I've noticed over the past few weeks that my dog is whining (as if in pain) while feeding on dry food. I usually feed him dry food and he eats at a fast pace. At first it would happen occasionally, but now it happens almost every feeding.

Some things I've noticed while he's eating: his stomach starts to contract, (cave in), and it will coincide with his whining/yelping. He isn't constipated nor bloated.

This morning, it was painful enough that he stopped eating, and began to pace around anxiously. After pacing, he'll go back and continue to eat. While pacing, he'll also hang his head down, and smack his lips.

Any ideas?

I think you have to take him to the vet. Very seldom can anybody read a description on the net and tell the owner how to fix the problem. Most people will not even try.

Thanks labman,

I am taking him to the vet today. I'm just trying to get as much information, opinions, and ideas, from experienced folks such as yourself. I've been researching on the net, as well as talked to other dog owners, and even spoke to the vet this morning. Any ideas, opinions, are greatly appreciated.

Hey all,

Well, it's been almost four years since I posted on here to ask the question. My dog passed away about a month after I posted here. I took him to the vet that day, who promptly gave him a head x-ray and found nothing. I remember him suggesting to give him wet food and cut back on his dry food to see how he reacted. His symptoms didn't change. Spoke to the vet again, and he suggested I watch and see if anything changes. 3 weeks later, my dog was having an acute attack of breathing difficulty, and was very lethargic. We took him to the vet, where he was then given a chest x-ray, to find multiple tumors and fluid filling his lungs. Our options were limited at that point, either surgery at UC Davis Veterinary hospital, where the shock of the surgery might do him in, or put him down. We opted for the latter and decided to do it the following morning, but he didn't last through the night. He was 11 years old and a pure bred German Rottweiler that had lived a good long life.