Does your dog eats his food at the speed of light? If so, it's important that you take actions to slow their eating habits to prevent severe, even fatal, medical conditions. When they practically inhale their food, they're not chewing it, so they are more likely to choke or may cause vomiting. When dogs race through their food, they also swallow a great deal of air, which can cause burping, gas or more importantly, bloat.

Bloat occurs when a dog's stomach fills with air. The longer a dog's stomach if filled with air, the more likely it is to twist, which is called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus and can be extremely deadly. Deep chested breeds such as Great Danes, Weimaraners, hound dogs, German Shepherds and Boxers, but any dog can get it. For more information on recognizing and treating bloat, click here. 

So now that you know why it is important that your dog eat slowly, how do you accomplish that goal? 

There are several products on the market designed to slow your dog's eating. You can purchase slow feeding dishes, like those made my Durapet and Brakefast. You can also choose to feed your dog using food toys like the Kong Wobbler which force the dog to work for his food. Looking to use your current bowl? Try getting two large, smooth stones (too large for your dog to swallow) and place them in the food bowl so that your dog has to eat around the stones. Another great option is to feed your dog in a muffin tin so that they have several small portions to eat. 

Try feeding your dog more than once a day to ensure there are smaller portions for him to eat.

If your dog is eating fast to make sure another dog can't access his/her food, then try feeding them separately, perhaps in their crates, so they will feel safe and be less likely to race to eat everything.