Why does my husky eat so fast

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 14, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Why Your Dog Is Eating So Fast, and How to Slow Them Down

The good news? Eating too quickly is not a serious medical problem, although it could lead to some problems. Photo: Jaromir Chalabala

Help, my dog is food-obsessed!

I hear this all the time from pet parents: Why does my dog eat so fast!?

Many dogs gobble up food the moment it touches the floor. The good news? This is not a serious medical problem, although eating too fast could lead to some problems.

Voracious eating is usually a common behavioral issue, and it can irritate people who wish their dog would enjoy their meal a bit more rather than woof it down in 10 seconds.

There is no definitive answer as to why some dogs eat as if theyre competing in Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest. It truly boils down to a learned behavior early in life or a personality trait:

Dogs who come from large litters may have had competition early in life for nourishment.
Dogs in hoarding situations or dogs fed poorly or irregularly may also develop speed eating and food-guarding behavior.
Some dogs exhibit fast eating only when they are around another dog.
The majority of these little piggies, however, just dive into their food because food is incredibly gratifying to them. Most people can understand different attitudes about food since its the same in humans some of us love to eat and eat too quickly, but other people have less interest in food or less of a food drive.

Does your dog eat too quickly? Photo: Lisa Yarost

Problems Associated With a Dog Eating Too Quickly

Digestive Issues

Speed eaters can suffer from digestive problems, such as choking, gagging, burping, vomiting or regurgitating. Although most of these problems resolve on their own, some can be serious.

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)

Most dangerous is the possibility of bloat, or GDV a life-threatening condition that requires immediate emergency intervention.

Although GDV is not solely associated with eating too fast, deep-chested breeds prone to GDV, such as the Great Dane, Standard Poodle, and many other large and giant breeds, should never be allowed to simply gobble up their food.

Food Bloat

While not as serious as GDV, food bloat usually occurs when a voracious eater gets into something like an entire bag of kibble or sometimes a tempting treat, such as 2 loaves of bread, and begins to bloat. Attention, all you budding bakers: Rising bread dough is particularly dangerous.

You cannot tell the difference between true GDV and food bloat, so both require an immediate trip to the veterinarian.

Any obvious and fairly acute distention of the abdomen, significant belching or attempts to vomit, or standing in a dull position and dry heaving is an emergency situation.

If you discover your dog has eaten a very large amount of food or bread dough, call the vet immediately.

A Couple More Problems Worth Mentioning

Dogs who eat so fast that they barely chew their food will not get all the nutritional benefits of a good meal.
It is particularly important that you choose a high-quality, highly digestible food if your dog tends to eat too quickly.

My own dog is a speed-eater, but even she is not quite THIS bad. This puppy was hungry! Via: Basic69 on YouTube

5 Tips to Slow Down a Dog Whos Eating Too Fast

1. Special Food Bowls

An entire industry has developed around slow feeder bowls and food puzzles designed to slow down the crazy eater, both canine and feline alike. These products can work. There are also inserts that can be placed inside an existing food bowl.

While most of these products work best for kibble, some are suited for canned or raw diet eaters.
Other bowls are made for small or brachycephalic breeds.

2. Muffin Tins

A do-it-yourself suggestion is to simply divide up kibble into a muffin tin and use that as a dog bowl.

3. Food Puzzles

These products really make your dog work for food! I have been amazed at how quickly the food-driven dog can figure these out. Be aware of aggressive or food-guarding dogs with some of these products. If one morsel is left in a KONG, for example, your food-aggressive dog may be guarding that object from across the room and you may not be aware.

4. Hand Feeding

Labor-intensive but good for bonding, training and slowing down the speed eater, you can hand feed your dog over a few minutes.

5. Multiple Small Meals

Think about feeding your dog 45 times a day rather than just once or twice. Although your dog may still speed eat, you lessen the risk of bloat.

Speed Eaters Remain Speed Eaters

My own pup isa food gobbler, and I really dislike the behavior. She actually attacks a regular dog bowl and finishes her small-dog, 1/3-cup portion in about 8 seconds.

