Top Rated Slow Feed Interactive Dog Toy
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When dogs love food a little too much they sometimes eat too fast, which can lead to digestive issues like vomiting, gas, and overeating. "Dogs who eat too quickly tend to swallow air, which can increase the risk of bloat in some large dogs," says Denise Lott, veterinarian assistant at Hello Ralphie, a pet telehealth company. "Eating too quickly can also carry the risk of choking on food." If you notice vomiting after eating or gassiness, you should chat with a veterinarian to make sure there aren't any medical conditions causing these symptoms. If no medical condition is found, they might recommend a slow feeder bowl, which have obstructions to eating built into them, like bumps, lumps, soft spikes, or ridged patterns. "[These obstructions] physically prevent pets from eating food too fast," says Laura Robinson, veterinarian and advisor to the online pet clinic Pawp. But they also come with a few other advantages too. "They can be used to provide enrichment for pets and to mentally stimulate them to work for their food," says Robinson, and "they can be used for dogs who seem to be always hungry as it forces them to slow down, which will help to send signals to their brain that they are full." If you're looking for a slow feeder bowl, we're here to help. Here are the ones we like, based on size, price, material, and effectiveness. Courtesy of Amazon What We Like Deep patterns to slow down eating Non-skid base to keep the bowl from moving or flipping Top-rack dishwasher safe Three sizes available Five fun colors and patterns available What We Don't Like Grooves might be too deep for smaller dogs The Outward Hound Slow Feed Interactive Dog Bowl uses labyrinth-like patterns built into the bowl to form grooves and obstructions for your dog to eat around. It's great for either wet or dry food, or you can use it with treats to give your dog a challenge with their snacks. Despite the addition of slowing obstructions, each bowl still has room for your dog's meals, with the large size holding up to 4 cups of dry food. The Outward Hound slow feeder bowl is made from a durable, food-safe polypropylene material, which can be cleaned on the top-rack of a dishwasher. It's available in five colors and in tiny, medium, and large sizes. Chewy What We Like Fun bone pattern BPA-free Top-rack dishwasher safe Affordable Available in two bright colors What We Don't Like Made of thinner, fragile plastic Not really suitable for small dogs Featuring a fun bone pattern to slow your dog's eating, this bowl holds 3 cups of kibble. Frisco's Bone Shaped Ridges Slow Feed Bowl is made from thinner plastic than our best overall pick, but it's affordably priced and available in pink or blue. Plus, it's got a handle and is easy to clean: just pop it on the top rack of the dishwasher. Amazon What We Like Easy-to-clean Stainless steel is more hygienic than plastic Three sizes available Durable What We Don't Like Must remove the three prongs before cleaning or bacteria and mold could grow No fun colors available Not the easiest to disassemble and reassemble With just three prongs in the middle of the bowl, the design of the QT Dog Brake-Fast slow feeder bowl may not be as fun as some of other picks, but the more minimal approach allows it to hold more food. Available in three different sizes—2-, 8-, and 12-cup capacity—you could even feed multiple dogs with one bowl if you chose the larger size. The stainless steel bowl is easy to hand wash between uses and features a removable rubber ring around the edge to help keep the bowl in place at dinnertime. Amazon What We Like Made of bacteria-resistant ceramic Dishwasher and microwave safe Available in various colors and patterns Heavy enough that your dog won't be able to easily flip it or knock it over What We Don't Like Large dry food kernels don't fit between the grooves Only holds 1.5 cups of food Can chip or break if dropped This ceramic bowl is perfect for any dog that chews through plastic or rubber feeder bowls. Ceramic bowls are heavier than plastic feeders, making them harder to move or tip over, but the LE TAUCI Ceramic Slow Feeder Dog Bowl also has a weighted base and non-slip stickers to help hold it in place. The feeder is also easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and microwave safe if you want to warm up your bud's dinner. This bowl holds about 1.5 cups of dry food, putting it on the smaller side of the spectrum. Amazon What We Like Two-in-one slow feeder and water bowl Raised to lessen the strain on joints Legs are extendable Made in the USA BPA-free Rubber feet to prevent skidding Available in four colors Works for flat-faced dogs What We Don't Like Dogs with long ears may get their ears wet Not the most difficult pattern to figure out Best for smaller dogs If your dog is getting older, or is dealing with achy joints, a raised slow feeder bowl like this one from Neater Pet Brands can help spare them from bending. The height is adjustable, with both a food bowl and a 9-cup water bowl. The slow feed design uses bumps instead of ridges, making this bowl easier to use for small and flat-faced dogs. Amazon What We Like Highly effective at slowing eating Turns mealtime into a game Fun design Dishwasher safe Works for dry and wet food Available in two sizes What We Don't Like Pricey Not for toy breeds Smart dogs will figure out the pattern relatively quickly Only available in one color Designed to look like a patch of green grass, the Company of Animals Green Interactive Slow Dog Feeder has a pattern of peaks in different heights provides a lot of different nooks for both wet and dry food. While it doesn't have as high a lip as other slow feeder bowls on this list, the pattern still does a good job of containing food, with a long oval shape and rubber feet to keep it steady on your floor. It's available in two sizes and is dishwasher safe. Amazon What We Like Designed for large dogs Available in multiple colors Top-rack dishwasher safe Can hold three cups of kibble Sold in pairs What We Don't Like Rubber feet come off so may not be safe for chewers Not very durable Not for small dogs With a diameter of almost 10 inches, this slow feeder bowl is designed with big dogs in mind. The JASGOOD Slow Dog Bowl for Large Dogs holds three cups of food, and