Couple questions - one about food, the other about cough?

Question

First Question -- I know that changing a dog's food can be disruptive to their dietary tract, but what if I feed them earlier on days that I'm home, and later on days that I work? So long as we can exercise 1/2 hr to 1hr later, is it okay to switch up the feeding schedule?

Second Question - Sometimes when my Chihuahua/Italian Greyhound drinks water too quickly, she starts this wheezing sort of reverse cough. I've read a lot about the reverse cough, but what does it have to do with drinking the water quickly? Is she drowning herself sticking her snout in the water too? She recovers in moments, but that cough is scary.

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I think it is good to vary feeding times some, helps keep a good appetite if they are not sure when the next meal is coming.

It sounds like your dog may be inhaling water into her lungs when she is drinking. She can develop pneumonia from this. See if you can find a wide dish and keep the water shallow. Reverse sneezing has nothing to do with drinking and is a seperate issue.

Answer 2

About the food, don't worry about it. That much of a change is no big deal. Some dogs don't like dietary changes like sudden switches in the type or brand of dog food, but different feeding times shouldn't be a concern.

As for the reverse sneezing, some dogs just do that. When your dog is sedated for a procedure like having her teeth cleaned or something like that, have your vet poke around in there and make sure there are no structural abnormalities like an elongated soft palate, oronasal fistulas, etc. Until then, it's not that big of a deal. Some dogs do it occasionally due to allergies and benedryl helps. Call your vet and see what he says, but it probably doesn't warrant an office visit at this point.

Answer 3

The difference in feeding 1/2 hour to one hour earlier or later should not disrupt your dogs eating pattern. Thtr just isn't enough time to make any difference.

The reverse sneeze or cough is scary but really isn't a bad problem. Most small breed dogs do this from time to time especially when they get excited and sometimes when drinking water. It is common and not harmful to your dog.

Answer 4

First answer -- Dogs love routine. If you mess up their schedule they might get confused. Try to stay about the same every day. If your work doesn't allow it then I guess you have no other choice.

Second answer -- Hmm.. I think if she's drinking it too quickly, then her body can't process the water fast enough.. Does she have access to water at all times? Or you can try getting a bigger bowl so the water is shallower

Answer 5

My dog have a different feeding schedule depending on the day. M,W,F is different from T,TH, and the weekend different still. They cope just fine and are pretty good at knowing what day it is!!

The cough....maybe try getting her to drink slower and see if it still happens. If it does, I would ask the vet just to be sure it was OK.

Answer 6

My dog does that water drinking thing, she is a chihuahua and 14 years old, we just have to put her on a water pill and heart meds.You can change the dog food gradually.

Answer 7

Lol.. poor element! You sound merely like me while i exchange into that far alongside! confident, as quickly as I sneezed I had pains- it exchange into reason by the ligaments on your uterus stretching out (around ligament discomfort) confident, as quickly as I coughed I felt like puking- I nonetheless do maximum circumstances and it never thoroughly went away confident, i'd desire to brush my tooth without throwing up.... I merely could not brush my tongue each of how. unusually sufficient now, I crave my toothpaste, so I brush my tooth all of the time. the appropriate way i chanced directly to alleviate my issues have been utilising those gel %. issues you place over your eyes and take some tylenol. The zombie element is going away! i began feeling greater advantageous returned appropriate approximately 24wks. Congrats hun and sturdy success.

Answer 8

first answer no it wont hurt the dog to change the time you feed them because we have many dogs and we feed them at different times all of the time and answer number two the dog is fine it is just that she is drinking too fast and probably choking on her water like people do sometimes she should be fine.