Have you ever watched your dog eat and thought he wasn’t even chewing? Many dogs literally inhale their food. This can cause them to vomit, choke or bloat, which can be fatal. So how do you get your dog to eat slower? Slow feed dog bowls and slow feed inserts can help alleviate these issues and provide many other benefits by making your dog eat more slowly.
Benefits of Slow Feed Dog Bowls and Slow Feed Inserts
Slow feed dog bowls are food dishes with raised shapes and ridges on the inside of the bowl that the dog has to eat around to access their food. This slows down the rate at which the dog eats. Marj Ediger, a professional dog trainer for 45 years, says there are many benefits to using slow-feeding bowls with dogs, including:
- Slow down food intake
- Prevent Choking
- Prevent vomiting and other gastrointestinal discomfort
- Provide mental stimulation
- Prevent bloating by reducing the amount of air dogs intake.
Dogs used to run 20 miles a day to find food, and now we give it to them on a silver platter, says Marj. While we can’t duplicate this effort and reward system for obtaining food, we can challenge our dogs with slow-feeding bowls. Slow feed bowls can be used with any type of dog food, whether dry, wet or raw – and even some soft human foods that are safe for dogs like peanut butter, dog-friendly vegetables and fruits and plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie). mash potatoes).
Types of Slow Feed Dog Bowls and Slow Feed Inserts
You can find all kinds of slow feed dog bowls and inserts on the market today, including ceramic, plastic, silicone, and stainless steel. Different bowl sizes, different bowl heights and different groove patterns are available to accommodate large and small dog breeds.
Marj recommends stainless steel dog bowls over plastic because if you leave your dog’s bowl on the floor, he may chew it up and ingest the plastic. The steel ones are durable and easy to throw in the dishwasher, she adds.
You can also purchase slow feed inserts for dog bowls. This is usually a suction cup at the bottom of your existing bowl. Another option is to put safe balls or toys in your dog’s dish, so the dog has to work around the object to get his food.
Disadvantages of Slow Feeding Dog Bowls
Slow feeder dog bowls require more cleaning than a regular dog dish. Clean in all crevices, which can be tough depending on the design. Some bowls have removable inserts – making them something of a hybrid between a one-piece slow loader and an insert – and these can also be tricky to clean.
Marj prefers one-piece slow loaders, as the inserts tend to be messier and harder to clean.
Choosing a slow feeder dog bowl
There are many types of slow feed dog bowls and inserts on the market for a range of prices. Inserts are not necessarily cheaper than a one-piece bowl, it just depends on the material and the brand.
When it comes to effectiveness, which slow feed bowl is best for you will really depend on your dog. The size of your dog’s nose and his determination to inhale his food may require you to try several different bowl designs before you find one that slows your dog down. The depth and number of groves/blocks create the level of difficulty. A breed with a short nose may not need it with as many grooves or as deep as a large breed to slow it down.
How do I find the best slow feed dog bowl for my dog?
The top rated slow feeder dog bowls are generally easy to clean and have enough ridges to noticeably slow your dog down. You might even want to time your dog when you try them, so you can really tell if you’re making your dog eat slower or not.
Slowing down your dog’s meal time is healthy for him! In addition to slow-feeding bowls, Marj suggests training your dog during his meal or scattering his dog food around the house so he has to sniff it. Enrichments like these are not only healthier, but also more fun for both dog and pet parent.
Here are three examples of slow-feeding dog bowls:
- $8.99 – $17.49. Fun Feeder Slo Bowl by Outward Hound
- $14.99. Beater Pets Stainless Steel Non-Slip No-Tip Slow Feed Dog Bowl
- $15.99. Slow Feeding Dog Bowl by Might Paw
