So I've noticed that every time I feed Lycus, he just swallows his kibble whole. He hardly chews any of it. I know he's not underfed and it's not like he eats savagely or as if he's starving, he just doesn't really chew. Are there health concerns with this? If so, what can I do? I was thinking about a slow-feeder bowl, but I'm not too sure if that would make a difference.

Ares does this too, I just put the dog food scoop in his bowl so he has to slow down and eat around it.

Thanks, I will try that

Lucian eats his food whole as well. Same thing, he doesn't wolf it down, just doesn't chew it. He's on earthborn though, and the kibble is really small. I add warm water to it, so it softens up a little easier, and doesn't hit his stomach completely hard. I figure it just makes it a bit easier to digest. Funny thing is, he chews his soft treats, lol.

It's normal, most dogs don't chew kibble or treats. We had a somewhat similar thread recently: Swallowing treats

Slow feed bowls, a ball in the bowl, or spreading the kibble out on a baking sheet can help slow your dogs eating speed however it is unlikely to get them to chew the food.

Yuki doesn't chew her food either, she just swallows it -.- I've done slow feeding bowls, a rock in the middle, and spreading the food all over the bottom of her crate and even if its piece by piece she inhales it all. The kibble is very small though so its easy for her to swallow whole, I will try adding warm water as you do @Keyda81.

Like Megan said, warm water helps get the food into a better state for digestion. You could also try these feeding toys which drop a little food out of the hole every time your dog knocks the toy around.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Premier-Buddy-Kibble-Nibble/dp/B001F0RRUA

japhotos wrote:

Like Megan said, warm water helps get the food into a better state for digestion. You could also try these feeding toys which drop a little food out of the hole every time your dog knocks the toy around.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Premier-Buddy-Kibble-Nibble/dp/B001F0RRUA

Keyda81 just gave me the idea on a post a couple above mine XD I have yet to try it.

japhotos wrote:

Like Megan said, warm water helps get the food into a better state for digestion. You could also try these feeding toys which drop a little food out of the hole every time your dog knocks the toy around.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Premier-Buddy-Kibble-Nibble/dp/B001F0RRUA

Oooh I'll probably try this out as well!

Thank you every one for your input!

Dogs are animals. Animals in the wild eat as fast as they can, before some other larger and/or more numerous creature(s) can come along and steal their meal. If they cannot eat their kill completely and have not been molested by other scavengers, they bury what is left to chew on later. This is natural behavior.

I mix a little wet dog food(half a 13oz can) with Karly's kibble, then put a little broth, chicken or beef depending on the flavor of the wet dog food and mix it all together thoroughly. Karly makes me feel like a hero at dinner time, jumping up and down as I prepare her food. Then she polishes the bowl in like four minutes (yes, I have timed her).

However, on occasions I give her dry kibble, she definitely chews it, as she does with the small training treats I give her.

When i got steve, it was recommended to put water in his bowl with his kibble. I do that and it works well, but i don't add the water till right as i am serving it to him. I did the slow feeder ball you can put in there, it works okay. I like using a turkey foil pan for the food also, it makes it lay out flat and they aren't able to take big bites of it.

Best of luck though