How to slow down Beagle eating

How to Make Your Dog Eat More Slowly

Some dogs are slow eaters, taking their time to chew every little piece and enjoy each bite. Others seem to swallow their food whole without even bothering to consider what it is theyre eating. They eat so fast you can barely blink an eye before the entire meal is gone. These dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds. Unfortunately, eating so quickly can be quite dangerous for our dogs.

First, they can choke, which is obviously life-threatening. Gagging on their food will often result in vomiting and discomfort, as well.

Second, eating quickly increases the risk of a serious medical condition called bloat. Bloat (formally known as gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV) occurs when the stomach (or intestines) expands and may twist within the abdomen. This is immediately life threatening, and dogs will go into shock very quickly. When a dog eats too fast, he gulps down an excessive amount of air along with his food, causing the expansion and, therefore, increasing the chances of bloat.

There is also a condition called food bloat which is not a true GDV. It is just huge amounts of food that have been ingested sitting in the stomach. This condition does not cause shock. However, if there is even a remote chance a dog appears bloated, it should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. (Hint: a dog with true GDV will retch and vomit mostly foam, rarely food.)

So how can we help our dogs eat at a slower pace? Unfortunately, we cant just sit them down and have a talk about safety. But there are some creative ways to help encourage healthy consumption, and with so many options, youre almost certain to find one your dog enjoys.

• Slow-Feeder Bowls: There are many different brands of slow-feed dog bowls available on the market specifically for dogs that eat too quickly. All of them seem to do a great job, but you might want to read reviews to make sure people have had good success using a specific product with a dog similar to yours. You can also make your own slow-feeder bowl by using two bowls to feed your dog. Take a bowl one or two sizes larger than your dogs regular dish and set it down flat, then take your dogs regular dish and place it upside down into the large bowl. This will create a gap between the two bowls that you can fill with your dogs food. Since the gap is big enough for your dog to reach the food, but not so big that he can take gulps, hell be forced to eat more slowly.
• Food Puzzles: Food puzzle toys are another excellent way to slow down your dogs eating. They are similar to slow-feeders, as they are generally comprised of different nooks and crannies for your dogs food to fit into, therefore making it impossible for your dog to take large gulps of food. There are many different puzzles available, from ones that lie flat on the ground to toys that dispense food while your dog plays with them, and all are viable options.
• Cookie Sheet or Muffin Pan: Spreading your dogs food across a cookie sheet makes it very difficult for your dog to gulp down large amounts, especially if you feed kibble. Your dog will be forced to take tiny bites and pick up a lot of pieces with his tongue (which takes quite a bit of time), and therefore will eat much more slowly. The same goes for using a muffin pan. Fill each small muffin cup with a little bit of food, and use the entire pan. Even if your dogs muzzle can reach easily into the cups, the meal will be broken down into smaller portions, and the excessive gulping will be eliminated.
• Hand Feed: Some dogs love being hand fed. While many owners dont necessarily have time to sit there and hand feed their dogs, you can use training time as mealtime. Use your dogs regular food as rewards during obedience training or any other training. Consider working on various tricks for food, and break everything down into small steps. This makes mealtime fun and safe, since your dog wont be able to inhale large amounts of food.

Why Do Beagles Eat So Much? Greedy or Hungry?

If youve ever watched a Beagle devour its meal, you may have found yourself asking, why does my beagle eat so much, why are beagles so greedy and is there something wrong with my beagle? This seemingly insatiable appetite is common amongst Beagles, but what drives this behavior? In this article, we discuss why beagles eat so much, explore the reasons behind their apparent greed and provide practical tips to ensure they stay healthy and dont become obese.

Why Do Beagles Eat Everything?

The beagle dog breed has a keen sense of smell and were originally bred as hunting dogs and used in large packs to track game and other small animal and wildlife. The only food a beagle likely got on a hunt was the food they scavenged themselves and the odd bit of food scraps thrown away from the human members of the hunt. Each beagle would compete against each other for food, so eating quick and as much as possible was high on the agenda for each dog.

If it looked like food, theyd eat it. Even to this day, Beagles will eat anything and everything; its just part of their instinct to eat whatever they can, whenever they can.

The modern beagle breed still displays the scavenger and opportunists instincts of its hunting ancestors. When I got my first beagle, i wasnt prepared for these traits, so learning to recognize, understand and manage these behaviors was a steep learning curve for me.

Why Are Beagles Always Hungry?

So while a beagle is a natural scavenger and a beagles instincts is to eat as much as it can when it can, doesnt fully explain why your beagle appears to always be hungry.

There could be other reason as at to why your beagle is always hungry, these include;

• Medical conditions can cause an increase in appetite leading to issues like obesity.
• Behavioral reasons include learning to beg when you are eating knowing you will give them a treat.
• Food related reasons include giving your dog a poor quality diet, for example feeding them a dry kibble with poor quality ingredients.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions can have an effect on your beagles appetite, so its best to rule these out before presuming the over-eating is behavioral in nature.

Some of the medical conditions that can cause an increase in appetite include;

1. Diabetes
2. Cushings Syndrome (Hyperadrenocorticism)
3. Malabsorption Conditions

If you think your beagle has an increase, or decrease in appetite book an appointment with a qualified veterinarian so they can check out your dog for any potential health problems.

