It turned out that a slow-feed bowl was as much puzzle as she could handle – it honestly added 30 minutes to her feeding time. There are many reasons why dog owners prefer stainless steel to plastic. Not only are they easy to clean, but they are virtually indestructible. Perfect for those unstoppable chewers who have to gnaw on everything in sight. A slow feeder for dogs prevents your pets from vomiting after eating, this is because it helps them eat their food slower without gulping. Gulping food causes all sorts of issues, including digestion problems, gas, regurgitating food and even choking. For many breeds and many greedy pups, a dog slow feeder shows instant improvements in their health. Does your dog suffer from a medical condition such as arthritis or spinal issues? An elevated dog bowl may provide much-needed relief because your dog will no longer need to bend down as far to reach his food.

To find the number one slow-feed bowl, we used the following tests: How much time did the slow feeder add to feeding time? We then compared this with the time it took to eat from each slow feeder on this list. Again, we did this over multiple meals.Maybe it was just my muffin pans, but all dogs – large and small – were able to tip and spill their food when they placed a foot on the edge of the pan. A dog of any breed, age or size can suffer from bloat. [ 1] Dogs that eat too fast are five times more likely to experience bloat than slow eaters. [ 2] This article was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, a dog products reviewer for The Spruce Pets. The proud mom of a rescue dog, she has fostered around 60 dogs and puppies. She always feeds her own dog and her foster pups with slow feeders or snuffle mats. She has tried lots of different bowls and is always looking for the most durable and effective pet products. For more than 25 years, she has covered a wide range of topics focused on nature, pets, science, and anything that helps make the world a better place. Now this may seem like a lot, but it is worth mentioning that many of these slow feeders were variations offered by a single brand. You see, some brands offered slow feeders in different sizes, shapes and materials.

I found that one design, in particular, was suited for the widest range of dogs – big, small and flat-faced… Not only is this undesirable for your dog, but also for you, who now has to clean up a mess of dog food crumbs. We bought the large size for our dogs to test. Measuring 19 centimetres in diameter and 7 centimetres in depth, the Super Design Gobble-Stop Slow Feeder bowl has three raised grooves to slow down eating. This design is by far the least complicated which may be better for the dogs who get frustrated with too intricate a design. Let’s see if this is the case. No dogs were overfed or starved during our testing process. But rather, they seemed to enjoy the entire process.

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The filter is a little confusing – the water doesn’t actually flow thru filter, but rather around it. It doesn’t seem to actually filter the water, but definitely needs replacement and can get moldy. The documentation from UPSKY suggests that you replace the filter every 2-3 months. Unlike some of the comparable plastic items, it does not have a replaceable filter that can get moldy. This has one plastic piece (which appears to be dishwasher safe) and one steel piece – so there’s much less to break, shatter, or warp.

Now, this isn’t to say we are opposed to ceramic slow-feed bowls. If a better performing ceramic slow feeder is released in the future, I’ll declare it the winner of this category. The Animal Planet Maze Feeder holds an impressive amount of food – up to 10 cups. Even if you use the largest-sized kibble, you’ll be hard-pressed to fill this bowl to capacity. It goes without saying that slow-feeder bowls are more challenging to clean than your regular dog bowl. From tiny Pomeranians to hulking Alaskan Malamutes, dogs come in all different shapes and sizes. And so do their mouths.

If choosing a plastic or silicone item, make sure it's nontoxic and free from BPA, phthalates, and other potentially hazardous materials. If your dog likes to chew, these might not always be the best choice because they can gnaw off pieces. The Smarter Paws Slow Feeding bowl is light weight and the plastic is quite thin. The maze design is more complicated than some of the others our dogs reviewed. With a combination of longer grooves and oval ones creating numerous compartments, the dog has to work out how to access the food. The aim of the bowl is achieved. Without a doubt dogs take much longer to eat and for those who don’t get frustrated by more complex designs the Smarter Paws bowl is effective. Until Nero gets his paws on it…… Smarter Paws Bowl being put to the test by Nero Our All Pet Solutions Slow Feeder comes in a vibrant green colour, and is made from sturdy Melamine so is 100% safe and dishwasher friendly - because convenience is king! Not only does a slow feeder dog bowl aid your pooches' gut health, but it is also a mental stimulant, keeping them engaged and focused on the task at hand - tea time! What are the benefits of a Slow Eating Dog Bowl? At the time of writing, there were only two elevated slow feeders available. Fortunately, one of them is nothing short of amazing…