Why Does My Dog Bring Up Food After Eating?

Dogs that eat too fast may be at risk of dangerous conditions.

Does this happen in your home: your dog eats his food, then a few minutes later, you see him taking an unmistakable posture. Sure enough, you rush over to find a pile of undigested kibble on your white rug.

Again.

Your dog simply walks off and lies down, looking perfectly happy and comfortable. Or, worse yet, he attempts to re-consume the mess.

Why Does My Dog Bring up Food Right Away After Eating?

There are a multitude of reasons for dogs to vomit or regurgitate. Regurgitation is when food comes up without the involvement of contraction of the stomach muscles. Vomiting is when the stomach muscles contract and the stomach contents come back up.

One common reason for dogs to have undigested food come back up immediately after eating is that the food has been taken in too fast.

When a dog eats fast, kibbles are often ingested without being chewed. Also, large amounts of air are usually swallowed. Both of these can trigger either regurgitation or vomiting.

Always check with your veterinarian if your dog is vomiting or regurgitating. Don't assume the problem is that he's eating too fast without going over it with the doctor. There are many causes, and some of them require medical intervention.

Why Do Some Dogs Eat So Fast?

Dogs may eat fast because they are anxious about the food. They may have learned when they were still with their litter that they must eat fast or risk not getting any food.

Dogs may be genetically predisposed to eat quickly due to their wild ancestors needing to get what they could quickly when a kill was made. Dogs can be innately compelled to guard their food, which may mean being aggressive when other dogs or people approach their food or eating it as quickly as possible.

Some dogs may just have a personality that lends itself to eating fast. Maybe they want to get back to playing as soon as they can.

Dogs may gulp their food if they are allowed to be very hungry before mealtime. This is sometimes the case with dogs that are fed once a day.

Should I Worry About My Dog Eating Too Fast?

While the mess of undigested food being brought up is an unpleasant nuisance, there are other concerning reasons to work on getting your dog to eat more slowly.

How Can I Get My Dog to Eat Slower?

Here are some strategies for teaching your dog to eat more slowly, reducing the risks associated with eating fast and hopefully decreasing the piles of undigested food on your floor.

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