Ever since we got him back he has inhaled his food. Just walks up and sucks it up in 20 seconds flat. For years now we have been trying to slow him down. I was telling The Princess about his new bowl and she wanted photos. The first one is Mr. Beau waiting not so patiently for his breakfast to be put down. He was telling me right before I took the picture that he was starving - doncha know?
Here is Dudley's new bowl. It's called the 'Break Fast' and so far it really works. The first night we put it down, Dudley tiptoed up to it and then jumped back. Then he very gently put his nose in and when it touched one of those pegs sticking up - he nearly wet himself trying to get away from it.
He has now decided that the bowl won't hurt him, but he still doesn't really like it. He is now the last one done eating and we have to watch and make sure the other dogs don't eat his dinner.
He chasing food around the pegs, then stops with his mouthful and chews a couple of kernels and swallows the rest - 
then does it again. This bowl won't stay on his mat - so he chases it around the room until he can get a mouthful. He is chewing a little bit more than before. Of course my friend D said last night at knitting that the studies show that the teeth of dogs who chew aren't any cleaner and/or healthier than dogs who inhale. So apparently, we are torturing him with this new bowl for nothing!
then does it again. This bowl won't stay on his mat - so he chases it around the room until he can get a mouthful. He is chewing a little bit more than before. Of course my friend D said last night at knitting that the studies show that the teeth of dogs who chew aren't any cleaner and/or healthier than dogs who inhale. So apparently, we are torturing him with this new bowl for nothing!
Is is bad that I just laughed at Dudley's struggles?
ReplyDeleteMIL's dog uses the same bowl, but without the trauma.
ReplyDeleteYou have also allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief. Sissy has always been a dainty, deliberate eater, save the couple of days past her tummy troubles and very limited/controlled food intake. She soon returned to her regular habits, but I've remained watchful, worried that her inner "there's not enough food in the world" hound would surface. What I've read here makes me believe that was truly an isolated incident, since Dudley never recovered from his "starved trauma" and Sissy seems to have returned to her previous status.
Oh wow... can you email me where you got that bowl? I think it woudl be great for Tut!
ReplyDeleteNeat bowl, Lady would probably chew on the peg parts...lol be more a to then food bowl! At least we all know it works right, thanks for sharing that info.
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious. Jackjack used to scarf down his food but he's getting a little bit better. Both my dogs usually are done eating in 3 minutes...maybe.
ReplyDeleteI might want the bowl just to slow jackjack down when he drinks. He puts his ENTIRE snot into the bowl and bits the water getting water EVERYWHERE. I think it's funny...Special K does not. He also gets frustrated because Jackjack tends to drink too quickly and then walks over and hacks up whatever is in his stomach. Very gross. I try to stay by him and tell him to stop and take a breather but what thirsty dog wants to stop and look at the water for a second. He does it obediently and knows Ok means he gets to go back to it...but it would be nice to have something that just does it naturally. :)
Thanks for sharing!!
Poor Dudley...of course I laughed too so I guess that makes me bad too. Glad it's helping him to slow down though, maybe he can enjoy his chow now. He's a cutie!!
ReplyDeletePuddin has the same issues, but for no good reason. She also aspirates her food so there's lots of gagging and choking involved. I've tried the tennis-ball-in-bowl trick but she just lifts it out first. If I feed her in a bowl that can be picked up, she will also take it with her to hide it after she eats. Pud has the added bonus of "cookie frenzy" where she bites the hand that feeds her unless we hold it in a closed fist and slowly open it.
ReplyDeleteI just nearly pee'd myself. Too funny! Jemima is a hog, but we found a way to slow her down, and we're saved from having to constantly replace her dishes, which she'd chew up anyhow...we toss her food out onto the porch floor and she has to go 'hoover' it up.
ReplyDeletePoor Dudders.
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious! I nearly wet meself reading about him nearly wetting himself! Poor Dudley.
ReplyDeleteRoscoe sucks his food in like a doggie vacuum cleaner. I've thought about getting a bowl of this type and I like the one you chose. Think it's time for me to get one, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen Pepper was an only pup she was a very picky eater. Now that she's got 2 siblings, she vacuums. There is a definite pecking order for eating here too ... Chili first, with Pepper in a separate room to inhale hers and then we have to be sure she doesn't wander over to Dani's bowl before Dani is done (after Chili has finished, of course).
ReplyDeleteChiquita: D's observation was that there is no difference in soft v. hard food in amount of tooth decay. I haven't heard anything about chewing v. inhaling!
ReplyDeleteSky's bowl is working. He hasn't vomited for a couple weeks now. He gets very frustrated when he can't get the last few pieces out, but it certainly has slowed him down.
ReplyDelete