[SunsetSam]

Is it normal for a large breed dog to basically inhale their food? My other two dogs were almost dainty compared to Sam. He chows his food and the whole bowl is gone in about 30 seconds. He doesn't seem to chew it at all. He doesn't generally barf it up later or anything, I've only seen him throw up once in the month we've now had him.

Is there anything I can do to slow him down? Or does it not matter? He did come from a home with 2 other really large dogs, maybe he eats that way because he had to.

He's being switched from Beneful to Blue Buffalo and seems to love them both equally, lol. (dry not canned)

ETA: We did the whole calorie thing and figure that he only needs 2 1/2 cups of Blue Buff per day. That doesn't seem like much for a 75 pound dog. Does that seem right? We figured out he needs 1230 calories per day (allowing to grow to 85 pounds) and the Blue Buff is 505 calories per cup, so roughly 2 1/2 cups....I know to just watch his ribs, etc...to be sure he's getting enough, but it seems so....skimpy....lol.

[alphadoginthehouse]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

Is it normal for a large breed dog to basically inhale their food? My other two dogs were almost dainty compared to Sam. He chows his food and the whole bowl is gone in about 30 seconds. He doesn't seem to chew it at all. He doesn't generally barf it up later or anything, I've only seen him throw up once in the month we've now had him.

Daja is the same way. She is chewing it but VERY quickly. She is fed last (of my 3) and she is done waaay before the others. Butch is real slow and Roxxy eats at a normal pace. She hasn't thrown it up that I know of (she usually comes and finds me when she's done, which is good).

Others will probably have some advice on this. Just thought I'd let you know you're not alone.

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

Is it normal for a large breed dog to basically inhale their food?

The natural instinct for a carnivore is to eat the kill before someone larger comes along and takes it away from him.

He chows his food and the whole bowl is gone in about 30 seconds. He doesn't seem to chew it at all. He doesn't generally barf it up later or anything, I've only seen him throw up once in the month we've now had him.

Dogs don't chew the same way we do. We, like all omnivores, chew our food into a mush before we swallow. We have amylase (a digestive juice) in our saliva and digestiion of food begins in the mouth. Dogs, like all carnivores, merely rip, tear, and crunch their food until it's small enough to fit down their throat and their throat is much larger than ours. They can swallow some amazingly large pieces. Digestion in a dog begins in the stomach.

Is there anything I can do to slow him down? Or does it not matter?

There is no need to. He is a dog, not a human. Don't try to impose human eating habits on him.

I know to just watch his ribs, etc...to be sure he's getting enough, but it seems so....skimpy....lol.

You are overthinking. Forget the calorie thing and watch the ribs. They tell you all you need to know.

[rosemaryninja]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

Is it normal for a large breed dog to basically inhale their food? My other two dogs were almost dainty compared to Sam. He chows his food and the whole bowl is gone in about 30 seconds. He doesn't seem to chew it at all. He doesn't generally barf it up later or anything, I've only seen him throw up once in the month we've now had him.

Is there anything I can do to slow him down? Or does it not matter? He did come from a home with 2 other really large dogs, maybe he eats that way because he had to.

Don't worry about it.

He's being switched from Beneful to Blue Buffalo and seems to love them both equally, lol. (dry not canned)

Great.

We did the whole calorie thing and figure that he only needs 2 1/2 cups of Blue Buff per day. That doesn't seem like much for a 75 pound dog. Does that seem right? We figured out he needs 1230 calories per day (allowing to grow to 85 pounds) and the Blue Buff is 505 calories per cup, so roughly 2 1/2 cups....I know to just watch his ribs, etc...to be sure he's getting enough, but it seems so....skimpy....lol.

I used to count calories with my dogs too. But I realised I don't even do that with myself. I just a) make sure I don't eat junk and b) keep an eye on my waistline and adjust my intake accordingly. You've already taken care of a) with Sam, so now just watch b) and you'll be fine.

[SunsetSam]

I just wanted to say, in my defense that the only reason I was counting calories, etc...was following the advice in another thread here in order to figure out if we could afford to feed him a premium food rather than a grocery store brand food. I used the numbers to convince my dh that it really isn't that much more expensive to feed Blue Buffalo vs. Beneful, which it isn't.

It is good to know roughly how much food he needs and to be feeding that, though. Like I said, it just seems like a puny amount of food for such a big guy.

P.S.-I also realize dogs are carnivores, etc... but I hadn't ever seen a dog eat like this. My previous two dogs would take one kibble out of the bowl, chew it up, and get another one. That's why I was so amazed when I saw Sam eating for the first time. Good to know that it won't hurt him and that the digestion that needs to take place is going on down there in his tummy.

[rosemaryninja]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

My previous two dogs would take one kibble out of the bowl, chew it up, and get another one.

WOW! If I ever saw one of my dogs eating like that I would probably be rushing them to the e-vet...