Slow Feeder Benefits for Your Dog and Different Types of Slow Feeders in 2022
Does your dog inhale their food before they even have a chance to taste it? Many dogs scarf down their food in record speed and while it can be entertaining to watch, it can actually cause several health and behavioral issues. If you have a fast eater on your hands, you may need to invest in a slow feeder for meal times. Today, I’m sharing the benefits of a slow feeder for your dog and 5 different types of slow feeders in 2022.
Why is Fast Eating Bad for Your Dog?
People often joke that despite eating the same meal every day, their dog acts like dinner time only comes once a year. Most dogs get overly excited for meal times and as a result they inhale their food at a rapid pace. While it can be humorous to witness, eating too fast can cause a variety of health issues for your dog.
Fast eating can cause your dog to choke, vomit, or most seriously, cause a life threatening condition known as bloat.
Bloat, medically known as Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), is caused when the stomach becomes filled with air or food and expands to the point where it can erupt. This condition is fatal if not caught immediately. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Excessive breathing
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Racing heartbeat
- Collapsing
While some dogs are more likely to experience bloat such as Great Danes, Boxers, and German Shepherds, it can happen to any dog and is very serious when it does.
Why Does Your Dog Eat So Fast?
There a variety of reasons your dog may be a fast eater. For many dogs, they’re simply just excited that it’s meal time. This is most common in dogs who are only fed once a day or who don’t experience much enrichment throughout the day. If your dog is not regularly getting physical and mental exercise, they’re likely bored, and meal time is exciting because it gives them something to do.
Your dog could also be eating quickly due to feeling very hungry. If you notice your dog wolfing down his food, reconsider how much food and what type of food you are feeding. There is a chance they are not getting enough food or that their food is too low quality and doesn’t keep them feeling full as long as they should. If fast eating is a new thing for your pup, consider talking to your vet and having them run diagnostics to ensure nothing else is going on.
Another reason for fast eating is possessiveness. If you have a multiple dog household, your dog may feel threatened that somebody else will eat their food if they don’t eat it quickly. In this case, food possession and reactivity is not unlikely, so the habit should be broken quickly. If you suspect this is the reason for your dogs quick eating, consider feeding them in a separate room from the other animals in the house.
Benefits of a Slow Feeder for Your Dog
A slow feeder is an enrichment style feeder that has obstacles your dog needs to get around in order to get their food. Most slow feeders are designed as a type of puzzle or maze and forces the dog to slow down while eating by making them work for their food.
Slow feeders are great for fast eating dogs. They force the dog to slow down and also do some thinking before eating. This reduces health issues such as excessive gas and choking. Eating slower will also improve your dogs gut health overall.
In many cases, slow feeders can increase the length of time it takes your dog to eat by 10 times! Slow feeders are very effective in forcing your dog to take their time while eating.
Not only are slow feeders great for slowing down your dogs eating, they are also fantastic for enrichment. On days that your dog wasn’t able to get as much physical exercise, the mental stimulation from a slow feeder can be a fantastic way to tire them out.
Different Types of Slow Feeders
There are multiple types of slow feeders and which one works best for your dog may take some experimenting.
This is the most common type of slow feeder. Slow feeder bowls are a bowl shape with different patterns inside that your dog must eat around. They come in a variety of sizes and patterns so you can buy multiple to challenge your dog differently each time.
The one downside to slow feeder bowls is that they are most commonly made of plastic. Plastic bowls can more easily harbor bacteria than other materials, so it is important that they’re cleaned thoroughly after each use.
Another type of slow feeder is a treat dispensing ball. These work great for dogs who eat kibble. These balls will require your dog to push it around to release the kibble. Not only will it slow down their eating, but it will also give them some physical exercise to do as well.
Puzzles are a great way to feed a fast eating dog. Dog puzzles are great mental stimulation as your dog has to use their brain to figure out the puzzle and find the kibble. These are also a really easy way to tire out your dog, since mental stimulation is often more exhausting than physical exercise.
Toys that allow you to stuff them with food such as Kongs or West Paws are great for dogs who eat raw food, homemade food, or wet food. You can fill these toys with your pups meal and they’ll have to spend time licking it all out instead of inhaling it straight from a bowl.
Stuffable toys work for kibble fed dogs as well, but they tend to take longer to work through when they’re filled with wet food. They can also be frozen for an extra layer of difficulty.
Lick mats are another great slow feeder option for dogs who eat wet or raw food. You can easily spread the food over a lick mat and freeze it to make it more challenging. Not only will this slow your dog down, but it will tire them out mentally as well.
Does your dog eat from a slow feeder? Which type is your favorite?
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.