Puppy Not Chewing Food, Just Swallows – Top 3 Reasons Why

It’s important for your puppy to establish healthy eating habits from a young age. It’s a big no-no if your puppy only swallows and doesn’t chew his food. Here are a few common reasons that may explain this eating behavior.

1. Eating right after exercising

Some dogs, especially puppies with a lot of energy, will inhale their food if they are fed right after exercising. It’s the one moment when the puppy is likely to be super hungry! Don’t feed your puppy immediately after a walk or a long play time. We recommend waiting at least an hour so there is time for the puppy to settle down before eating any food. This may also help with reducing any instances of vomiting, which can happen for puppies that swallow all their food without chewing.

2. Puppy is obsessed with food

Some dogs are naturally fast with eating because they love their food. One of the best ways to counter this is by introducing a slow feeder to your puppy. The chewing bit will still need some work but the slow feeder bowl will at least prevent the dog from swallowing a lot of kibbles at once.

3. Poor-quality pet food

Pet food is the one thing you shouldn’t cheap out on. Some dogs may swallow and not chew because the food they are being fed isn’t meeting their dietary requirements. For example, certain types of low-quality kibbles may have a lot of air pockets and not be so calorie-dense. This could result in a hungry puppy trying to swallow more food to fill his hunger.