My Dog Eat So Fast and Throw Up?

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why does my dog eat so fast and throw up? A fast-eating dog with vomiting can be a big problem for any dog owner. But what causes this behavior, and what can be done to slow down mealtime?

In this article, we will describe common causes of dog eating too fast and regurgitation in dogs. We will also go through the health aspects of it in dogs and the practical solutions for changing this bad habit so your dog does not vomit anymore. Find out why your dog puts his food in his mouth in a jiffy, when to be worried, and the easiest ways to deal with the problem through some tools and training.

Why Dogs Tend to Eat Quickly

There are a number of factors at play here. These may be due to instinct, environment, and personality. Here are some major reasons why dogs may eat fast.

Ancient Instincts and Pack Mentality

The wolves from which domestic dogs evolved were wild animals that had to eat fast to keep from being outrun by competitors. The instinct to defend the food from view and wolf it down fast remains.

Your little one always had a nice, cozy home, but every now and then, the rush of nature comes over him, and he eats in a hurry. It becomes particularly pertinent in multi-dog households where food competition speeds up consumption.

For instance, in your case, three dogs are jostling around a single bowl; each one may feel a sudden urge to gobble down as many kibbles as possible before the other two. It's a race against each other.

Irregular Schedules and Food Insecurity

For rescue dogs or pups who have experienced hunger in the past, fast eating can also stem from food anxiety and a scarcity mindset. If meals were irregular or unreliable in the past, the pattern gets ingrained. So your dog may gulp every bowlful like it’s their last.

Additionally, an inconsistent daily feeding routine can exacerbate the issue and make dogs feel uncertain. They don't know when their next meal may appear, so they rush through what’s in front of them.

Breed, Temperament, and Owner Influence

A Dog’s own personality, combined with the traits of its breed, dictates how fast it will eat. For instance, hyper breeds like Labradors are naturally bred more enthusiastically than calm lap dogs; they simply eat fast.

Some pups are just plain greedy at chow time, like some people. When your dog prances around like its one true love is that food on the counter, you know that dog is a fast eater. But the other type, picky, can take its own sweet time.

Your own attitude as an owner can even accelerate the pace of eating in the dog. For example, if you get that dog, all amped up at mealtime, all that fidgety energy and excessive praise while you dish out its food might condition the dog to eat quickly because that is how it is going to get your reaction.

No matter the breed, WOpet understands that every dog has a unique eating habit, and adjusting feeding strategies can help promote healthier mealtime behaviors. That is why WOpet feeders are designed for every breed.

Why Eating Too Fast Leads to Throwing Up

Now that you know what makes dogs inhale their kibble, you may be wondering exactly why this habit leads to regurgitation. Let's break down the science behind it all.

Gulping in Air and Overloading the Stomach

When dogs eat too fast, they tend to swallow more air along with their food, which fills their stomach with extra gas. The technical term for this is aerophagia. All that excess air stretches their stomach beyond a comfortable capacity.

This overextension then triggers reverse peristalsis to relieve the pressure. In simpler terms, the stomach says "nope" and pushes its contents back out the way they came in.

What often comes up is undigested food mixed with slimy stomach juices. And there’s an important distinction here between regurgitation and vomiting:

● Regurgitation occurs shortly after eating without nausea or abdominal heaving. The food comes up looking similar to how it went down. This is typically what happens when dogs eat too fast.

● Vomiting involves digestive upset and forceful abdominal contractions to eject stomach contents out of the mouth. The food often looks partially digested.

So in most cases of speed eating, dogs are regurgitating rather than vomiting in the traditional sense. But both are messy and concerning!

Increased Risk of Bloat, Choking, and Digestive Issues

Outside of puddles of vomiting, constant gulping of food will result in other health issues.

Wolfing down their food accelerates a larger breed dog's likelihood of bloat – a deadly situation where the stomach is filled with gas, fluid, or food and twists organ tissue. It is excruciating and blocks the dog from burping or vomiting to relieve pressure. Bloat must be addressed in an immediate emergency surgery.

Breathing in kibble also causes munched-up food, which is a choking hazard, particularly in small dogs. And in the long run, overeating chronically can strain the digestive system.

If your dog is already managing stomach problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or food intolerance, rapid eating and vomiting will only increase discomfort.

When to Seek Veterinary Help

Most instances of eating quickly and occasional regurgitation are not a cause for great concern in themselves. In reality, it's a common puppy behavior many outgrow.

But if they are frequent and accompanied by alarming signs such as lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or blood in vomit, it is worth a visit to the vet.

There may be an underlying condition, like parasites, illness, or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Professional consultation is important to reach the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Practical Solutions to Slow Down Eating

If your dog bolts down their meals, try these simple tools and techniques to turn them into a mannerly, slower eater.

Invest in Specialty Bowls and Feeders

The most direct solution to fast eating woes is using a deliberately designed slow-feed bowl. These bowls have built-in obstacles like mazes, ridges, or pillars to make dogs work around them to access food.

For a more structured solution, the WOpet Heritage View Pet Feeder is designed to help regulate portions and slow down eating, reducing the chances of regurgitation and digestive discomfort.

Exercise Portion Control

Even without special bowls, you can slow things down by hand-feeding meals in stages rather than dumping one big bowl at once.

Place small handfuls into your dog’s dish, waiting until they finish each portion fully before adding more. You can also hide bits of kibble around a room or yard to turn eating into a game. Not only does this stretch out mealtime, but it also provides mental stimulation.

Train Your Dog to Eat Slower

In conjunction with physical tools, helpful verbal cues and commands encourage more moderate eating.

Try saying 'wait' before allowing your pup to dive in so they pause and look to you for the release cue of 'okay!' Give lots of praise when they hesitate before gobbling.

You can also teach a 'slow' or 'easy' command, where you reward your pet for visibly ingesting at a more measured pace. It helps cement the behavior.

For multi-dog households, feeding pups in separate rooms reduces competition anxiety that drives hurried eating. It lets them focus solely on their own bowl.

Additionally, pay attention to your own energy when you set down your dog’s meals. If you overly excite them beforehand, they associate eating fast with your reaction. Stay calm and use a neutral tone.

Adjust Their Diet

In some instances, simply changing your dog’s bowl contents does the trick.

Crunchy kibble is easy to inhale, especially if it's small-sized. Switching to larger chunks that require more chewing could help. Or try adding some wet food into the mix, gravy and all.

If your dog has persistent vomiting, consult your vet for tailored nutrition advice, too. They may recommend digestive-friendly options that are less likely to cause upset when eaten quickly.

Conclusion

Dog eat so fast and throw up, this is an instinct originating from evolution, unique circumstances of having starved in the past, over-excitable personality, and habits from owners.

Eating too quickly includes a large amount of air in the stomach, thus overwhelming digestion; this can lead to regurgitation and even vomiting. While a one-off is not life-threatening, chronic speed eating may predispose people to dire health consequences.

Luckily, plenty of other tools and techniques can help retrain a dog's behavior. From feeding devices to portion control to cues to feeding separately to feeding aids to dietary changes to other modifications, the dog could be turned into a slow and tidy eater in no time( and lessen the cleaning duty!).

low down your dog’s eating and prevent regurgitation with the right feeding solutions. Try the WOpet feeders for a healthier, safer mealtime!