Hard vs. Soft - Dog Forums

Tamaryth · 10-31-2006, 06:43 PM

I am feeding Max, Iams for puppies. The problem is that he sometimes eats so fast that he just inhales it and doesn't chew it so he ends up throwing much of it up (& re-eating it, btw...gross!). He is now 13 weeks old. Should I maybe mix some soft food up in with the hard? What would anyone suggest? He is healthy and doesn't seem to be lacking, I just wonder if it could be better.

Thanks!

turnerlvv · 10-31-2006, 07:00 PM

I had a foster like that

What I did was put something big and heavy, like a rock, (so thay cant pick it up) amd put it in the middle of the bowl. That way thy have to eat around the rock and slow down (sometimes lol).

Lol I am not saying that will work or if that is the correct thing to do but it worked for me!

DiggityDogs · 10-31-2006, 07:26 PM

You can also try feeding him on a raised dish. This will help so he doesn't inhale so much air with his food also. put it a little high, like at shoulder level. Canned food might help, just something you'll have to try and see.

SmoothCollieluver · 10-31-2006, 10:22 PM

My dog who is now 9m old does that too. I soak his food before i feed him in warm water for a couple min. Makes it a gravy and breaks it down a bit. I do not recommend soft food as it usually has more fat then any dog needs and it is hard to get them off of it later.

SmoothCollieluver · 10-31-2006, 10:24 PM

i agree with the raised dish. I do not use rasied dishes at the moment. I did before but right now i have young dogs so i crate feed to avoid fighting or sharing. I know exactly what everyone eats. And also because I have collies and being a large big chested dog they are prone to bloat so they eat before bed. They go out to do their job an hour after they eat and are locked up for the rest of the night.

Woof · 11-01-2006, 05:10 PM

You can also use a flat surface like a baking sheet to feed the dog from. It will force him to pick up one piece at a time rather than getting a mouthful. Similar concept as Turners.

StarfishSaving · 11-01-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woof

You can also use a flat surface like a baking sheet to feed the dog from. It will force him to pick up one piece at a time rather than getting a mouthful. Similar concept as Turners.

I second this. We did this with our border collie for a couple months and she learned to eat a little slower and can now eat in a bowl again.

We have also had success soaking their food in water to slow them down a bit.

Puddles · 11-03-2006, 10:57 AM

Just a FYI here for the larger breeds prone to bloat. They are now finding that the raised dishes cause dogs to inhale more air and make these breeds more susecptible to bloat. I came across this information more than once recently, I just can't reference it.

Tamaryth · 11-03-2006, 03:44 PM

I put his food on a shallow dish yesterday and will wait to see how it works. It seems like the easiest sollution for us. He didn't know what to make of it last night.

I am also a little worried because it seems he isn't eating enough. He weighed in a 22 lbs yesterday at his 12 week visit (he is actually 13 weeks). So, I know he is getting some food in him (he weighed 11 lbs on his 9 week visit). He still had some of his lunch left in the bowl when it was time to feed him dinner and when he went to bed, he still had some food left over too. Is this common? Should I be worried?

DiggityDogs · 11-03-2006, 04:14 PM

As long as his body condition still looks good I wouldn't be worried. he may just be telling you he's ready to go to twice a day feedings instead of three. As they get older they will eat less in comparison to their body weight. If you notice any other sypmtoms of illnes, like loose stools, vomiting, coughing, or if he quits eating alltogether, THEN I would be worried.

10-31-2006, 06:43 PM	#1
Tamaryth Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana Posts: 32	Hard vs. Soft I am feeding Max, Iams for puppies. The problem is that he sometimes eats so fast that he just inhales it and doesn't chew it so he ends up throwing much of it up (& re-eating it, btw...gross!). He is now 13 weeks old. Should I maybe mix some soft food up in with the hard? What would anyone suggest? He is healthy and doesn't seem to be lacking, I just wonder if it could be better. Thanks!

10-31-2006, 07:00 PM	#2
turnerlvv Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nevada Posts: 342	I had a foster like that What I did was put something big and heavy, like a rock, (so thay cant pick it up) amd put it in the middle of the bowl. That way thy have to eat around the rock and slow down (sometimes lol). Lol I am not saying that will work or if that is the correct thing to do but it worked for me! __________________ The Turner Pack

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-31-2006, 07:26 PM	#3
DiggityDogs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ....... Posts: 682	You can also try feeding him on a raised dish. This will help so he doesn't inhale so much air with his food also. put it a little high, like at shoulder level. Canned food might help, just something you'll have to try and see.

10-31-2006, 10:22 PM	#4
SmoothCollieluver For the Love Of the Breed Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a house Posts: 874	My dog who is now 9m old does that too. I soak his food before i feed him in warm water for a couple min. Makes it a gravy and breaks it down a bit. I do not recommend soft food as it usually has more fat then any dog needs and it is hard to get them off of it later.

10-31-2006, 10:24 PM	#5
SmoothCollieluver For the Love Of the Breed Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a house Posts: 874	i agree with the raised dish. I do not use rasied dishes at the moment. I did before but right now i have young dogs so i crate feed to avoid fighting or sharing. I know exactly what everyone eats. And also because I have collies and being a large big chested dog they are prone to bloat so they eat before bed. They go out to do their job an hour after they eat and are locked up for the rest of the night.

11-01-2006, 05:10 PM	#6
Woof Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 54	You can also use a flat surface like a baking sheet to feed the dog from. It will force him to pick up one piece at a time rather than getting a mouthful. Similar concept as Turners.

11-03-2006, 10:57 AM	#8
Puddles Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 61	Just a FYI here for the larger breeds prone to bloat. They are now finding that the raised dishes cause dogs to inhale more air and make these breeds more susecptible to bloat. I came across this information more than once recently, I just can't reference it.

11-03-2006, 03:44 PM	#9
Tamaryth Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana Posts: 32	I put his food on a shallow dish yesterday and will wait to see how it works. It seems like the easiest sollution for us. He didn't know what to make of it last night. I am also a little worried because it seems he isn't eating enough. He weighed in a 22 lbs yesterday at his 12 week visit (he is actually 13 weeks). So, I know he is getting some food in him (he weighed 11 lbs on his 9 week visit). He still had some of his lunch left in the bowl when it was time to feed him dinner and when he went to bed, he still had some food left over too. Is this common? Should I be worried?

11-03-2006, 04:14 PM	#10
DiggityDogs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ....... Posts: 682	As long as his body condition still looks good I wouldn't be worried. he may just be telling you he's ready to go to twice a day feedings instead of three. As they get older they will eat less in comparison to their body weight. If you notice any other sypmtoms of illnes, like loose stools, vomiting, coughing, or if he quits eating alltogether, THEN I would be worried.