Rapid Ingestion
Rapid ingestion is a term used to describe a pet’s food and drink consumption at rapid speed – something many dogs and cats are guilty of! Some pets eat like they’ll never be fed again, eating so fast they hardly have time to chew or taste their meal. This could mean that pets don’t chew their food thoroughly which may impact on their ability to digest it properly.
Why Do Some Pets Eat So Fast?
It may be the way they learnt to eat during their developmental period as young animals, but some are just plain greedy! It has also been suggested that cats and dogs in the wild would catch their prey and eat it as quickly as possible before it is dragged away by a competitor. A pet’s bowl of food could be thought of in a similar way, and if the bowl is moving they may feel like their food is at risk which may in turn contribute to the speed at which they consume or ‘rapidly ingest’ their food.
Feeding your pet should become a routine, and they tend to know when their feeding time is. Sometimes if pets are not fed on time they will sit and watch, or follow you around until fed! If their feeding is delayed, when food finally arrives they can often eat at a faster pace which could be bad for their digestion.
There are many underlying medical conditions that can lead to the behaviours mentioned, so you should always seek professional advice from a qualified Veterinary Surgeon.
Why Could A PetWeighter Feeding Bowl Help?
The PetWeighter bowls are designed to be so heavy (when the base is filled) that they do not move when your pet is consuming food or drink. Not only is this convenient from a spills and mess perspective, but if we are able to reduce the speed at which your pet eats it may be better for them. If the bowl doesn’t move, your pet may not feel so threatened, and so the temptation to consume their foods so quickly may also be reduced.
Over time and experience of using their PetWeighter bowl your pet can take comfort in the knowledge that when eating and drinking, it stays until they want it to!