One major cause of digestive issues in dogs is speed eating. What’s more, if this bad habit isn’t controlled, it could lead to more serious health issues like fatal gastric dilation or bloating. A fast and effective approach you can take to this problem is getting the best slow-feeder dog bowl you can find!
With slow feeders, you can eliminate two of the major reasons for emergency dog visits to the vet each year: overeating and eating too quickly.
When picking a slow anti-gulping dog dish, there are a lot of things you have to consider. So, if you want to know, you’ve come to the right place!
Here, you’ll find not only a concise breakdown of the factors that make a slow-feeding bowl right for your dog, but you’ll get quality-tested dog product recommendations!
Best Slow Feeder Bowls Reviews
1. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl – Best Overall
This is a great choice for you if you want to greatly limit how much raw food your furry friend can get in a single go.
Not only does it reduce the risk of bloating, but these slow-feed bowls are very easy to clean since they’re dishwasher-safe.
In the interest of avoiding medical issues with your pet, you should also note that Outward Hound’s feeders are made from food-safe, BPA-free plastic. The food-grade plastic ensures there’s zero risk of your canine friend coughing up harmful chemicals while they eat!
You also have a lot of color options with these slow-feed bowls, making them great for catching the attention of your dog.
Pros
- Made from the safest materials
- Puts your pet at less risk of bloating or other digestive issues
- Dishwasher safe
- Sturdy with a non-skid silicone base
Cons
- Might not be suitable for short-nosed breeds
2. NOYAL Dog Slow Feeder Bowl
With this bowl, not only is the risk of bloating vastly reduced, but the unique ridge design of the slow-feed bowls ensures that mealtime is fun!
What’s more, these slow feeders aren’t just great for dry kibble, but you can use them to give your pet wet food as well. Also, these feeder dog bowls can double as water bowls.
It’s remarkably easy to clean, made from sturdy, heavy-duty materials, and keeps digestion issues to a minimum.
If you’re tired of doing cleanup after feeding time, the NOYAL can help with that as well. Since it has a very strong non-skid rubber base, it isn’t as easy to push around. It also comes with a non-slip mat as well so you can use it to further hold it in place.
Consequently, your dog won’t spill as much food or water when using it.
Pros
- Simple design that promotes proper digestion
- Fun designs offer quality mental stimulation
- Very strong non slip base that makes feeding more efficient and reduces wastage
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Ill-suited for feeding German Shepherds and other large dog breeds
3. UPSKY Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Made with BPA-free plastic, digestion issues can be considerably reduced as its well-placed ridges facilitate slow eating more effectively than most regular dog bowls.
This non-toxic plastic slow-feeding bowl set is designed such that it actually controls your dog’s eating without hampering it. Each bowl weighs only 6.4 ounces and is covered in a PP coating that ensures you can get the bowl clean without hassle.
Capable of containing no more than 2 cups of food (dry kibble), it is better suited for small dogs. It also comes in fun designs that are properly complemented with several bright and beautiful color options.
Pros
- Durable, eco-friendly, and recyclable
- Encourages mental stimulation
- Free of harmful chemicals
Cons
- Relatively easy to push around
- Not made for large dog breeds
4. GRULLIN Slow Feeder Maze Dog Bowl
It puts an interesting and stimulating spin on mealtime that doesn’t only help you prevent overheating and the resulting digestive and medical issues, but it keeps your canine buddy mentally stimulated in the process.
Perfectly suited for either dry kibble or wet food, it’s especially ideal if you want to get your dog on a specific eating regimen. All you have to do is get the correct bowl size for your pet and you’ll be able to control its eating and weight more easily.
In addition to making bloating issues a thing of the past, the food-safe material these food bowls are made of is super-easy to clean. All you have to do is toss it in the dishwasher and you’re home free!
Pros
- Made from high-quality, durable materials
- Unique patterns of ridges stimulate increased intelligence
- Effectively promotes slow eating and better weight control
- Comes with a 30-day no-reason return and a 1-year guarantee
Cons
- Non slip base might not be very effective with large dog breeds
- Not ideal for aggressive power chewers
5. CAISHOW Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Boasting a very elaborate ridge design, you can say goodbye to medical issues that come from poor feeding habits. Coming in a variety of colors, this dog bowl provides a feeding surface that limits overeating, choking, and vomiting while promoting interaction!
