My puppy swallows treats whole. How can I make him chew them?

Dogs don't have a preference, but you should! By that I mean you should give Chloe treats she needs to chew in several bites. If she swallows one whole that's smaller, it could cause some problems. Better for her to chew them up.

Many dogs don’t chew treats or kibble. As long as she’s not having a problem then it’s nothing to be overly concerned about. I would try a variety of tiny treats, soft and hard to see if one works better so she doesn’t do this. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Stella.

Not sure why he is choking, but a physical examination and oral exam by your vet may reveal some abnormalities and answers as to why this is happening. However if he is not choking while eating his dry kibble food, then I wouldn't be too concerned about an abnormality being present. I would just recommend that you refrain from continuing to give him the treats that he chokes on. Some pets are just too aggressive with some treats, such as raw hide bones, and instead of chewing them thoroughly, they swallow them whole resulting in choking behavior. The solution to this problem is to not give them certain types of treats that give them problems.

It should dissolve in his stomach but you should monitor for vomiting and diarrhea. If you notice anything abnormal then he should be examined by a vet for treatment. You could buy a Kong toy for him and stuff it with treats. He won't be able to swollow the Kong.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is important to avoid this as much as possible as this can predispose dogs to things like aspiration pneumonia for example. One thing that has worked for me great in the past for patients that do not eat more slowly with the slow feeder is actually throwing the kibble in a small room like the bathroom for example so that they end up spread out in the room as that will force Millie to eat more slowly as it will take her longer to find them to eat it. While it sounds messy, this has actually worked very well for some of my patients. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No it isn't bad. too many treats can cause obesity so using smaller pieces helps prevent too many calories as treats. I would just have them eat them slower bu holding the piece in between your fingers for him to nibble and lick then release it. Hopefully slowing it down will prevent gagging from swallowing the treats too quickly. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question and congratulations on your first dog! Treats should not comprise more than 10% of the diet. They should be given in small amounts. If you are giving Milk Bones, by the tiny size and only give several a day. Most dogs in this country are overweight. Being strict with his diet from the start with help to prevent this from occurring with him. As far as the best chew, it is based on the individual dog. The chew needs to be something he enjoys, but more importantly something he cannot break pieces off and swallow. This can become a surgery to remove. I hope this information helps!