If your furry pal is like most dogs, they'll probably gobble down their food just to regurgitate it afterward. This is common in dogs and sort of normal but a bad habit that could lead to more serious problems. This is because eating too fast requires breathing in a lot of air and leads to bloating, especially in a dog that eats a large meal.
You may not know it but bloating could be highly detrimental to your dog, and this is why you must try to get them to slow down when they eat. The simplest way to do it is to find a slow feeder dog bowl. It won't only slow them down and promote better digestion, but it's also a great way to engage the rest of their senses. There are many to choose from in the market.
Continue reading for some thorough descriptions of the top favorite slow feeder dog bowls that evaluate design features, materials, durability, and effectiveness.
What Exactly Is a Slow Feed Dog Bowl?
This type of dog bowl has built-in obstructions to slowly keep your dog from gulping down their meals. The slow feeders come in all sorts of ranging from brightly colored plastic to stainless steel. The purpose of placing obstacles in them is to make your dog work for their food, just like they would in their natural environment.
The obstacles can be ridges, lumps, or bumps, and your dog must work around them in order to eat. Some designs are similar to a labyrinth while others include games and puzzles. Whatever the design, the main reason for using these bowls is to prevent serious digestive conditions.
Gulping down dog food isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, some breeds are more prone to certain serious health conditions. These go beyond choking and vomiting, some dogs could bloat badly and even develop Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), a combination of stomach twisting and gas buildup that's lethal. Pay close attention to a dog with a distended abdomen who's also dry heaving, whimpering, panting, and drooling excessively as you probably have to take them to the vet ASAP.
Preventing bloating and other digestive problems is the actual benefit of a slow feeder bowl for dogs. As we said above, these feeders come with raised centers, pockets, ridges, and other built-in elements that differentiate them from regular open bowls. These elements, often crafted into fun shapes that also make feeding fun, force the animal to take smaller bites.
These products come in various depths, and deeper grooves to make it harder to get to the dry or wet food. Most dogs will work to get to the last bit of food, but you might want to get a shallower bowl if yours becomes frustrated by the challenge.
Pros and Cons of a Slow Feeding Bowl for Your Dog
The Advantages
The main benefit of slow feeding dog bowls is to slow down your dog while eating. Regular bowls are great for those who take their time, but the obstructions in the slow kind make eating more challenging and slower. It keeps them from gulping down air and being at risk of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus.
Furthermore, this device makes it harder for a dog to choke. This is because slowing down the eating process gives them time to chew the food before they swallow it, which leads to better digestion. Your dog has probably vomited right after eating at some point, this is caused by eating too fast. Slow eating prevents this and thus, helps them digest food properly and obtain the nutrients they need.
Portion control is important and slow eating also allows the animal to feel satisfied when they finish eating. Did you know that the faster you eat, the more hungry you'll feel when you finish your meal? This is because your stomach hasn't had time to catch up with the food.
One of the reasons why dogs eat fast is the presence of other animals. If you have multiple dogs, you know they tend to eat from each other's bowls. Or, perhaps they do it out of habit. For example, many rescue dogs have been neglected and famished and got used to eating as much as they could because they didn't know when they would get their next meal. Slow feeder bowls force them to change their eating habits whatever the reason for their eating fast.
Another advantage of these bowls is they stimulate the animal and help keep their minds sharp. The activity depends on the design of the bowl but most are designed to make the dog work for their food.
The Drawbacks
Ok, so you just read about the many benefits of a slow feeder bowl, but there are a few possible disadvantages. For example, a large dog who's particularly enthusiastic while they eat could damage their teeth. The reason is some dogs become frustrated when they can't get all the food at once and might damage their teeth trying to destroy the bowl, especially if it's made of stainless steel or another hard material. This is an uncommon scenario but definitely could happen. Speaking of materials, a cheap softer plastic bowl could also pose a risk as the dog might eat it.
