Have you ever watched your dog eat and thought, He doesn’t even chew? Many dogs literally inhale their food. This can cause them to vomit, choke or gas, which can be deadly. So how to make dogs anorexic? Slow feeding bowls and slow feeding tube inserts can help alleviate these problems and provide many other benefits by making your dog eat more slowly.
Benefits of Slow Feeding Bowl and Slow Feeding Insert
A slow dog bowl is a food dish with a raised shape and ledge inside the bowl that the dog has to eat around to get his food. This slows down the dog’s eating rate. Marj Ediger, a 45-year professional dog trainer, says there are many positive benefits to using a slow dog food bowl, including:
- Slow down the digestion of food
- Prevent suffocation
- Prevents Vomiting and Other Gastrointestinal Discomfort
- Provides mental stimulation
- Prevent flatulence by reducing the amount of air your dog inhales.
“The dogs used to run 20 miles a day in search of food, and now we give them food on a silver platter,” says Marj. While we can’t replicate that effort and reward system for food, we can challenge our dogs with slow food bowls. Slow feeding bowls, sometimes called enhanced bowls or mats, can be used with any type of dog food, whether dry, wet or raw – and even some soft foods. dog-safe like peanut butter, dog-friendly veggies, and fruit and pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie puree).
Types of slow dog food bowls and slow feeders
You can find all kinds of slow-feeding dog bowls and inserts on the market today, including ceramic, plastic, silicone, and stainless steel. Bowls of different sizes and bowl heights and groove patterns are available to accommodate large and small dog breeds.
Marj recommends using stainless steel slow cooker dog bowls instead of plastic because if you leave your dog’s bowl on the floor, they can chew and swallow the plastic. These steels are very durable and easy to throw in the dishwasher, she adds.
You can also purchase a slow feeder for dog bowls. These cups usually suck into the bottom of your existing bowl. Another option is to put a ball or safety toy on the dog’s plate, so the dog has to work around the object to get his food.
Cons of slowing down dog feeding bowls
Slow-feeding dog bowls require more cleaning than regular dog dishes. Clean in all crevices, which can be difficult depending on the design. Some bowls have removable inserts – making them look like a combination of a one-piece slow loader and an insert – and they can also be difficult to clean.
Marj prefers the one-piece slow loader, as these parts tend to be messier and harder to clean.
Choose a bowl for your dog to eat slowly
There are many types of slow-feeding dog bowls and pads on the market at various price points. Dishes are not necessarily cheaper than one piece bowls, it just depends on the material and brand.
In terms of effectiveness, the slow cooker bowl that’s best for you really depends on your dog. The size of your dog’s nose and how determined they are to inhale the food may mean that you should try a few different bowl designs before finding one that slows your dog down. The depth and number of groves/blocks make up the difficulty level. Short-nosed dogs may not need as many grooves or depths as large breeds to slow them down.
How to find the best slow cooker?
The highest-rated slow-feeding bowls are usually easy to clean and have enough ridges for your dog to slow down considerably. You may even want to time your dog when you try it, so you can really see if you’re making it slower.
Slowing down your dog’s eating time will benefit its health! In addition to slow food bowls, Marj recommends training your dog during their meals, or spreading dog food around the house so they have to sniff. Enrichment strategies like these are not only healthy, but also more fun for both dog and pet parents.
Here are three examples of today’s slow-feeding dog bowls:
