My quick-eating puppy's tummy bloats, shivers, hiccups. Normal?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. It is pretty typical for puppies abdomens to look distended after eating whether they eat fast or not. It is more to do with the amount they are eating more than than the speed. Puppies abdomens can also be distended due to worms. If he has not been dewormed that should be done as soon as possible. Puppies should be dewormed every 3-4 weeks until they are 4 months old, then once monthly. That being said, eating fast is not good for them for other reasons. They can swallow a bunch of air which can cause bloat. So, I recommend you either feed him smaller, more frequent meals or get him a special bowl that will slow down his eating (see link). ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/search?query=slow%20feeder ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

8 week old puppies, even large breed ones, have pretty tiny stomachs, and they also have poor abdominal musculature development at this stage. Those 2 factors can cause you to really be able to see their abdomen bulging when the stomach is full or water or food. So that might be one reason you're seeing this. The other reason could be that Mishka has intestinal parasites. They are very common in young puppies, so if she hasn't been dewormed, this should be done, at least twice (3 - 4 weeks apart). It's also a good idea to have your vet check a stool sample. You can buy dewormer over the counter in most pet stores; follow the directions on the package.

Hi !Does Leia eat very quickly ? If so, have you tried feeding her using one of those slow feeding bowls ? It might be an idea. Also she should be on three meals per day at least. If your’re having the same problem with the slow feeder, then maybe consider changing her diet. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

I would recommend a vet check to determine if there are nay underlying medical causes but the fact she eats well is a good sign. Monitor for regular stools and no pain or vomiting and ensure she is dewormed regularly with an appropriate puppy wormer (every 2-4 weeks depending on the product). Keep her isolated from other dogs (especially dog parks etc) until she is fully up to date with her vaccines

The most common signs of bloat are retching without bringing up any material and restlessness. Bloat is a broad term for both a simple gas or food distension of the stomach or a GDV (gastric dilation volvulus) where the stomach gets filled with air and twists on itself so that the stomach contents cannot be emptied. I highly doubt that your 6 week old puppy is experiencing a bloat at such a young age. More common causes of a round and more firm abdomen include a parasite infestation or simply a full stomach after eating. Drinking excessive amounts of water can indicate urinary tract diseases (infection, crystals, etc.), or could be a variation of normal as she is growing. If she also begins urinating large volumes frequently or you observe any blood in her urine, take her to the vet for an exam and urinalysis. If your puppy is lethargic or trying to vomit or retch, certainly speak with her vet immediately. Otherwise, determine how much food she should be eating by examining the chart on her bag of dog food and divide this quantity into 4 smaller meals throughout the day so she is less likely to overeat at any point. Speak with your vet about having a stool sample analyzed for the presence of parasites. Make sure she has been dewormed several times. Products, such as Panacur, are available over the counter from most pet stores and provide broad spectrum deworming, even in puppies as young as 2 weeks old.

Awww, she’s a cutie!! If she’s still acting normally... seems comfortable, is energetic and ready to play if prompted, and hasn’t seemed nauseated or like she’s trying to vomit, I would just give her some time. She may have eaten really quickly and have some gas buildup or something of that nature. If she starts retching like she wants to vomit, or if she seems very dumpy and lethargic, take her to the vet. You can check her heart rate as well. Her heart rate at rest should not be faster than 130 beats per minute. If it is faster than that when she seems calm, take her in. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I would offer her the normal amount of food in tiny amounts over the next day or two. As in divide her daily ration into six feedings. Allow her plenty of water, and you can even add water to the food. If it is food bloat, she should feel better tomorrow. If she isn’t interested in food tonight or she tries retching or vomiting, she needs to see a vet ASAP.