Furthermore, cleaning this kind of bowl is more difficult due to the nooks and crannies. The harder the puzzle, the tougher it'll be to clean them. Not only that, your dog will make more of a mess with this kind of bowl while trying to get at the food. Some animals even figure out that knocking it over makes it faster to get to the food, so the bowl may not be for you if you think this would be an issue. Of course, a heavier one or one with a stable base would solve this problem.
The Best Slow Feeder Bowl Options for Your Dog
As we said above, fast-eating dogs are more likely to bloat and regurgitate, but they could also become obese. GDV happens when an animal gulps large amounts of food and fluid while inhaling the air that fills their stomach, which can be very dangerous. Slow feeder dog bowls aid digestion and engages dogs to reduce overeating. We also already mentioned that a dog may want to chew on the bowl to get to the food faster so keep up with it and replace it if it becomes damaged.
by Outward Hound
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
This product is intended for pets only and is dishwasher safe on a low heat setting and on the top rack. Keep in mind placing it in the microwave could ruin it. These slow feed dog bowls are fun. The Feeder Slo Bowl is available in many sizes and ridge patterns to suit your dog's needs. Watch how their natural instincts kick in as they scavenge and hunt for food.
Made from BPA and PVC, the feeder dog bowl is suitable for dry, wet, or raw food and can considerably slow down the speed at which your animal eats. The unique design features meal-lengthening ridges to help slow down eating up to 10 times.
These fun feeders are great for dogs eating dry, wet, or raw food diets and the large one holds up to four cups of dry kibble while the Medium holds two cups. The one for a small dog holds 3/4 cups. Unfortunately, the product is currently unavailable on Amazon but you can find some similar ones there for about $17.99 each.
by NOYAL
Noyal Dog Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
This nonslip puzzle bowl keeps the food safe and promotes your dog's healthy eating habits. It comes in one size that's perfect for puppies, as well as small, medium, and large dogs.
The fun feeder features a swirl flower pattern design to slow down fast eating and keep your dog from choking. Also to control their weight and prevent digestion in a fun interactive manner.
Furthermore, there are four non-slip mats in the package to glue to the bottom of the bowl and keep it from slipping. Also, the bowl base is wider to prevent being knocked over. This dog bowl is fun and works well with dry and wet food diets. Check it out at Amazon, it's only $9.59 there.
by Outward Hound
Outward Hound Fun Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
This fun feeder comes in several sizes and maze patterns. The uniquely designed bowl features meal-lengthening ridges to help slow down your dog's eating time by 10 times. Thus, it prevents indigestion, regurgitation, and obesity. It can both challenge and engage your dog during mealtime all while controlling overeating.
The bowl has a non-slip base and non-toxic materials like BPA and PVC and is phthalate-free. It's available on Amazon for $14.99 in multiple sizes and ridge patterns and it can accommodate dry, wet, or raw food diets. The Large one holds up to four cups of dry kibble, the medium holds two, and the small 3/4 cup. It's easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
by UPSKY
Upsky No Choking Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
This is a dog bowl with a fun pattern and a rather affordable option, only $8.59 on Amazon. You can select from five sizes and pick from black, blue, pink, and white. This plastic bowl has a raised interior and is appropriate for wet or dry food. You can also use it as a water bowl if you're trying to keep your dog from drinking too much water at once. Furthermore, the various size options make it a good choice for small or large dogs alike.
Experts advocate the slow feed concept and this slow-feed dog bowl can help you act on it. The raised parts in the bowl separate the food when the animal is eating to effectively slow them down.
by UPSKY
Neater Pet Brands Slow Feed Bowl Stainless Steel
Have you ever looked at a slow feeder bowl and thought, how in the world will my dog eat from there? This product was designed to slow them, not to frustrate them. It holds up to three cups of dry or wet food when filled to the top of the middle of the bowl – without covering the paw print. Not only that, it fits most elevated feeders with 2-quart bowls and a hole opening between 7.25" and 8" so it's great for medium to large-sized dog breeds.
