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Why Do Dogs Cry After Eating
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Unusual
Concerning
Introduction
A canine who cries after eating should be concerning. Any kind of severe pain they encounter when they eat could cause them to try and not eat, or eat less, and that could have lasting effects on the health of your canine. Outside of just that, whatever is causing the pain in your dog is likely a medical concern which should be taken seriously on its own. It could be caused by damaged or broken teeth, infections, or issues in their digestive system. If you see this behavior in your dog, at the least there are some things your should look out for..
The Root of the Behavior
Like in humans, there can be a lot of reasons why eating could cause your canine some pain. On the more concerning end of the spectrum, there is something called "bloat." This is not your typically bloating and may not have any symptoms of a bloated or inflamed stomach, but rather a twisting of the intestinal tract. This is quite concerning, quite painful, and could quickly become fatal. Unfortunately, you are not armed with the tools or expertise which may be necessary to correct the issue. The pain they are experiencing could be caused by something lodged in their throat or stomach, often, but alarmingly, a splintered off piece of bone. Even with bones that are touted to be safe for canines, all bones can still splinter. This can stab into the throat or stomach and become stuck and constantly agitate and tear at their throat.
Dental issues like broken teeth or infections in the mouth could be causing this pain as well. Bones and other hard chewing toys often cause the cracking and breaking of teeth which could be putting your dog into a great amount of pain. Assuming it is just broken teeth, this can be less concerning than the alternative. An infection in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body and risk your dog's life and well-being. However, cracked or broken teeth can eventually lead to infection and still should be treated. Abnormal swelling in the throat could cause pain to your dog during or just after eating. The cause of the swelling could come from a thousand different places, ranging from cancer to just irritation. Keeping an eye on the swelling is important, and if it persists or gets any worse, you should reach out to your vet as soon as possible and treat the root cause of the swelling.
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Get Vet ChatEncouraging the Behavior
Once they are in pain, it has already gone too far. By that point, just watching him is not usually enough. If your dog is whimpering, they are already suffering from some serious discomfort or pain, and anything involving the mouth, throat, or digestive system can blow out of proportion rather quickly. Dealing with this quickly is important to insure your dogs safety. However, before they get to that point, there are things you can do everyday to make sure they never get there. A healthy diet, plenty of exercise and a few small measures around the house can make all the difference in the world.
A big step is to get them off bones, or at least reduce their quantity of bones. Although your dog loves them, and they are advertised as the best thing that ever happened to canines, they can cause a lot of harm with relatively few benefits. Bones fracture teeth, and can splinter and rip apart the stomach and throat. Transitioning them to a chew toy instead can make a large difference when it comes to long term canine health. Chew toys are usually designed to be much safer then your typical bone. They are soft and immune to splintering into sharp fragments.
Other Solutions and Considerations
Your vet is going to be your first stop whenever pain becomes noticeable while digesting anything. Things can hurt and be uncomfortable without being life-threatening, but anything in the digestive tract should be taken quite seriously. Twisting of the stomach or intestines can be fatal and is incredibly common. The digestive tract of your canine is the primary source of all nutrients and energy that your canine goes through each day, and it is important to make sure there is nothing that is interfering with that. If any pain or discomfort stops your dog from eating, they have begun down a slippery path that doesn't last long.
Conclusion
If eating or digesting any food is causing your dog pain, unless you know what the cause is and have no reason for concern, then you should contact your veterinary professional right away. Issues can be hard to discover on your own and can easily hide, and many of these issues can be life-threatening.
Written by a Malamute Husky lover Robert Potter
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 03/23/2018, edited: 01/30/2020
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