Have you seen the various slow feeder bowls in the shops and wondered what they are? Or have you heard other pet owners talking about slow feeders with no idea what they’re talking about? Let us tell you about slow feeder bowls and why they are the talk of the town.

 

Shapes and sizes

There are a variety of shapes and sizes of slow feeders available on the market. Both cats and dogs can eat out of these kinds of bowls, mainly made of plastic. It has a maze-like structure inside the bowl and the main reason for this design is for the pet to figure out a way to eat his food.

 

Benefits

There are mainly two benefits for using a slow feeder for your pet. The main reason is to slow your pet down when he is eating. This is great for cats and dogs who gulp down their food. Eating too fast can cause choking, gas and bloat. Bloating can become serious when the stomach expands and twist in his abdomen. The animal will go into shock and this can be life threatening. An emergency visit to the vet is a must.

One way to prevent these animals to gulp down their food is with a slow feeder, which forces the pet to figure out how to get to his food. As he cannot eat mouthfuls at a time, he will have to eat his food at a slower pace.

The other main benefit of a slow feeder is that the animal now has to use his brain to get to his food. This means he has to think – a great way to stimulate the minds of bored dogs. And as he is forced to take smaller bites, the chance of choking is also much less. He now has to focus on eating his food.

 

Warning

It is important to supervise your pet when he eats from a slow feeder bowl. Make sure that he doesn’t accidentally ingest any plastic parts when he starts to play with the bowl. Also make sure that he finishes all his food and that he doesn’t become bored and then ‘abandon’ his food. Sometimes it is necessary to show the animal how to use the slow feeder bowl the first time around.

 

Most dogs

So, whether your dog is a fast eater or not, he will definitely benefit from a slow feeder bowl, even if it is once in a while. It will stimulate his mind and prevent him from becoming bored. A dog who gets mental stimulation is also less likely to become destructive.

 

Big variety

At Imperial Pets we stock a wide variety of slow feeder bowls. Ask our assistants to help you choose a slow feeder bowl that will be suitable for your pet and budget.