has deep reservoirs within its fan blade pattern suitable for slowing down larger dogs. The bowl is available in a variety of fun colors and can even be bought in pairs. It's also safe to wash on the top-rack of a dishwasher. Amazon What We Like Comes with a silicone mat and water bowl Simple and pleasing design Available in two sizes Non-slip Both bowls can be removed and washed in the dishwasher What We Don't Like The water bowl is small Best for smaller or medium-sized dogs Mat is a little flimsy Only available in dull colors Slow feeder bowls can sometimes get a little messy, a problem the Pecute Slow Feeder Dog Bowl solves by coming with its own silicone mat. Shaped like a dog bone, the mat has two stations for holding the included water bowl and slow feeder bowl. It's an all-in-one kit that can even be folded down for travelling. With a 1.5-cup capacity, it's unlikely to stand up to a bigger dog's needs, but it's perfect for small or even medium-sized animals. Plus, the bowls are dishwasher safe. Amazon What We Like Portable BPA-free Works with multiple bowls Top-rack dishwasher safe Highly effective for multiple dog breeds What We Don't Like Only available in one color Can slip out of place Not the best for puppies If you already have a bowl for your dog that you love, but you need to slow their eating down, this insert will do the trick. Made with flexible wings, it can fit bowls as small as 4 cups or as large as 11 cups. The OurPets Spiral Slow Feeder Insert attaches with a beefy suction cup pad suitable for plastic, ceramic, metal, and glass bowls. It's also top-rack dishwasher safe. Final Verdict The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Bowl (view at Chewy) is our overall best pick because it will suit most dog's needs, holding enough food to provide them with a complete meal, while also featuring a challenging enough design to slow them down while they eat. It's available in a variety of colors and patterns too. However, if you're looking for something that gives you more flexibility, you might want to opt for an insert like the OurPets Spiral Slow Feeder Insert (view at Amazon), which can be attached to almost any bowl with a suction cup. "Make sure the size of the dish is appropriate for your dog's size and will adequately hold the amount of food in their meals," Lott told The Spruce Pets. Because the entire point of a slow feeder bowl is to disrupt a volume of food, their capacity can be harder to eyeball than other dog dishes. That makes it important that you measure out your dog's food needs before making your purchase, so you can be assured that the slow feeder bowl you choose won't be a major disruption to you and your dog's current feeding routines. Think carefully about what you think your dog will be able to manage, based on their size and energy levels, since some slow feeder bowl patterns can be trickier than others. "If it's too complex your dog may just decide not to eat," says Lott. However, if the pattern is too simple, or the food nooks too open, it may not do enough to effectively slow down your dog's eating. Dogs will long noses can get in deep grooves and ridges, but dogs with short noses—or flat faces, like pugs and bulldogs—may be unable. "The more ridges, the more difficult to get the food, so it can vary dog by dog and by preference on how slow you want your dog to eat," Robinson says. "Make sure the kibble can fit between the ridges and won't just sit on top. The more intricate the pattern and the narrower the ridges, the harder it will be." Slow feeder bowls are available in a range of materials, including plastic, silicone, stainless steel, and ceramic—all materials that come with their own advantages and disadvantages. "Ceramic and stainless steel are my preferred materials," says Robinson. "They are easy to clean and more durable than the plastic ones." They're also both less prone to bacterial growth. However, "ceramic dishes carry the risk of your dog chipping their teeth, and can break if dropped," says Lott. "Non-toxic plastic and silicone can work well, though if your dog is a serious chewer they run the risk of chewing off and ingesting plastic pieces." If you opt for plastic, look for models free of BPAs and other hazardous materials. Slow feeder bowls are harder to clean, so keep it simple for your own sake. "Since the design is more complex than a regular bowl and therefore harder to clean, look for something dishwasher safe," says Lott. Features that are nice to have on other dog bowls can be more essential when it comes to a slow feeder bowl. For example, since a slow feeder bowl will encourage your dog to search out food, there's a good chance they'll push it around more than other types of bowls. This makes it more important to pick a bowl that won't skid around or be easy to upturn on your preferred feeding surface. FAQ Are slow feeder bowls good for puppies? Yes, slow feeder bowls can be used for any age, from puppies to seniors. More playful puppies might even enjoy the mealtime stimulation more than an older dog. Plus, with a slow feeder bowl you can help your puppy develop slower eating habits early, making it a good pick for puppies of breeds more susceptible to bloat. Dogs that are larger and deep-chested, such as Great Danes, boxers, and German shepherds are most at risk for bloat. Do slow feeder bowls work with wet food? Yes, although slow feeder bowls tend to be used more for dry food. "Wet food takes a little longer to eat it so can keep them busier longer," says Robinson, explaining why it's less common to need a slow feeder bowl for dogs accustomed to wet food. But keep in mind that some designs might work better with dry food than with wet food. "The simpler the feeder is, the better it will work with wet or raw food. Definitely make sure your feeder is dishwasher safe if using wet food," Robinson says. When choosing the best dog bowls, we relied on our own experience as dog parents, user reviews, and veterinarian or vet technician recommendations to find bowls that were well-designed, safe, and easy to clean. The writer, Steven Rowe, had a rescue beagle with a tendency to eat too fast, so his dog has tested several of the bowls on this list.
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Source: https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-slow-feeder-bowls-for-dogs-5213202