Are plastic slow feeders bad for dogs

Slow Feeder Dog Bowls: Everything You Need To Know (3 Questions Answered)

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If youre like most dog owners, youre always looking for ways to make your pets life better. One way to do that is by using a slow feeder dog bowl.

Does your dog inhales their food, rather than eat it at a normal pace? Fear not, youre not alone! While some dogs eat their food slowly, many dogs are gobblers.

So much so that theres an entire industry that specialises in products that can help your dog to eat more slowly, like snuffle mats or slow feeder dog bowls, but well get into that later.

In this article, well explore the reasons behindwhy your dog might eat quickly, the effects of eating too quickly, and how you can help to slow down your dogs eating with tools such as slow feeding bowls.

Can dogs eat too fast?

Yes, dogs sure can eat too fast. If you ever ate your meal too fast, you know it can have painful consequences, and its not much different for our dogs.

If dogs eat too fast, they may gulp down a big amount of air along with their food, which can cause their stomach to expand, which can lead to painful bloating.

Why your dog might eat too fast

There are a number of different reasons why your dog might be eating too fast, so lets look at them one by one, including what you can try to help your dog eat more slowly.

1. They dont get enough mental stimulation throughout the day

Dogs need to exercise their brain as much as they need physical exercise. Some breeds more than others, but all need some form of mental stimulation throughout the day.

A lack of enrichment can often lead to dogs eating too quickly. Its easy to understand why. Think of it this way: If your dogs day is SO boring that the highlight of their day is meal-time, they may find it hard to control their excitement and gobble down their food.

The good news is that even if youre stretched on time, you can actually provide your dog with mental stimulation during their meal-time by incorporating enrichment feeding into your routine.

2. Social Pressure

When many dogs are fed at the same time or together from just one bowl, a competitive situation can develop in which dogs start to eat quickly in order to get enough food.

If you experience this at home, try to let your dog eat in a quiet place where they wont be disturbed by others.

3. Instinct

Sometimes its just your dogs instinct that causes them to eat quickly. After all, fast eating happens to us humans sometimes too, even though we know that its better for us to properly chew our food and eat slowly so that we can tell when were full.

Do slow feeder dog bowls actually work?

Slow feeder dog bowls are specially designed to slow your dog down while eating and come in many different styles.

They work by adding some physical barriers to the accessibility of food for our dogs. So, in other words, its just a little harder for our dogs to get to the food, so theyll eat more slowly.

Which slow feeder is best for dogs?

Ok this question is a bit of a tough one, because the answer is that it depends a little on your dog. For example, Frenchies might find it challenging to get all the food out if the physical barriers of the slow eating dog bowl is too high. So you might have to try a few different designs before you find out which one works the best for your dog. The two dog slow feeder bowls that are featured below are a great place to start at reasonable prices with great reviews from other dog owners.

Can you put wet food in a slow feeder dog bowl?

Yes, you can absolutely put both dry and wet food into slow feeder dog bowls. In fact, your pup will probably love the variety! But try to rinse the dog slow feeder shortly after your dog is done eating, to make sure it wont get annoying to clean.

How do you wash a dog with a slow feeder?

Some pet parents use a Lick Mat with suction as a hack to make it easier to wash their dog. The purpose is to reward and distract your pup while you do something that they feel a little anxious about.

So, youll use the suction to attach the Lick Mat on the tiles near your tub or shower, and then youll fill it with peanut butter for your dog to enjoy while being washed.

Will a slow feeder help my dog loose weight?

No, a slow feeder will not help your dog loose weight. There are many other factors at play when it comes to weight loss in dogs, including the amount of calories consumed and physical activity. If you think your dog needs to loose weight, its important to discuss the topic with your regular vet first before you take any other steps.

Is it bad if dogs eat too fast?

The thing is that dogs that eat too fast often dont chew their food adequately. As a result, large pieces of food end up in their stomach, which can lead to digestive issues.

Also, when dogs eat fast, too much air can enter their digestive system, which can increase the likelihood of bloating and passing of gas.

Lastly, when dogs eat too fast, their food intake can increase too. In other words, it will take longer for your dog to notice a feeling of satiety.

Dogs who eat this way are therefore more likely to end up overweight, which is especially true for breeds that have an increased risk of rapid weight gain to begin with.

More things you can try to slow down eating

In many cases the quick eating is a learned behaviour that can be difficult to un-learn once developed. That said, there are several more external tools we can use to help our dogs to eat more calmly.

Learn about Enrichment Feeding

Even just a simplescatter hunt as opposed to feeding your dog from a bowl can already make a huge difference and its quick and easy to integrate to your daily routine.

Interactive Food Toys

Studies suggest that dogs may experience positive affective states in response to their own achievements. By using interactive food toys, our dogs need to develop and apply problem-solving skills, which can be a rewarding experience.

Just make sure theyre adequate for your dog and step in if you notice your dog getting frustrated.

Snuffle Mat

Snuffle Mats are a great way to get started with Enrichment Feeding.

Its is an interactive enrichment puzzle that will engage your dogs mind.

Quiet Environment

Let your dog eat in a quiet environment and dont let multiple puppies eat from the same bowl as they might start competing for food which will cause them to eat quicker.

Mix it all up

Keep your dogs mind engaged by adding some variety to meal-times when you can. For example, feed your dog from a slow feeder on one day, then from an interactive food toy on another day, then do a scatter hunt. you get the idea

References

• Fetch by WebMD. Flatulence in Dogs. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/flatulence-dogs#1
• PetMD. Dog breeds prone to obesity. https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/6-dog-breeds-prone-obesity
• National Library of Medicine. Positive affect and learning: exploring the Eureka Effect in dogs. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24096703/

Slow Feeders: Why Dogs Need Them And What Happens If They Eat Fast

I have a yorkie who makes his food disappear faster than a magician can if I dont give him a slow feed bowl. Theres still a burp after every meal, but at least theres more time now between me putting the food down and him actually finishing it.

Dogs need slow feeders to make them eat slower, which is healthier. Eating fast can make dogs vomit, burp, get flatulence, bloat, or even end up in hospital. Slow feeders force a dog to work around a puzzle or obstacle to reach their food.

There are many reasons to give a dog a slow feed bowl, but did you know that not every dog needs one? Its important to understand the pros and cons of this puzzling mealtime feeder before getting one.

Why dogs should eat slowly

Dogs should eat their food slowly. When dogs eat too fast, they take in air with their food. This air can cause many health issues and discomfort, from bloating and tummy sensitivity, to a twisted stomach and an emergency visit to an animal hospital.

In mild cases, swallowed air travels through the gut and simply causes flatulence, or it comes out as burps.

Dogs that eat too fast often vomit or gag after meals from swallowed air. This gagging and vomiting brings stomach acids and food into the throat and esophagus, which can damage these organs over time.

But did you know that bloat is dangerous and can kill a dog?

Swallowed air can make a dogs stomach bloat, which makes the dog very uncomfortable.

If they play or run around too soon before or after a meal with all this air in their stomach, they risk the chance of their stomach flipping or turning over. When this happens, the pipes to and from the stomach are closed, stopping the blood supply and natural movement through the digestive system.

The dogs stomach becomes swollen, he/she struggles to breathe, and the stomach could burst.

A turned stomach is a medical emergency and needs a vets attention. Unfortunately, dogs can die from this condition.

Why dogs need slow feeders

Many dogs eat too fast. They may do this because they are hungry, love food (are food driven), are anxious, bored, have parasites that make them hungry all the time, or they are trying to get all their food down before another animal steals it from them.

Slow feeders are good for dogs because they slow down the rate at which dogs can eat their food. Slow feeders make it impossible for dogs to gulp down food, which lessens the amount of air they take in with their food. This reduces the risk of the dog choking, vomiting, or getting bloat.

Not every dog needs a slow feeder, but every dog can benefit from using one. The following breeds and traits in dogs make them more likely to get bloat than other dogs:

• Dogs that eat very quickly, like theyre in a fast-eating competition
• Dogs that eat from a raised food bowl
• Large breeds that are older than 5, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers
• Giant breeds older than 3, such as Irish Wolfhounds, St Bernards, Great Danes
• Dogs that like to run around and play immediately after eating
• Deep-chested dogs, with chests that reach or fall below their elbows, such as Dobermans, sighthounds, Standard Poodles, St Bernards, and Boxers

If your dog is any of the breeds or has any of the traits above, it might be a good idea to switch over to a slow feed bowl.

Why puppies need slow feeders

Eating fast is just as risky for puppies as it is for older dogs. Puppies tend to be greedy little guys or gals and often love to run around and play, even if theyve just had their breakfast.

Puppies should be given a slow feeder bowl to stop them from eating fast. The puzzle in the slow feeder makes it impossible for a puppy to quickly swallow all the food in the bowl, which minimizes the amount of air they take in when eating. This lessens the chance of the puppy getting bloat and becoming sick after eating.

How slow feed bowls work

Slow feed bowls are bowls with raised pieces or a puzzle inside. Kibble is placed along the pathways in the puzzle or around the raised pieces. The dog needs to lick and scoop out the kibble in these paths. Because it takes time and accuracy to do this, the dog automatically eats slower than when he/she has access to all the food in a regular bowl.

How often to use a slow feeder

A slow feeder should be used whenever a dog is fed. It is better to divide a dogs daily food allowance into two smaller meals. Use the slow feeder to feed your dog breakfast in the morning and dinner at night.

The pros and cons of a slow feeder dog bowl

The pros and advantages of using a slow feeder

A slow feeder dog bowl has many advantages when used correctly. Slow feeder bowls

slow down dogs that eat fast, which prevents burping, flatulence, vomiting, gagging, and bloat

give dogs mental stimulation and curb boredom

fulfil dogs natural instinct to work for food (like dogs do in the wild)

give dogs time to feel full, so they are less inclined to eat as much as when they eat quickly

make eating more fun for dogs, because of the game of hunting kibble in a puzzle

The cons and disadvantages of a slow feed dog bowl

By now you might be wondering if there are any disadvantages to giving your dog a slow feed bowl. Lets take a look at the list of cons.

Slow feeder bowls

can be a bit more expensive than normal dog food bowls

can make eating more difficult for dogs with flat faces because the shape of their face may make it difficult to reach the food inside the puzzle (lick mats are a better option for flat-faced dogs, which well talk about later)

can be difficult for some dogs to understand: Start with simple puzzle bowls and move on to more challenging slow feeders as your dog learns whats expected from them to get to the food

need to be matched to the size and eagerness of your dog: Dogs that chew their bowls or larger dogs may need a stronger and pricier slow feeder than smaller or calmer dogs

Slow dog feeders can help with vomiting

Slow dog feeders can help with vomiting if a dog vomits from eating too fast. The air that a fast-eating dog sucks in when eating may cause vomiting and gagging. Slow dog feeders will stop the dog from eating so fast and reduce the amount of air swallowed with meals, which might stop vomiting altogether.

The best slow feeder dog bowls

I did some research to find the best slow feed dog bowls on the market today and there are a lot of wonderful options, with all materials, and to suit all kinds of budgets. Lets take a look:

The best stainless steel slow feeder dog bowl

Recommended bowl: Neater Pet Brands Slow Feed Bowl from Amazon

This stainless steel pet bowl is Amazons choice and comes with very high customer ratings.

There are two sizes to choose from, medium and large, and what I like is that it is designed to make it difficult for your dog to tip over the bowl, with a larger base and a rubber ring around the bottom.

You can read my article on how to stop your dog from tipping over their bowl HERE.

I personally dont use stainless steel bowls for food as my dogs dont like the sound these bowls make or the feeling when they hit the bowl with their teeth. But many dogs love stainless steel bowls and theyre the most hygienic of all dog bowls out there.

The best ceramic slow feeder dog bowl

Recommended bowl: BestVida Sparks Premium Stoneware Bowl from Amazon

This is the worlds first ceramic slow feeder, with a patent pending.

There are many pros to getting a ceramic slow feeder: Theyre hygienic as long as there arent any chips in the ceramic, theyre dishwasher safe, microwaveable, and even freezer safe.

This bowl is heavier than metal and plastic bowls, but the weight will also stop your dog from flipping the bowl.

And it comes in a range of colors, from orange or green, to white or blue.

Best plastic slow feeder brand

Recommended bowl: Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl from Amazon

This is an extremely popular slow feed bowl that forces dogs to eat 10 times slower than regular bowls. These slow feeders come in a range of sizes and colors.

The non-slip base prevents dogs from tipping over the food bowl. Plus, its made with food-safe, lightweight plastic thats BPA, PVC, and phalate-free.

The best slow feeder dog bowl for flat-faced dogs

Recommended bowls:

Hyper Pet SloDog Lick Mat from Amazon

Lickimat Tuff, Heavy-Duty Dog Slow Feeder from Amazon

A lick mat is a great option for dogs with flat faces. Lick mats have a much flatter/lower surface than traditional slow feeders, so flat-faced dogs find it easier to reach the kibble, dry or soaked, and lick it straight out of the shallow holes.

This still slows down their eating speed.

If you have a French Bulldog, or want to try another slow feed bowl for your flat-faced dog, then theres also the four-leaf clover slow feeding dog bowl (Amazon link). This bowl has four larger holes to accommodate a flatter dog face.

Its made of resin thats food safe and easy to clean.

More tips to stop a dog from eating too fast

Here are some other things you can do to slow down a dog that eats too fast:

• Try different slow feeders so your dog doesnt learn how to use one quickly. Every time your dog tries a new puzzle, he/she will have to spend time figuring it out, which will slow down eating.
• If youre at home during the day, take your dogs daily food allowance and break it up into several smaller portions. Feed small portions throughout the day in a slow feed bowl or use these portions as treats for calm behavior during the day.
• Hide kibble in small bowls around the garden or house, then let your dog go hunting for food.
• Get a qualified animal behaviorist to help you train your dog to trust the people and animals around him/her. Sometimes dogs eat fast as a way to protect their food, so no one else can get it before theyve finished eating it. If this is the case, you may be able to break the habit by teaching your dog that the food is safe, and no one will try to take it.
• Take your dog to the vet for a checkup and de-worm your dog monthly, to make sure there arent parasites making him/her hungry all the time.