Slow Down! Options for Your Speed Eater
Does your dog rival Kobayashi when he eats?
Dogs who inhale large amounts of food too quickly can develop serious problems such as vomiting, bloat and even death. As of late, I’ve noticed that Lulu is eating a little too quickly for my comfort. I’m considering getting her a food bowl that is designed to force her to eat more slowly. Here are some options I came across in my search:
From top left, clockwise: Brake-Fast Bowls
; DogPause Food Bowl.
Does anyone use any of the above? Do you have one to add to this list?
My dog eats really fast, and we considered using these sort of bowls until we had a better suggestion from our trainer. Most food bowls can create a similar effect simply by turning them upside down. It looks a lot like #3. So, no need to waste the money (unless you like how they look, which is fine.)
Also, PetSmart sells balls that can go into a bowl to slow them down. A large rock would also work.
Great tips!
the bob-a-lot!!!
http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Toy/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1290093236&sr=1-1
Great tips. Our dog used to scarf food down but has chilled out thank god. I think it was her “rescue dog who knows when I’ll eat again” mindset that has since calmed down.
I got a Molecuball / Atomic Treat Ball for my border collie mix, more to give her something to do than to slow her eating, but it has that benefit, too.
We have a chihuahua/jack russell mix who inhales his food. I don’t think any of the dishes above would slow him down. I thought about getting a mini-muffin pan (with lots of small cups) and spreading his meal out between the little sections.
I use something similar to #4, but was also given a tip by someone else to add water to his food to make it swell a bit before giving it to him, which seems to work well but he still eats faster than I’d like.
Thanks for the inclusion of our slow munchin’ bowl!
-Poochieheaven
my dog devours his food so fast that ive actually had to heimlich maneuver him. scared me to death. ive been looking to get a bowl like this. ill prob get #3 but until then i actually just throw a tennis ball into his bowl with food and it slows him down a lot
We use #1 for our English Bulldog puppy. Meal times now last longer than 15 seconds and the belching and related noises afterwards have stopped. She has to get the food with her tongue. It took her a week to get used to it (especially getting the last few pieces), but now she’s fine. We’ve been using it for 4 months and it’s lasted well.
Five years ago, after our Lab/Great Dane’s first bloat episode, our problem was that no company had yet made a raised feeding station with a slow-down bowl to fit inside it.
We’ve combined a raised feeding station with a slow-down bowl of our own. This is a kitten-sized stainless steel food cup inside the dog’s stainless bowl. It looks identical to #3 above…we stick it to the bottom of the bowl with some peanut butter for the big man to lick up.
Who knew? Never suspected that such things exist and now I have something for our Parson Russell terrier rescue who pretty much inhales his food.
It’s definitely worth a shot!
This product is also available:
Dog Ball Bowl Stainless Steel Pet Feeder Anti-GDV Bloat
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dog-Ball-Bowl-Stainless-Steel-Pet-Feeder-Anti-GDV-Bloat-/120617277686?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c155998f6#ht_1575wt_698
I use a 12 slot cupcake holder and just put a bit of food in each one. That way he has to fish around with his tongue and it slows him down.
That’s so clever!