Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Help! My Dog Eats Too Fast!

slow feeder bowl
"My dog eats too fast." This was a common thought in my head for quite a while, with my dog, Koda. For whatever reason, he prefers to gulp his dog food down, without so much as a sniff, or even a chew! Why? I have no clue! Was there something I could do to fix the situation? Absolutely! Today, I am happy to bring attention to this fantastic product: The slow feeder dog food bowl. Before we go any further, I would like to go over a few reasons why pets eating fast can be harmful for them.


Why is it harmful that my dog eats too fast?

There are some minor reasons to do whatever you can to avoid having your dog gulp his food. Things like choking, gagging, and even vomiting after gulping too much food, and/or air. 
But what about the more serious side of things? There is a medical term (Gastric Dilatation-volvulus) also known as GDV. What causes GDV is rapid eating and gulping food, which will lead to air, fluid and food filling the dog's stomach. This can make the stomach expand, sometimes causing it to twist around its axis, thus making it impossible for anything to pass through the dogs stomach and intestines. If that happens, you're in real trouble...

While there are different things which can cause GDV, food is our number one focus today.

slow feeder bowl

When I discovered the slow feeder bowl, I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I was, but at the same time, I was a skeptic as well. I figured he would still find a way to gulp his food, but I was definitely willing to try!

slow feeder bowl

Low and behold... IT WORKED! But it didn't just work, it completely changed the way he eats! He is actually chewing his food, and his whole body is much more relaxed, sometimes to the point of him actually laying down while he eats. While I do not think laying down on the job is the way for him to go about eating his dinner, I am extremely happy to see him feeling relaxed and comfortable while he eats. 

Alternatively, if you are unable to purchase a slow feeder bowl, but still need help with your dogs fast eating habits, try adding 2 or 3 baseballs (or tennis balls) to your dogs bowl while he eats.


^ "Tweet Me!" ^


*This is not a product review - simply a product I purchased from Petsmart and fell in love with! 


The Sibe tribe would love to know:
Do you have experience with fast eating pets?
What did you do to solve it?


31 comments:

  1. Before Hailey went on Prozac she ate to quickly and we have 2 slo-bowls for her that we love. Now she is eating slow (for the time being anyway) I have tucked them away.

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  2. We have slow feeder bowls for all of the dogs. I think when you have multiple dogs they're more apt to eat fast too. Our beagle Kobi was the only one who ever ate slow, and out of a normal bowl!
    Jan, Wag n Woof Pets

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    Replies
    1. Yes! The multiple dog thing definitely makes a difference

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  3. Those slow feeder bowls are great for pups who eat too fast! So glad Koda is eating slower now!
    Oz

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  4. One of my kitty sistahs (Tigger) tends to eat fast and then throw up (I sometimes eat what she has thrown up if mum doesn't get to it quickly -- mum is almost gagging over that last, bol and mol!!). However, mum doesn't think she would be able to use one of those slow feeder bowls cos the two of them eat out of the same bowl!!

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  5. Jack vacuums in his food. We should check out these bowls!

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  6. Shiner can sometimes eat very quickly. Although more recently, she seems to have slowed down. One weird thing I've noticed is that she eats slower with wet food. I would think the wet food would get eaten more quickly, but I guess she does more licking action or something.

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  7. Slow bowls are great! I'm glad it worked out for Koda! He does look relaxed! LOL!

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  8. I bought a slow-feeder bowl for Bentley and it works great. The first time he ate out of it, he got mad and walked off but quickly decided that he would just learn to eat slower! BOL!

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    1. Thats EXACTLY what Koda did the first time!!!! hahahahahaha

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  9. Earl and Ethel both have slow feeders. Earl has a GREEN and Ethel has a SloBowl. They're amazing!

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  10. When Scout and Zoey were puppies, they ate as if they were starving. I didn't think that there was an option for raw feeders, because all the dog dishes seemed to be plastic. I found a stainless steel one that worked great. I would have loved the one you're featuring here, because it's functional and adorable.

    They grew out of their fast eating, but now Rodrigo is eating super fast so I'm back on the hunt for a new slow feeder that will fit in his raised dish.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I suppose it would be different for raw feeders!!!

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  11. Lightning had a bowl turned upside down in his bowl for a long time. He has gotten much better about his gulping, but that bowl looks like a great choice.

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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    Replies
    1. I love the one we chose! Super cute, and works great!

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  12. I'm a fast eater and there are some kitty bowls that help slow down eating, too. We'll be reviewing one soon. ~Wally

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  13. Nola's always been a terrible gulper. I float her kibble in water so she almost has to "fish" for it.

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  14. I need a mini one for my cat, Joanie. I usually put a golf ball in to slow her down.

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    Replies
    1. That works too! They sell them for kitties as well!

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  15. Thankfully my dogs don't eat too fast. This looks like a great product to help curtail food gulping. Great review!
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! It really does work wonders!!!

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  16. That is an interesting design for a slow feeder bowl. We use one for Thunder, but it is a different design.

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