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Re: frantic eating

Posted by Karen on July 16, 2008, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Re: frantic eating"
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Go back to Blackwood or another higher quality brand - I am currently trying that ironically with my dogs after seeing it at a recent dog event. I like so far! Better foods mean healthier dogs. Grocery store brands are like different levels of fast foods - do you want to survive on McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, Popeye's, KFC??? Even the upper level ones are more like Chuck E Cheese or lower places with salad bars that have lesser qualitry veggies and still lots of fatty crap there.

I have a dog who is a bolter and lost one last winter who was - to the point where every now and then he would hurl.

There are a bunch of things you can try.

1 - putting things in the bowl the dog has to eat about. However, some dogs learn to pick them up.

2 - you can get a bowl designed to stop bolting - http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy00.asp?c=&T1=D74089+S&SKW=+bowls&GEN1=&PageNo=1

3 - try feeding the dog crated so he feels safer and like he does not have to bolt food inorder to get to eat.

4 - soak the food until soft in warm water or what I do is take canned food (I try to find brands with broth and meat as opposed to water and by products) and then I will mix it with the dry, add a bit of water so the dog cannot gulp it down. My worst gulper is a slower eater that way. I stretch a 12 oz can between four dogs ranging in weight from 14 lbs to 90.

5 - If this is your only dog, STOP bowl feeding and use toys that he has to work to get kibble out of such as Buster Cubes, Molecuballs and Tug a Jugs (three of my favorite). This will also be mentally stimulating.

Now, for the treats and chews. Avoid thin chews such as pigs ears or chips or rolled rawhide. These do not give a good chew and are too easy to pull apart. Avoid things like Greenies and Booda Velvets that are made of pressed vegetable starches as they break off easily into chunks. I own aggressive chewers.

I prefer PRESSED rawhides (preferably US made) as they are solid and give a longer chew. They should feel heavy for the size. If not, they could be hollow - BAD. I also get the next size up than recommended for my dog. You can try natural bones - NEVER THE SMOKED ONES as they are brittle - and only beef shanks. But some dogs can crack them and also wear or break teeth so be careful. But you can take them and stuff them with spread cheese, peanut butter, ground veggies, etc. You cna also do the same with Kongs.