not chewing her food

[husky lover]

Over the past week my husky has really been scarfing her food down. usually in the mornings when she has breakfast. We are feeding her normal puppy chow and on several occasions she looks like she is about to throw-up. Is this because she is eating so fast? Every once in a while we will feed her some cooked meat but always with puppy chow mixed in. On Sunday morning she actually did throw-up and now we are concered it's because she's just swallowing her food and eating too fast. We asked our trainer what she thought and she suggested we might have to start feeding her by hand until she learns to chew. We feeding her three times and day so I don't think she should be that hungry. Are we feeding her to much or not enough?

[GermanShepherds]

hmm thats very unlike a husky...they dont eat alot at all.
I think your feeding to much. We feed are husky twice a day and she doesnt eat alot, huskys were bred to go on very little food.

[Moo]

You could put large rocks, toys or chains in her bowl so that she has to slow down, and eat around them.

[husky lover]

Originally Posted by GermanShepherds

hmm thats very unlike a husky...they dont eat alot at all.
I think your feeding to much. We feed are husky twice a day and she doesnt eat alot, huskys were bred to go on very little food.

I thought so too but we asked the vet and she said 3 times is fine becasue of her age. (8 weeks old)

As for the toys and rocks, she won't swallow those in her haste to scarf her food?

It has me more than a little concerned.

[Moo]

Big toys. Like tennis ball sized, or ropes.

Yes, at 8 weeks she should be eating 3 meals daily, of course, same total amount that it would be if she was eating 2.

[sheplovr]

Try to place some rocks in her food dish, yes rocks, of medium size to stop the gulping of food. I did this with my horses and ones that gulped it down without chewing had to route through it more and it slowed them down. It did work, try it, not small pebbles rub medium sized stones.

[dirtydogdepot]

You have to be very careful when a big (breed) dog eats fast..... it can lead to bloat (gastric torsion) Feed smaller amounts more frequently.... and don't allow exercize immediately after eating..... the old rule of waiting an hour applies more to feeding big dogs than for swimming !!!!! LOL , seriously though, I have a friend who has lost two dogs to bloat.... an airedale and a GSD ....

[weezyNollie]

Your vet is RIGHT. Three times a day is PERFECT for a puppy. Once the husky reaches about 12-16 weeks, you can change to 2 times a day. The amount is the important part too.

You could even try feeding MORE times, same quantity to slow down the chowing.

Or put like a couple bites in the dish, let her gulp.. give it a break, then put more in and continue so that she doesn't eat quite so fast.

GDV (Gastric Dilitation Volvulus) is a serious issue with larger breeds. Can be fatal within 24 hours, dont get overly worried though.. puppies don't tend to have this issue. It's deep chested dogs.. like Dobermans, German Shepherds etc. But the concern I would have is if the dog makes it a habit and then down the road gulps down food and causes this bloat.

[dirtydogdepot]

Nollie is right about the gastric torsion (also called GDV) but what I was saying is if you let it gulp its food as a pup, it will continue to gulp as an adult...... better to break that habit NOW..... and like Nollie and I both said....... SMALLER portions, more frequently !!

[GermanShepherds]

Originally Posted by dirtydogdepot

You have to be very careful when a big (breed) dog eats fast..... it can lead to bloat (gastric torsion) Feed smaller amounts more frequently.... and don't allow exercize immediately after eating..... the old rule of waiting an hour applies more to feeding big dogs than for swimming !!!!! LOL , seriously though, I have a friend who has lost two dogs to bloat.... an airedale and a GSD ....

Huskies arent a big breed, there of small stature..medium size
Very tiny is Sid, compared to my Shepherds