How to deal with dogs that gulp their food

Molly, a spayed Labrador retriever, is absolutely crazy about her food. So crazy that she gulps her kibble so quickly that she sometimes chokes.

While it may sound extreme, there are plenty of dogs who eat like Molly — and not just because they're hungry. A dog's metabolic rate, the quality of food and competition from other dogs all factor into how a dog eats.

There can also be medical reasons for this behavior, including hyperthyroidism, a disease that causes an overproduction of the hormone thyroxine. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include ravenous appetite, weight loss and hyperactivity.

If your dog is a gulper, consider taking it to the vet for a thorough examination. If your dog has no physical problems, then look carefully at the type of food you are providing.

Dogs require a diet of about 70 percent protein. Contrary to what's in a lot of commercial dog food, they are not big grain eaters. Make sure the quality of the food is high and with little or no grain in the formula.

If you feed your dog in the company of other dogs, or even the family cat, try changing the feeding routine. Sometimes the presence of another pet causes a dog to bolt its food out of competition.

You also can slow the feeding process. Instead of putting food in a bowl, scatter kibble around the floor or place it single layer in a shallow pan. Doing that will require the dog to eat the kibble once piece at a time. (Don't expect to hear a lot of chewing, however. Dogs are carnivores, and their teeth are shaped to bite, tear and shred food, not grind it to a pulp.)

Many dogs, including Labradors, are well known for their love of food and mealtime. So offering activities that involve treats — but not regular food — can take the edge off.

For example, giving your dog a bone to chew on a few days a week will likely please the dog while adding few extra calories to its diet.

All of these strategies give a dog a sense that its getting more food at each meal, although in reality you will only be adding to the length of time it takes the dog to eat, not the amount of food you feed it.

Finally, when looking for guidelines as to how much to feed your dog, forget about what the label on the food bag recommends. Instead, consider your dog's weight and activity level. Start with a fixed, measured amount, then weigh your dog and adjust the quantity every couple of weeks until you're certain that the amount of food you're offering is keeping your dog at a healthy weight.