Image zoom Why Slow Eating Is Important Rushing through food may mean that your pet is excited about mealtimes or overly hungry, but the main reason to be concerned about fast eating habits is that your pet could be swallowing large amounts of air with every gulp. "Ingesting air can lead to upset stomach in your pup or worse, it can increase risk of gastric dilatation with volvulus (GDV) or more commonly known as bloat, which is a life-threatening condition in dogs that requires emergency surgery," says Dr. Freeman. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, GDV expands the stomach to the point that it may not be able to relieve itself of food and gas. Symptoms of the condition include a very distended belly, your pet seemingly preoccupied with their stomach, drooling, and vomiting without expelling anything.