Does your dog rush his food? Speed eating might look like your dog has a healthy appetite, but it's also a risky habit. For instance, it can easily lead to bloating, choking, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal issues.
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After my dog had a bad case of bloating, I had no choice but to search for a way to slow down how fast he ate. That’s when I found the best slow feed dog bowl—the Outward Hound Fun Feeder.
The intricate design of the bowl’s insides forces my dog to slow down and pick out his food. Aside from slowing down his eating, the bowl has also made his mealtimes more engaging.
Of course, the Outward Hound Fun Feeder isn’t the only top-rated slow feeder dog bowl that’s worthy of praise. In the slow feed dog bowl reviews below, you’ll find all the best quality slow feeders for different dog types. Let’s get started finding the perfect one for you and your pup!
Here are some other great options:
You won’t find a single low feed dog bowl review that doesn’t agree the Outward Grey Hound Fun Feeder is the best slow feeder dog bowl. It’s affordable, made with durable plastic, and truly entertaining for your pup.
Unlike other slow feeder bowls that have basic patterns, Outward Hound Fun Feeders make your dog think and work for his meal. It’s a great workout for your dog’s brain that rewards him with a full belly.
I say feeders and not feeder because Outward Hound offers multiple intricate slow feeder design options, you can even get more than one and switch things up for your dog every meal. Each bowl has a level of complexity that will effectively force your dog to eat slowly.
Regardless of which you choose, your dog will have an engaging time getting his food out of the bowl. You can get one in a small, extra-small, or large size, depending on your dog's appetite
Keep in mind, though, that the intricate design pattern within the bowls makes them unsuitable for dogs with short noses.
If you want a dog bowl with lots of corners to slow down your dog’s eating, keeping him engaged and healthy, Outward Hound Feeders are a great choice at a super affordable price.
Here’s another top-rated slow feeder for enthusiastic eaters. You can get in a variety of engaging patterns to slow your dog down and make him work for his meal.
Unlike similar dog feeders, the IAMUQ Slow Feeder improves on its design by adding high edges to the plate to minimize spillage. The tough plastic body also ensures that this bowl will stand the test of time—and teeth.
It comes in various shapes and patterns, giving you a chance to pick one with a difficulty level you feel best suits your dog’s personality. However, it doesn’t have a non-slip base to keep your dog from moving his bowl around, so he may just cheat and tip it.
The IAMUQ Slow Feeder is an affordable choice for keeping your dog’s eating speed in check.
According to the makers of this bowl, the intricate design within the bowl simulates a dog’s foraging process while in the wild. If this is true, then that alone is enough reason for this bowl to be on any best slow feed dog bowl reviews.
Key Feature
Your dog will really have to work to get his food out of this bowl, and the affordable price makes it an attractive option for dog parents. Aside from its effectiveness as a slow dog feeder, I also like the wide base of the bowl that makes it difficult to flip over. It’s also dishwasher safe.
It would be nice to see this offered in multiple patterns, though. I like to switch my dog’s bowl up semi-frequently to keep him engaged. This wouldn’t be a good choice for a bigger dog, either, as it doesn’t hold much food.
Considering the very low price, if you have a smaller dog, this slow dog feeder is still a very good deal. Especially since it serves its primary function – slowing down your dog’s eating.
For its durability and overall quality, Mr. Peanut’s Interactive Slow Feeder counts as one of the best slow feed dog bowls.
The Mr. Peanuts bowl is made with durable, rust-resistant stainless steel, ensuring that you can use it for years without issues. The straightforward design of the bowl’s inside also makes it suitable for large dogs or long-nosed dogs.
Unlike plastic, this stainless-steel build of the bowl is non-porous, which means it’s scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and odor-resistant. Being non-porous also means that bacteria and other pathogens can’t hide in it.
The medium size can hold 16 ounces of food, and the large bowl can hold 28 ounces, making it large enough for all dog sizes. However, its simple slow feeder design makes it impractical for small or medium-sized dogs that eat fast.
This slow feeder is ideal for large dogs. If you want to slow down your large dog’s eating pace, this is one of the best dog bowls you can get.
The Neater Slow Feeder is another great slow feeder option for large dogs. Its elevated height ensures that your dog doesn’t have to stoop too low to get at his food. This prevents neck and back strain in large dogs and makes eating easy for aged dogs.
The build of the slow feeder is sturdy, minimizing the risk of being toppled over. The design within the bowl is also effective enough to slow down your dog’s eating pace.
