Greedy Lab

[hogged cob]

Our Labrador Baxter, has always been very greedy, I know that this is not a surpirse for the breed he is. He has always been fed pedigree complete dried food, 1 cup in the evening and a cup in the morning both mixed with a bit of meat and water to slow him down. About six months ago he started to heave and snort straight after eating his food so we raised his bowl up and this seemed to help him. However over the last week or so it has started again and sometimes he was sick. We now give him three smaller meals per day and this is working most meal times. He is 13 years old and is not overweight, has anybody got any ideas what this could be.

 

[Spudlet]

Does he bolt his food down? That might be part of it. You could try putting a big rock in his bowl, that will slow him down as he will have to eat around it.

At his age I would take him to the vets if the problem persists for more than a few days.

I hope you can get it sorted

 

[CorvusCorax]

You can also put kibble down on the floor (tip it out of the bowl) so he has to look for it and seek it out rather than inhale it in one go, my fella's breeder feeds all his dogs like that to ward off torsion/bloat.
I would get him in to the vets to be on the safe side if it persists, as Spudlet says.

 

[hogged cob]

Thank you both for your response, I will take him to the vet to get him checked out, and I will also try your tips, I was also thinking that his large bowl has broke so I have used a smaller one, so I bet his food is more compact and he can gulp it better, I will also go and buy him a bigger bowl so I can put a large stone in it and he has to chase his food round it.

 

[hogged cob]

Just a quick update, I have been to the pet shop and bought an extra large dog bowl, tonight I have put a small cat dish in the middle of the bowl and given him the smaller portion and it has worked, no gulping of wheezing, so far so good. Thanks again. X