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Some pets are so excited about their food that they scarf it down in a few seconds—only to have the food come back up moments later. This can be frustrating for both you and your pup or kitty.

Tips to Slow Down a Pet's Eating

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to slow your pet down and help keep their food in their stomach:

Get a Slow Feeder Bowl

These food dishes have ridges or raised areas that break up the food and prevent your pet from taking huge mouthfuls all at once. Your pet will have to navigate the uneven feeding surface in order to get smaller bites of food each time they go in for more.

Use a Puzzle Feeder

Try to find a puzzle feeder that dispenses kibbles a few at a time. This will simultaneously exercise their mind and prevent them from access to large mouthfuls of food, so they can't eat too much kibble at once. Like a slow feeder, this will help your pet eat at a more reasonable pace.

DIY Solution

You could also try to use a muffin tin to help challenge your dog and get them to eat more slowly. Simply turn a muffin tin upside down and spread the kibble between the cups and ridges. Your dog will need to move the kibble from various angles, between the cups and ridges, in order to eat it. This engages the problem-solving part of their brain in addition to slowing down their eating.

Feed Smaller Amounts More Often

Try breaking up their meals into smaller portions fed throughout the day. Your pet may still inhale their food—but the smaller quantity at each meal makes it more likely they’ll keep the food down.

Give Them Their Own Eating Space

If you feel your pet is eating fast due to anxiety or a worry that someone may take their food, consider feeding them in a room by themselves, or working with a trainer or behaviorist.

Talk to Your Vet

This is a good final step, because your vet can rule out underlying causes like parasites that could be contributing to the issue. Make as many observations as possible (like whether there is any retching, how long after eating it happens, and whether the food is digested or intact). This will help your vet determine if there’s something else causing your pet to throw up.

Eating at a normal pace eases digestion and allows your pet to process all the healthy nutrients from their meals—not to mention, they’ll probably taste and enjoy their food a little more!