Furthermore, the bowl is dishwasher safe and made of stainless steel, the preferred bowl material of many pet owners because it is durable, doesn't hold odors, and doesn't collect bacteria like some other dog bowl materials. You can order it from Amazon for $14.99.
Digestion-Related Problems in Dogs
The digestive system comprises all organs involved in processing food after you eat it: from the mouth to the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines, rectum, and anus. As you can see, your dog's process of digestion begins when picking up the food and begin to chew it.
The enzymes in the saliva break down the food and then comes swallowing, followed by the additional breakdown of the food in the stomach. Then, the intestines absorb the nutrients and discard the waste. The digestion process isn't only critical for obtaining nutrients but also for attaining the right balance of fluid and salts known as electrolytes. A vet must first identify the part of the system where the digestive system problem might be to determine the specific cause and prescribe treatment.
Symptoms of Digestive System Disorders
The general symptoms may include vomiting, regurgitation, excessive drooling, bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, shock, and dehydration. The vet will determine the location and nature of the disease often based on any of these signs.
They'll also look at things such as biting abnormalities as well as chewing and swallowing. This is because they are usually associated with diseases of the mouth, teeth, jaw, and esophagus. The most common cause of vomiting is inflammation of the lining of the stomach or intestines due to infection or irritation, but it could also be the result of a nondigestive condition like kidney disease.
Similarly, diarrhea usually signals a digestive system disorder although the causes can be many and varied. Excessive watery diarrhea could be due to a bacterial condition in which excess fluid is secreted into the intestines: hypersecretion.
Another cause could be the failure to properly absorb nutrients and this, in turn, is due to a defect in the intestinal cells responsible for absorption. Viruses like canine parvovirus, coronavirus, and rotavirus are often responsible for this condition. It could also be the result of a defect that limits the ability of the intestines to absorb liquids or defects in the pancreatic secretions needed for proper digestion.
Variations in the color, consistency, and frequency of bowel movements are also a sign of digestive problems. In fact, blackish ones could be a sign of internal bleeding. In addition, constipation or straining is usually the result of inflammation of the rectum and anus and, as we said above, bloating is due to the accumulation of gas, fluid, and/or ingested food. Reduced activity of the muscles that move food through the digestive system is usually the culprit here. Distention can also be the result of some kind of physical obstruction and of something as simple as overeating.
Abdominal pain is due to stretching or inflammation of abdominal membranes, and it can vary in severity. A dog may react to abdominal pain by whining, pacing, and abnormal postures (for example, the forelimbs outstretched, the chest on the floor, and the back legs raised).
Non-Infections Causes of Digestive Problems in Dogs
A large number of digestive problems are non-infectious. These include overeating or eating poor-quality food or chemicals or obstruction caused by swallowing foreign objects or injury to the digestive system. They can also be the result of enzyme deficiencies, damage to the digestive tract, and birth defects.
Symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea may also be the consequence of other diseases of the liver, kidney, liver, or adrenal gland. The causes of gastric torsion aren't clear, but some believe overeating is one of the reasons for it.
The various treatments include drugs and surgery to correct defects and the use of pharmaceuticals against diarrhea or constipation on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that drugs aren't always beneficial, so don't use them unless prescribed by a doctor. For instance, diarrhea is often a defense mechanism that helps eliminate toxins. In turn, the replacement of fluids and electrolytes is always necessary, especially if your dog is at risk of dehydration after bad episodes of diarrhea or vomiting.
Finally, a distended animal will need the kind of relief only an experienced vet can provide. It'll either be the insertion of a stomach tube or even surgery if the digestive tract is obstructed, twisted, or bloated with gas, fluid, or food. The physician will provide pain relief but keep an eye on the dog to make sure the drugs aren't masking a progressing condition.
It's good to have options for your dogs as they can't help but gobble down food; it's their instinct. Make your own slow feeder if you can't afford a new one. For instance, you could use a muffin tin or scatter small amounts of food in various places. Bon appetit!
