Is it better for my dog to chew treats or swallow them whole?

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.

If Bruno is swallowing his treats rather than chewing them, you may want to consider offering something a little smaller and more easily digestible. I advise this in an attempt to make Bruno avoid swallowing something that is too large to pass through the GI tract. When this happens and something is unable to pass through the stomach, objects sometimes require surgical removal. Even worse is when an object can pass through the stomach but gets caught within the intestines. There is nothing wrong with offering treats to Bruno. But as I said, reduce the size and toughness for the time being until he gets a little bit older.

You need to give the whole chew for it to be effective, but you can cut it in pieces and feed it that way if it seems too big for him. I hope that helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.

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.

Hi there! It is possible that she choke up on the treat just because it was too big or just because she ate it too fast. To be sure, it is always best to feed them treats that are not too big for their size as choking is always possible. I would ensure that they are small enough for her. I am sure you take great care of her and she will be just fine. This happens more commonly than you'd think. Have a good one! Best of luck with Precious!

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!

Though not optimal, as long as she isn't vomiting then it should be fine. If she is a fast eater, you can try feeding smaller meals more frequently or consider a slow feed bowl. Soaking the food beforehand may also help.