

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. That's why we've rounded up 11 slow feeder bowls that come in varying designs, sizes, and materials so you can pick out the right one for your pup, whether they're a fast-chomping Chihuahua or a perpetually hungry Saint Bernard.A slow feeder bowl is anything designed to prevent a dog from quickly gulping their food all at once. The slow feeder bowls also act as a puzzle, which helps stimulate your dog's mind, according to the ASPCA.Īll breeds of dogs can benefit from slow feeder bowls, but finding the right size bowl for your dog can be a bit tricky. Thanks to the intricate designs in slow feeder bowls, your dog is forced to take their time while eating instead of vacuuming up all the food at once. Like humans, dogs can benefit from slowing down when they eat because it helps improve their digestion, which in turn cuts down on all those nasty tummy issues. If this sounds like your household, a slow feeder dog bowl could help solve your dog's fast-eating problems. And you know for the next few hours, your dog will be bloated, pass lots of gas, and might even throw up on your carpet. You try to get them to slow down, but within minutes, they've gobbled up all of their food. The second your dog's food hits their bowl, they come running over and devour the food as quickly as possible. For many dog owners, feeding time can be one of the most chaotic times of the day.