Yes, she has a slow feeder bowl, and I save her food puzzle for treats when we are leaving her alone for several hours. Still and I realize Im anthropomorphizing I feel sad because she seems to take no true enjoyment in food. Shes obsessed, never satisfied. Its like watching an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

And did I mention shes overweight?

Its really easy to overfeed these dogs because they always have that expectant look on their face. Anyone remember Little Shop of Horrors? Well, my dog is a little Audrey II. Her face constantly says, Feed me. She is only down a pound thanks to more exercise and a measuring cup.

Good luck with your speed eaters. There is one positive that comes to mind. If they are sick or getting sick, a speed eater might take 45 seconds to finish their food, and that means youd better pay attention.

If they refuse a meal, please call your vet right away. The dog is probably truly ill.

References

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/gastric-dilatation-volvulus.
Harper, Rob. Approaches to Food Bloat. Vet Times. Oct. 17, 2016. https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/approaches-to-food-bloat.pdf.
Bread Ingestion in Pets on the Rise. ASPCA Pro. https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/bread-ingestion-pets.
Hand Feed Your Dog Its Dinner There are Many Benefits. American Kennel Club. Oct. 29, 2015. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/hand-feed-your-dog-dinner/.
London, Karen, PhD. Tips to Stop Your Dog from Eating Too Fast. The Bark. Sept. 2016. https://thebark.com/content/tips-stop-your-dog-eating-too-fast.
Llera, Ryan, DVM, and Robin Downing, DVM, CVPP, CCRP, DAAPM. Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Dog. VCA Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog.

This pet health content was written by a veterinarian,

Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD

. It was last reviewed Oct. 16, 2020.

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See

additional information

7 Reasons Why Your Husky Breathes So Fast + 3 Tips

Your Husky breathes quite fast. And you have no idea why. Is it a Husky thing?Or is it an indication of a problem?This game of guessing makes you crazy

Read on to find out:

If fast breathing can be fatal.
How fast a Huskys breath should be.
7 reasons why your Husky breathes so fast.
What to do to normalize your Huskys breathing.
And so much more

Why does my Husky breathe so fast?

Your Husky is breathing so fast because of the temperature or obesity. Heart problems, lung fluid, Cushings syndrome, and respiratory problems can also make them breathe faster. Onion poisoning is another reason. Or maybe, they simply need more oxygen after a tiring playtime.

7 reasons why your Husky breathes so fast

#1: Obesity

Huskies are not usually obese because they are working dogs. But, it does not mean that they cant have this condition because they are Huskies.

Any dog can be obese if they do not exercise and eat too much. And just like humans, Huskies will breathe harder if they are overweight.

Obesity can affect your Huskys breathing in several ways.

They can develop fat deposits in their chest and airways. These deposits can make breathing difficult for your Huskies.

Dogs with short noses like Pugs and Bulldogs can have this problem.

When this happens, your Huskys lungs cant normally expand. This causes them to breathe faster than normal.

Obesity in Huskies is associated with more dangerous diseases such as:

Neoplasia.
Hypertension.
Hyperlipidemia.
Bone problems.
Hypothyroidism.
Insulin resistance.
Metabolic diseases.
Reproductive disorders.

You can tell if your Husky is obese simply by checking their body. An obese Husky has missing waist, missing abdominal tuck, and ribs covered in fat.

If you cant feel your Huskys rib when you touch it, there is a huge chance that theyre too fat.

If youre asking why your Husky is fat, the answer is simple. They are fat because they consume too much calories but never burn them.

Yes, your Husky looks cute when theyre chubby. But it doesnt mean that they should stay that way because its harder for them to breathe.

Reading tip: Why Is My Husky So Fat? 7 Real Reasons + 5 Tips

#2: Heart disease

Heart disease can make your Husky breathe faster.

Your Husky has a higher chance of having heart disease if they are obese. But, Huskies with a normal weight can have it too.

Some signs of heart disease include:

Fatigue.
Potbelly.
Dry cough.
Restlessness.
Rapid weight loss.
Fainting and seizures.

Besides being overweight, age and breed are the two reasons why dogs have heart disease.

Luckily, Huskies are not a breed prone to heart disease. But it doesnt mean that Huskies cannot get it.

Your Husky can get heart disease once they are older.

There are two types of heart disease in dogs, congenital and acquired.

Your Husky has a higher chance of having acquired heart disease. In fact, only 5% of all canine heart diseases are congenital.

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is heart disease that a dog got from their parents or breed. Congestive heart failure and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy are examples of this heart disease.

These diseases can prevent your Huskys heart in pumping the right amount of blood. We know that there is oxygen in the blood.

Your Husky will breathe faster if they dont get the right oxygen.

Acquired heart disease

Acquired heart disease happens to middle-aged and older Huskies. It is a result of aging and normal wear. Some acquired heart diseases are Canine Valvular disease and Pericardial disease.

These diseases happen when your Huskys heart valve leaks. It can also happen if fluids fill the sacs near the heart.

These can affect your dogs heartbeat and a faster heartbeat means a faster breath.

#3: Cushings syndrome

Cushings syndrome can also make your Husky breathe faster. This is when your Huskys body makes too much cortisol.

Its symptoms are the same to other diseases that is why its hard to diagnose.

And like heart disease, older dogs are more prone to this disease.

Here are some of its symptoms:

Hair loss.
Pot belly.
Lethargy.
Fast breaths.
Skin infections.
Pees more often.
Has thinning skin.
Excessive thirst and hunger.

Pituitary dependent and adrenal dependent are the two types of Cushings syndrome.

Pituitary dependent

This happens when there is a tumor at the pituitary gland of your Huskys brain. This is the most common form affecting 80-90% of animals.

You can recognize this if your Husky has weaker muscles or if they bruise easily.

Adrenal dependent

This happens when there is a tumor in the adrenal gland of your Huskys kidney. This disease affects dogs 6 years and up, but can also affect younger ones.

Most of the time, Huskies who have prolonged steroid use can have this type of Cushings syndrome.

#4: Respiratory problems

Respiratory problems can obviously make breathing harder for your Husky. There are different problems that are common for any dog.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is one of the most common. It is known by daily coughing for one month.

A Huskys cough is followed by wheezing and retching if they have bronchitis. They also have mucus in their airway.

Your Husky will have a lower tolerance for exercise if the bronchitis worsens. Their gums also turn blue because of the lack of oxygen.

Some symptoms of bronchitis are:

Gagging.
Coughing.
Wheezing.
Difficulty breathing.
Vomiting or retching.
Loss of consciousness.

Note: Luckily, you cannot get your Huskys bronchitis and vice versa because it is not contagious.

Pneumonia

Your Husky can also have pneumonia since it is common. This is the inflammation of air sacs in the lungs.

This disease can make your Huskys breathing hard. Most dogs who have this disease have a viral infection in their lungs.

Some symptoms of pneumonia include:

Fever.
Lethargy.
Wheezing.
Runny nose.
Deep cough.
Rapid breathing.
Appetite and weight loss.

You can say that some symptoms of pneumonia are the same as bronchitis or other diseases. That is why you need to go to the vet when this happens.

Other causes of pneumonia include inhaling spores and breathing in foreign material.

Collapsed lung

Breathing problems can also happen if your Husky has a collapsed lung. This is pneumothorax.

This is when the air outside the lungs assembles inside the chest wall. This prevents normal lung inflation.

Some causes of pneumothorax are:

Blunt trauma.
Chest injuries.
Lung disease.
Surgery in the chest.
Trauma to the windpipe.

If you think that your Huskys not breathing well, think if one of these things happened recently.

#5: Onion and garlic poisoning

Onions and garlic might be delightful for some, but they are toxic for your Husky.

Among the two, garlic is more poisonous for dogs. But you should never underestimate onions.

Once your Husky eats one of these spices, their GI tract will swell and their mouth will feel irritated.

