Less risk of choking since the dog has more time to chew and is paying more attention to each bite.
Slow feeder dog bowl how to#
Mental stimulation because the dog must think about how to get all the food out.Reduced likelihood of bloat since the dog swallows less air as they eat.Possible benefits of a dog slow feeder bowl include: While we generally believe that slow feeders are a good thing, you should be aware of all the potential slow feeder pros and cons before spending your hard-earned money on one-or a closet full! Slow Feeder Dog Bowl Benefits Regardless of the style, all slow feeders work by making it harder for your dog to take continuous large bites of food. Other slow feeders force the dog to perform a task or solve a puzzle before revealing the food underneath. Some slow feeders look like a maze inside a bowl and prevent your dog from getting as much food with each bite. Avoid letting your dog drink large amounts of water all at onceįood bowls for dogs that eat too fast come in a variety of sizes and styles.Restrict activity for 1-2 hours after mealtime.In addition to using a dog bowl for fast eaters, here are a few other ways to help prevent bloat in dogs: Retching or attempts to vomit with no success.
People with deep-chested dog breeds should take as many precautions as they can to prevent their dog from developing bloat, including feeding at least two meals per day and using a slow feeder. This is a life-threatening condition that requires surgery to correct and can become fatal extremely quickly.Īny dog could develop bloat, especially dogs who quickly gulp their food and swallow a lot of air while eating, but large, deep-chested breeds are the most susceptible to bloat, including Old English Sheepdogs, Doberman Pinschers, Basset Hounds, Standard Poodles, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Weimaraners, Saint Bernards, and Great Danes. In extreme cases, the bloated stomach can twist upon itself, blocking both the entrance and exit to the stomach. Some dogs grow out of this behavior, while others don’t.Īlso known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), bloat is a condition in which the stomach fills beyond its usual capacity with gas, liquid, or food. If you adopted your dog, they may have experienced food shortages as a puppy or young adult, leading them to still worry about where their next meal will come from. If your dog’s food-scarfing behavior is new, you should get them checked out by a vet to rule out any health issues. Many health problems can cause dogs to become hungrier than usual, including diabetes, thyroid issues, parasites, and Cushing’s disease. Splitting their food up into more frequent, smaller meals may help prevent them from eating so quickly. If you only feed your dog once (or maybe even twice) a day, your dog may scarf their food because they’re extremely hungry. In either case, feeding your dogs in separate rooms may help reduce this issue. If you have multiple dogs, one or more may decide they need to eat their food as quickly as they can to either prevent it from being eaten by other dogs or so they can then try to steal food from dogs who eat slower. Why do some dogs like to scarf their food down as quickly as possible? There are several possible reasons your dog may be eating like it’s an Olympic sprint: A dog that has to spend the energy and brain power to figure out a puzzle before eating may be less likely to be disruptive than a dog that finishes each meal in less than a minute. Another excellent benefit of slow feeders is that they provide additional physical and mental stimulation the dog might not otherwise get. In addition to the risk of bloat or gassiness, many dogs these days face a lot of boredom while their humans work or go to school all day. At worst, the extra air in their stomach can cause potentially fatal bloat, also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). Whether it’s a puzzle dog bowl, a lick mat, a stuffed Toppl, a maze bowl for dogs, or any other non-conventional bowl, a slow feeder dog bowl is intended to force pups to eat slower and prevent food gulping, which can cause dogs to swallow a lot of air when they eat.Īt best, a dog that swallows a bunch of air while gulping its food down as quickly as possible will likely be extremely gassy as the excess air leaves their system.
What Is the Point of a Slow Feeder Dog Bowl? You can create a slow feeder bowl by simply putting a tennis ball, large rock, or other obstruction in a food bowl that your dog must work around, or you can buy any number of tools, toys, or bowls designed for the specific purpose of slowing down fast eaters. A slow feeder bowl is anything designed to prevent a dog from quickly gulping their food all at once.
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