My friends dog...how and why?

Question

ok my best friends dog is a shih tzu and she got her from a rescue center and when she feeds her dog (Ivy) she don't even chew her dog food why does Ivy do this? and can she get sick from it?

Answer 1

some dogs that are not used to having access to food- or having to compete with another dog for food- gulp and swallow food vs. chewing.

I'd have your friend put a smaller dog bowl in a larger dog bowl and pour the food between the bowls, that way she has to move around the bowl to get the food, vs. just woofing down a big pile at one time.  I have also had people put either a tennis ball- or a smooth rock in the bowl and pour the food around that.

Answer 2

Well it could be that she was deprived from food or she had to fight for her food.  

Answer 3

Sometimes, especially with rescued dogs, there is a history of starvation, which can result in hoggish behavior at the food bowl--they want to get it while it's available.  It isn't particularly good for her, from the nutritional as well as the safety vantage.  Check with the vet to be sure she's getting the proper nutrition in her food, then deal with the issue of the gulping.  If she is fed dry food, try using either a Kong or a similar treat-ball; this would not only slow down her feeding rate, it would add an element of fun and play to her mealtime.   This can only be a good thing.

Answer 4

she cant get sick but she can choke.... and she might be doing it because she is hungry.

Answer 5

she cant get sick, but she may choke.

she might have bad teeth, and may be in pain

Answer 6

The dog cant get physically sink, but the faster the Ivy eats the less she digest. Mix some wet food w/ the dry food and feed her a little bit of food at a time. The dog should slow down and chew. Good luck to your friend! ^.^

Answer 7

She may have bad teeth. Her teeth may be hurting her, and if thats the cae she should see a vet. She may need to have a dental. There's not a lot of information though. If that's not the case and instead she's eating so fast she's not even stoping to chew, you can try a trick where you put a tennis ball in the middle of her food dish. This will make her slow down because she needs to eat around the ball. They even sell special food bowls now a days to help with that problem. Look at any online dog catalog like Foster and Smith or PetEdge.com.

Answer 8

it may be she had been deprived from food or she was around a lot of other dogs and had to eat really fast to get food in her tummy it wont harm her she may or may not get sick but she should  get better if she is the only dog now. hope i helped!!!