If you have a Pug, then you know they love eating. If your dog has picked up the habit of wolfing down their food, you’re not alone. In this article, I’ll answer the question “why does my pug eat so fast?”
I’ll also discuss some of the risks associated with this behavior.
Why Does My Pug Eat So Fast?
Some dogs will eat fast because they may feel threatened in some way, by other dogs in their environment. Other breeds simply have the wolf-like tendency to eat fast, in order to survive and prevent others from stealing their food. (I’ll explain them more in detail below.)
Not all dogs eat fast, in fact, some are nibblers. We had a Chihuahua that would eat so slowly, it seemed like she would never finish her food.
Others tend to google their food as soon as the floor hits the bowl. It may even seem like your Pug never even chews their food, the only time you see them chewing is when they chew plastic bottles or their toys.
Before we take an in-depth look at why your pooch is eating fast, let’s look at the possible risks associated with this eating disorder.
Check out these slow feeder dog bowls for Pugs, that can help solve this problem.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Too Fast?
The biggest risk with your dog eating fast is the possibility of choking on the food they swallow without chewing. However, eating too fast can also cause upset tummy problems.
If your dog loves gorging themselves, it can cause the following problems:
- Bloat
- Bad Breath
- Regurgitation
- Loose Stool
- Gas
- Weight Problems
It doesn’t matter if your dog is eating the highest quality dog food, they are predisposing themselves to any of the above repercussions if they are inhaling their food. This is no laughing matter and you definitely need to learn how to stop the fast eating behavior.
As I mentioned above, there are several reasons your Pug is eating fast. Let’s take a look at why this is such a big problem with canines.
Why Does My Dog Eat So Fast?
Dogs tend to eat fast, and we’ll take a look at some of the common reasons.
Low-Quality Food
Like you, your Pug requires high-quality food that will provide them with the nutrients their body requires. If you’re feeding your dog a low nutritional value food, it may not be satisfying their needs and appetite till the next meal.
The result is when you feed Fido again, she gulps it down because their last meal was not self-sustaining.
Don’t be fooled when you read your dog’s food label. Even if it says it’s a “complete and balanced” diet, make sure you look at the ingredients.
Does it contain byproducts and fillers? Is it a plant or grain-based diet? If yes, then it’s not going to fill your pooch up and she will feel like she’s starving the next time you feed her.
The wrong dog food can leave your dog feeling unsatisfied.
I’ve put together a list of some of the foods Pugs love. You’ll find some of the best high-quality foods that will provide your pooch with the nutrients they need.
Medical Reasons
If your dog is on any type of medication, it can cause them to eat fast or increase their appetite. If your Pug is on a medication, you may want to contact the veterinarian to ask if any of the side effects are causing this problem.
The veterinarian will be able to test for intestinal parasites. Parasites are known for robbing the nutritional nutrients of both dogs and cats, which can cause increased hunger.
Competitive Eating
As young puppies, competitive eating comes into place during nursing. Pups that aren’t competitive don’t get to nurse as much as their brothers or sisters.
This is one of the reasons that there is always a runt in the litter. The runts are usually the weakest or smallest of the puppy litter. In a sense, they are eating less than the others.
The competitive eating behavior can quickly create a bad behavior that does not go away as the puppy turns into an adult.
More Than One Dog Household
If you have a multi-dog household, the competition of food can be one of the reasons your Pug is eating faster. They may be fearful that the other dogs will steal their food.
Your Pug may also feel that if she can finish her food faster, she will be able to steal the other dog’s food.
Ancestry
Domestic dogs still have their competitive instances from their ancestors the wolves. When a wolf brings down their prey in the wild, they eat fast in order to survive.
Wild dogs have the mentality that the faster they eat, they can ensure that their larger rivals wouldn’t have a lot of food to steal.
Most of us don’t think of our Pugs as wolves. The dog’s primary wild ancestor is the wolf and it shouldn’t be surprising to see them model some of the behavior of wolves.
Read this article if you want to know what causes Pugs to howl and how they picked up this behavior from their ancestors.
You’re Not Feeding Them Enough
All dogs require a certain amount of food to help them grow and remain healthy. If you’ve noticed that your Pug is eating too fast, you may want to ask yourself, “are you feeding them enough food?”
Of course, you don’t want to overfeed your Pug, because that will lead to them gaining weight. We used to feed Mindy one cup of food at each meal twice per day.
I’ve put together an article to help you feed your Pug. You’ll learn how much to feed them based on their age. As you know, puppies need more food than adults.
If your Pug isn’t getting enough food, they’ll feel compelled to eat quickly at each meal. After all, they’re not sure when they will get to eat again.
You may notice this behavior if your Pug is more active. When I was walking Mindy two miles per day, I had to increase her food intake. This helped slow her down whenever she ate.
Final Word On Why Do Pugs Eat So Fast
Not all Pugs eat fast, in fact, some will eat extremely slow you think they will never get done. If your Pug is eating too fast, then you need to learn how to stop the bad behavior.
There are several things you can do to stop your Pug from eating fast, but first and foremost, I would suggest talking to your vet.
This will help rule out any common health issues that may be interfering with your dog’s hunger or fullness, which is making them eat like there’s no tomorrow.
References and Further Reading
PetSafe – My Dog Eats So Fast! Is That A Problem?
Homes Alive Pets – My Dog Eats Too Fast: Side Effects