Pet World: 5 ways to slow down a fast-eating dog

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Nov 18, 2020

Let me know what ends up working for your puppy.

Dear Cathy,

I have a cat that is around 18-years-old. For the past few months, she has been throwing up her food after she eats. I don’t know if it happens every day because sometimes, we do not find the vomit immediately. (It blends in with the flooring). I tried changing her food, giving her less food, adding some water to her food. I have dry food out for her to munch on all day long and give her soft food only in the morning. She doesn’t eat that much of either food. She is a love, but I just can’t figure out what to try next.

-Jayne, Crossville, Tennessee

Dear Jayne,

I am assuming you’ve already taken her to the veterinarian for a heath check. If you haven’t, please do. At her advanced age, there could be a number of health problems causing this issue, so please don’t delay.

If she gets a clean bill of health, there could be other causes. She could be having hairball problems, which can be addressed with hairball supplements. They come in chews, drops, and gels, so determine what’s easiest to administer to your feline. (You don’t have to see hairballs for them to be an issue.)

She also could have developed an allergy or sensitivity to her diet. Some dogs and cats become sensitive to proteins, like chicken, found in most pet foods. Look up “hypoallergenic cat food” or “limited-ingredient cat food” on the internet. As implied, these foods limit the ingredients in the food and have different protein sources to reduce allergies or sensitivities caused by diet. Do your homework as there is both dry and wet food available. These foods cost a little more but are worth it if you have a pet who has digestive issues. The one I like best is Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Cat Food. It has a single protein and a single carb source making it very digestible for sensitive tummies.

But I am worried she has a more serious health problem, so please have her checked out. She is of an age when things can start going wrong.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)