Obesity in Beagles

As already discussed, beagles are notorious for their love of food and their insatiable appetites. Unfortunately, this voracious appetite often leads to a high level of obesity in the beagle breed.

Health implications of overeating and weight gain

Overeating and weight gain in beagles can lead to a plethora of health problems. Obese beagles are at a higher risk for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and respiratory issues.

Excess weight puts strain on their joints and organs, impacting their overall quality of life. It is essential to address obesity in beagles to ensure they have a long and healthy life.

Prevention and management strategies for weight control

Preventing and managing weight control in beagles requires a combination of healthy eating habits and regular exercise, starting from an early age as a puppy.

First and foremost, beagles should be fed a balanced diet that is appropriate for their breed and size. Portion control is key, as feeding too much can easily lead to weight gain.

In addition to a proper diet, regular exercise is essential for beagles. Daily walks, interactive playtime, and mental stimulation can help burn off excess calories and keep them from becoming sedentary.

Owners should also be mindful of using food as a reward or source of comfort. Instead, try using non-food rewards and providing plenty of love and attention or use low calorie treats such as vegetables.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to obesity in beagles. By being proactive and mindful of their diet and exercise, we can help our dogs live healthier lives.

Beagles and Food Nothing is Safe

From the moment i bought my first beagle (Bracken) home I realised I had to change some of my habits around the house in regards to food. I had to look at our home differently, through the eyes of a beagle so to speak.

Our house had become my beagles hunting ground. We had to Beagle proof everything, ensure food was out of reach at all times, cupboard doors closed and locked, and no food was left unattended.

Guests, adults, and kids alike would be asked not to leave food anywhere a Beagle could be.

We had to take this over-cautious approach even when outside with our dog. We were always scanning and assessing the surroundings to make sure our beloved beagle wasnt able to get into trouble.

We had trained Bracken to be off the leash; she had a good recall (for a Beagle). However, she often sniffed out food. She wouldnt hesitate to help herself to a family picnic, her recall training conveniently forgotten. She once stole a childs ice cream right out of his hand!

Some beagles are know to eat feces. While eating feces is gross and a terrible habit for any dog, its not as uncommon as you may think amongst dogs. The terms for poo eating is Coprophagia, and you can learn more about why beagles eat poop and how to stop it. Dogs eating feces can causue them issues with diarrhea, sometimes leading to vomiting and or infection.

Good Quality Food Will Help Keep your Beagle Full For Longer

Feeding your Beagle with a varied and healthy diet is crucial. Too often, people feed their dogs poor-quality canned food or cheap kibble biscuit.

Cheap wet dog food doesnt always contain the nutrients your dog needs, and poor quality dry biscuit can contain bulking agents.

Feeding a dog with quality food can increase the cost of ownership of a beagle, but thats a commitment we make when we decide to get a dog. You owe it to your beagle to provide him with a varied diet that gives it all the nutrients they need.

We recommend a fully raw food diet. If raw food seems inconvenient (its not), a high-quality kibble (biscuit) can be used and fed at two intervals per day.

We gave our first Beagle quality dry kibble from the start. We followed the exact guidelines from the manufacturer for the correct amounts for her ideal weight. She kept a stable weight, her coat looked shiny, and all seemed well.

Over time we started to hear much more about a raw dog diet. We researched, listened to others, and eventually took the decision, putting Bracken and our other Beagle, Baylee, on a 100% raw food diet. When changing a dogs diet, it is always better to gradually make the change over a few weeks so as not to cause any issues. I wont go into why raw is best here as thats a broad topic by itself, but needless to say, we wish we had done it earlier; our dogs thrived on it!

How Much Should a Beagle Eat a Day

By feeding your Beagle with good quality food and the correct quantity, you can be sure to keep your Beagle at a healthy weight. Feeding twice daily may help your dog feel less hungry as they are less likely to have an empty stomach for long.

Ready-prepared raw foods, such as Nutriment Raw or quality kibble, will guide you on how much food to give your Beagle based on your dogs ideal weight.

If you are buying fresh raw food items from a butcher or online, finding the best quantities is a little trial and error.

As a starting point, feed your Beagle about 2-3% of his ideal adult weight; if your dog is active, feed him a little more if hes a couch slouch, then a little less.

The best way to check if you feed the right amount is to run your hands over your beagles ribs. If you can feel but not see them, they are at a good weight.

Beagles come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the breeder, some Beagles are naturally smaller than others, and ideal weights vary accordingly.

Strategies to Slow Down Your Beagles Eating Pace

Beagles eat fast, so its best to try and slow down how quickly they eat. Eating slower will cause them to chew food and be kinder to a beagles digestion system.

There are different ways to slow down how quickly your Beagle eats. Rather than a regular round bowl, you could use a dish like the one below. This kind of design means that your dog cant just take the food in one mouthful. He has to dig food from around raised sections of the bowl, which slows down how quickly they can eat their food.

Another way is to feed them by hand. By feeding by hand, you control the rate of the food and how quickly they get to eat their meal. Just remember to clean your hands after hand feeding as a dogs saliva contains all kinds of germs.

You could also use mealtime as a chance for obedience training or any other training. Work on things such as leave and recall and use their food as a reward. Break the food down into smaller parcels; this turns a 20-second fast feast into a few minutes worth of valuable training for your Beagle.

If feeding by hand suits you, then great, but for most, its inconvenient and messy, but it can be fun and rewarding!