Everything you need comes in the box. If you want an elevated dog bowl, simply add the stilts. If you want it as a regular floor bowl, just take the stilts off.
On the downside, clean-up is a little harder as it’s not dishwasher safe, but this isn’t a huge issue. You don’t need to wash your dog’s bowl very often.
A big bowl for big dogs. The slow feeder design isn’t very intricate, but it’s enough to make your dog slow down during chow time.
If your dog is a little guy with a mighty appetite, the Dogit Go Slow may be the best slow feed dog bowl for you. The bowl is affordable, but its design provides a reasonable challenge for your small dog during mealtimes.
Your Chihuahua or other small dogs won’t have a difficult time using this bowl, but it’ll definitely slow down his eating pace. It’s also dishwasher safe, suitable for both kibble and canned wet food, durable, and you can choose from four colors to suit your tastes—blue, black, pink, or white.
The bowl isn’t slip-resistant, though, and can be easily flipped over, so a determined dog may still be able to spill and eat quickly.
If it’s for your small dog, this bowl is a good option, but not so much if your dog is a big boy/gal.
This bowl is simply adorable, but aside from its attractive design, the bowl is also effective at slowing dogs down during meals.
I think the biggest draw of this bowl is how dang cute it is. You can choose from black, grey, orange, light blue, or pink in two design options, a tiny bone or a heart. These shapes are set in the center of the bowl so that your dog has to eat from the space around them carefully.
Of course, ceramic does tend to be less durable than heavy plastic of stainless-steel as it can break.
This feeder will slow down your big dog during meals but may not be so effective at slowing down smaller dogs due to its minimalistic design.
Problems arise from using a slow feeder only if it is of low quality. For example, there are instances of the patterns within the bowl coming loose, and the dog ingesting it. This is only likely to happen if the slow feeder was poorly built.
Also, there are incidences of dogs accidentally biting the obstructions within the plate. This isn’t usually a problem and will likely not repeat itself after the dog realizes his mistake.
Beyond the aforementioned disadvantages, the only other issue is that the intricate design within slow feeder bowls can make them tricky to clean.
To get the full benefits and less of the downsides of using a slow feeder, get one that has the following features:
Feeding your dog with a slow feeder won’t automatically make your dog lose weight, but it will facilitate the process. This happens because the bowl slows down the pace at which your dog eats, which will, in turn, make your dog eat less, and over time, help him lose weight.
If your dog falls within any of the following categories, you should consider getting him a slow feeding dog bowl:
Bloating is a result of your dog’s stomach twisting or swelling. Eating too fast is something that can easily trigger it. Outside of the discomfort of bloating, it can lead to tearing in the stomach or reduce blood flow to the heart.
You can minimize the risk of your dog experiencing such dangers by feeding him with a slow feeding bowl. The design of the bowl stops your dog from wolfing down his meal and restricts him to pick from between the patterns in the bowl.
If your dog frequently pukes during meals or right after eating, it may be caused by eating too fast. Not only does this make a mess around the house, but frequent puking also hurts your dog’s throat and stomach.
Feeding your dog a little food at a time can minimize the occurrence of this, but that’s tedious. With a slow feeding bowl, you can achieve the same results with less effort.
If your dog spends all day sleeping and waiting for his next meal, a slow feeder will add a bit more excitement and challenge to his life. The more intricate the design of a slow feeder, the harder your dog will have to work and think to get every scrap of food out of his plate.
Make sure the slow feeder isn't so difficult that it frustrates your dog enough to abandon the meal or turn the plate over, though.
If your dog is the type to rush his food so he can steal another dog’s food, a slow feeder is a great way to slow him down. This will give the other dog or dogs enough time to finish their food while the dog food burglar works on getting every morsel out of his slow feeding bowl.
If your dog doesn’t fall under any of the above categories, he can still benefit from being fed with a slow feeder. It’s a more stimulating experience than eating out of a regular bowl and provides your dog with some mental and physical exercise.
Although, you should note that if your dog is a picky or reluctant eater, having to eat out of a slow feeder might make him even less interested in eating. So, only get your dog a slow feeder if it’s suitable for his personality and eating habits.
There are various slow feeder dog bowls to choose from for your best friend, but if you want a durable option that effectively slows your dog down and prevents messes, be sure to pick one from our list of best slow feeders.
Just remember that the best slow feed dog bowl for your pal will depend on his personality and how he eats. The Outward Hound Fun Feeder is a great choice for most dogs. It’s also pet-friendly and durable, making it an excellent solution for dogs that prefer rushing their meals.
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