5 reasons why a slow feeding bowl might be good for your dog
You’ve probably seen bowls like these in the pet shop – but what are they for? Are they just another gimmick, or are they actually good for your dog? Vet, Dr Vicky Strong MRCVS, tells us more.
Slow eating bowls are designed to do exactly that – to reduce the speed at which your dog eats their food. And there’s (at least) five reasons why slowing your dog’s eating might be a good idea.
1. To reduce flatulence and burps.
When dogs eat quickly, they swallow a lot of air. This is known as aerophagia (quite literally, “eating air”). Like in people, this can cause your dog to burp or pass (often smelly) wind at the other end. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds of dog are especially prone to aerophagia (and therefore windy bellies) due to the breathing difficulties they experience whilst eating.
2. To lessen the risk of GDV or bloat.
Whilst your dog burping or passing wind isn’t pleasant, the gas really is “better out than in”. Gas trapped in the stomach can cause discomfort and pain (if you’ve ever had trapped wind, you’ll know how sore it can be). But eating quickly and swallowing lots of air, also puts dogs at risk of a very serious condition called gastric-dilatation and volvulus (GDV).
Sometimes referred to as bloat or gastric torsion, a GDV occurs when the dog’s stomach fills with gas and twists back on itself. Affected dogs become very sick, very quickly. Without rapid treatment, affected dogs will die. For dogs at high risk of developing a GDV (especially large and deep-chested
breeds), vets recommend a few basic measures. One of the things you can do is to slow down your dog’s eating using a slow feeding bowl and feeding several small meals throughout the day.
3. To prevent regurgitation.
If a dog eats too quickly, the chances are they’re not chewing their food properly. Big pieces of unchewed kibble or meat can just sit in the oesophagus (gullet), before being brought back up. Lots of dogs will then simply eat it again (yuck!). It’s important to know that regurgitation is different to vomiting. Your vet can help you tell the difference. Both can be caused by inflammation and disease, so if your dog regurgitates or vomits regularly, be sure to get them checked out by a vet.
4. It’s good for their mental health. Yes, really!
Dogs are contra freeloaders. This means that they prefer food they’ve had to work a bit to get, over food that is (quite literally) offered to them on a plate. So, by using a bowl designed to slow your dog’s eating, you can turn mealtimes into a game, prevent boredom and stimulate their brain.
5. It can help prevent obesity.
Obesity is a big and growing problem in dogs (pun intended!). Around half of all dogs in the UK are overweight. Obesity is bad for your pet. It increases the risk of illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. By slowing down your dog’s eating and making them work for their food, you might be able to stop them from overeating, and prevent them from gaining weight.
Using a bowl designed to slow your dog’s eating should form just part of a bigger plan to keep them fit and healthy.
If your dog is abnormally gassy, regularly vomits or regurgitates their food, or shows any signs of abdominal discomfort, you must get them checked out by a vet.