It also comes with a non-skid base that discourages food and water spills.
Material-wise, these plastic bowls are quite safe, healthy, and eco-friendly. Also, the food-grade plastic is made to be bite-resistant.
So, you won’t have to worry so much when using these slow-feed bowls to cater to the needs of an aggressive chewer.
Pros
- Fosters high mental stimulation
- Easy to clean
- Can withstand high-temperature disinfection at 100 degrees without deteriorating
- Good for power chewers
Cons
- Anti-slip base might not function at times
What Is a Slow Feeding Bowl?
Just as the name suggests, it is a type of food bowl specially designed to discourage your dog from eating too quickly. To achieve this, these bowls have designs like patterns, spirals, humps, and ridges.
This can prove essential in stopping digestion issues.
Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Ridge Pattern
Whether you plan to feed your dog dry food, such as dry kibble, or your dog is more partial to wet food, the ridge pattern of the feeder dog bowls is very important.
For example, while slower feeders with complicated designs and multiple patterns are great, they might not be the right choice for you if your dog has a short snout. In such cases, you want to opt for feeder dog bowls with shallower ridges.
Size
Since you’ll have a greater level of control over your dog’s eating now, it’s essential that you get the correct bowl size. As most feeders for dogs measure their capacity in cups of food, it’s easier for you to find the right size for your dog if you already measure their food at mealtime. Picking the right size is also important if you are often on the move and have to carry a bowl in a dog’s travel bag or a rucksack.
Material
Another important thing to consider is the material the bowls are made from. You need to decide if you want a stainless steel bowl or if your furry friend would be better served with plastic or ceramic bowls.
One factor that can make this decision-making process easier for you is establishing whether your dog is an aggressive chewer or not.
If they are an aggressive chewer, you might have to get a stainless steel bowl. The stainless steel material is better suited for power chewers. These and ceramic bowls are more durable and aren’t as susceptible to bacteria buildup.
But, for the most part, plastic slow-feed bowls are fine for most dogs.
Extra Features
Other factors that merit consideration include the presence or absence of an anti-slip base, anti-tip capabilities, and, to a lesser extent, the color of the dog bowl.
The presence of an anti-tip and non-slip base ensures that you don’t have to deal with the excess mess after feeding time. The color of the bowl may also play a minor role in attracting the dog!
Tips for Picking the Right Slow Feeding Bowl
To choose the best slow-feeder dog bowl for your furry friend, some things you can focus on include:
Durability
While you might be tempted to buy less expensive products, keep in mind that these might not last long enough to help your dog develop healthy feeding habits.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleanup is vital as you want to avoid bacteria buildup. To that end, make sure you opt for slow feeders that are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Made of Food-Safe Material
While incidents of BPA and other harmful chemicals harming pets through their feed and water bowls aren’t as common these days, it is still an issue. So, play it safe and confirm that the slow-feed bowls are completely non-toxic!
FAQs
Are Slow Feeders the Only Option for Dealing with Overeating and Other Poor Feeding Habits?
No, they aren’t.
If these feeders don’t work for any reason, you have other alternatives you can resort to. These include using a treat-dispensing toy to feed your dog dry food like kibble or getting a slow feeder mat.
Are Elevated Feeders Better Than Regular Slow Feeder Bowls?
Yes, but only in certain cases.
An elevated bowl and a standard slow feeder are basically the same. However, the former is better for giant breeds and dogs with illnesses like arthritis.
However, keep in mind that an elevated dog bowl will be easier to tip over than its standard counterpart.
Are All Slow Feed Bowls Great for Dry and Wet Food?
Broadly speaking, yes they are.
However, some bowls will be better suited for one form of food than they are for the other. For example, most slow feeders with complicated designs tend to be better with dry food. On the other hand, a bowl with a simple design won’t give your dog much trouble with wet food.
Conclusion
The best slow feeder dog bowl can transform even gulpers to slow and considerate eaters. It’ll keep them eating healthy and for longer. All that you have to do is make sure you pick out the right one for your canine pal.
With any of the choices on our list, you can finally put digestive issues in your rearview!