Some symptoms of garlic and onion poisoning are:

Drooling.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Lethargy.
Collapse.
Pale gums.
Foul breath.
Reddish urine.
Mouth irritation.
Increased panting.

A component in these two can cause haemolytic anaemia. This type of anemia destroys your Huskys red blood cells faster than their body can produce.

Red blood cell contains oxygen and it wont reach the lungs if its destroyed. And if your Husky cant have oxygen in their lungs, they will breathe faster.

#6: Its too hot

The most obvious reason why your Husky breathes faster is because of temperature.

A Husky who feels hot will breathe faster. And there are several reasons why your husky feels hotter than usual.

Your Husky might feel hot if its the summer season. They have thick fur which is ideal for colder climates.

And when the temperature increases, their body feels hotter. This is the reason why they breathe faster.

Your Husky can also pant after a long walk or exercise. They need to cool down their bodies and this is normal.

Panting is your Huskys way of regulating its temperature. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat, thats why they stick their tongue out and breath fast and heavy.

Instead, they stick their tongue out to let air circulate in and out of their body. The water in their mouth and respiratory tract then evaporates.

High humidity can also make your Husky feel hotter. A high level of humidity makes it harder for your Huskys moisture to evaporate.

But dont be mistaken. If your Husky breathes fast while wagging their tail, they might be happy and excited. Then theres nothing to worry about.

A study found nothing concerning when a dog hyperventilates out of excitement.

#7: Diaphragmatic hernia

Huskies can also have a hard time breathing due to diaphragmatic hernia. This happens when the abdomen pushes their diaphragm forward.

There are cases where the dog got this from birth. Weimaraners and Cocker Spaniels are prone to this condition.

But mostly, Huskies get this hernia from blunt force or trauma. Obesity can also be a cause.

Once the diaphragm is torn, parts of the digestive system can enter your Huskys chest cavity.

Your Husky will breathe harder when this happens because their intestines can prevent the lungs from fully expanding. This can also make lung fluid leak.

And when fluid from the chest cavity leaks, it can worsen your Huskys breathing.

What are some signs of diaphragmatic hernia:

Stomach upset.
Respiratory distress.
Abnormal heart rhythm.
Mild breathing difficulties.
Muffled heart and lung sounds .

Warning: If you see these signs, immediately take your Husky to the vet. This condition is fatal.

3 tips on what to do if your Husky breathes so fast

#1: Always be cool

If you think that your Husky breathes faster because they feel hot, you can make the room cooler for them.

Turnon the air conditioner. This is much needed during summer.

And if you think that you should shave your Huskys coat in the summer, please dont. It can cause sunburns.

Water can also make their bodies feel cooler. So you should have a lot of it prepared for your Husky.

If you are taking them for a walk, walk your Husky early in the morning or after a sunset.

If they played or walked with you, give it a few minutes. Your Husky will eventually stop breathing fast.

Cooling mats are also a great idea to keep their temperature right.

Reading tip: 13 Simple Ways To Keep Your Husky Cool (How-To Guide)

#2: Lets get physical

If you think that the problem is the Huskys weight, then you should exercise them more.

Walking for an hour a day can help. If your Husky gets easily tired, you can always start slowly.

Decreasing their calorie intake is also important for them to lose weight. Knowing how to count your Huskys calories is important if you want to make them thinner.

You can easily count your Huskys calorie needs by having a calorie counter. You should also use a measuring cup when giving them dog food.

It would be hard on your Husky at first, but time will come that they can eat less and exercise more. Remember, Rome wasnt built in a day.

Just enjoy the slow process and everything will follow.

#3: Take them to the vet

And if you think that there is something wrong with your Husky, take them to the vet immediately.

Your Husky might have a disease that can be fatal if not cured and breathing fast is only a symptom. Some diseases are also contagious and you dont want other dogs to suffer the same.

There are other symptoms than breathing fast. You should watch out for other symptoms like lethargy, drooling, or appetite loss.

Your vet will know what to do.

Monthly checkups should also be on your list. That way, diseases are detected before they affect your Huskys body on a larger scale.