Making a slow feeder insert for your dog’s food bowl is a great way to slow down fast eaters and prevent choking, vomiting, and bloating. Slow feeder inserts work by forcing dogs to eat around obstacles in the bowl, preventing them from scarfing down their food too quickly. While you can purchase slow feeder bowls, making your own insert allows you to customize the size and shape to fit your dog’s unique needs.
What is a slow feeder insert?
A slow feeder insert is an obstacle placed in a dog’s bowl to slow down their eating. As dogs eat around the insert, it forces them to take smaller bites and prevents them from inhaling their food. Slow feeder inserts are often made of food-safe silicone or plastic and come in a variety of shapes like mazes, circles, waves, and spirals.
The obstacles force dogs to use their tongue to move kibble around the insert, essentially turning mealtime into a game. This helps satisfy dogs’ natural scavenging instincts while preventing common problems caused by fast eating like vomiting, choking, bloating, and gas.
Benefits of using a slow feeder insert
There are many benefits to using a slow feeder insert for dogs who tend to eat too fast:
- Prevents choking – Dogs who eat too fast can choke on large chunks of kibble. Slow feeders force dogs to take smaller bites.
- Prevents vomiting – Scarfing food can lead to vomiting. Slow feeders allow a dog’s stomach time to tell the brain it’s full before too much is consumed.
- Prevents bloat – Eating too fast can trap air in the stomach leading to a potentially deadly condition called bloat. Slow feeders significantly reduce air intake.
- Improves digestion – Fast eating doesn’t allow enough saliva to coat food chunks. The extra saliva produced by eating around an insert improves digestion.
- Makes mealtime fun – Turning eating into a game satisfies natural canine instincts for seeking and working for food.
- Portion control – You can monitor how much your dog eats by keeping portions in the insert rather than leaving food out in a bowl all day.
For dogs who gobble down food in seconds, a slow feeder insert is a simple solution that provides big benefits for their health and happiness.
Tips for choosing a slow feeder insert
Here are some tips for selecting the right slow feeder insert for your dog:
- Size – Make sure to pick an insert that fits your dog’s bowl with some room to spare. You don’t want the insert taking up the entire bowl.
- Material – Silicone and plastic are common materials that are durable and easy to clean.
- Shape – The shape of the insert can make it easier or harder for your dog to access food. Test different shapes to find the right level of challenge.
- Start simple – Begin with a simple design and gradually increase the complexity as your dog learns to slow down.
- Non-slip – Ensure the insert has a non-slip base so your dog can’t knock it over out of frustration.
Consider your dog’s size, breed, age, and temperament when selecting a slow feeder insert. Very flat faced dogs may struggle with inserts with small openings. Excitable dogs may need a gentler sloping shape. Older dogs may need wider openings. Make adjustments as needed to find the best option for your pup.
How to make a silicone slow feeder insert
Making your own silicone slow feeder insert allows you to fully customize the size, shape and difficulty level. Here is what you’ll need:
- Silicone molding putty
- Dog food bowl
- obstacles like marbles, Lego blocks, crinkle balls, etc.
Follow these steps:
- Choose your obstacles and place them in the bottom of your dog’s bowl in the desired pattern.
- Press the silicone putty over the obstacles to form a uniform layer across the bottom of the bowl.
- Allow the silicone to fully cure and harden according to package instructions, typically 24-48 hours.
- Once cured, remove the silicone insert from the bowl and peel off any obstacles embedded in the underside.
- Wash the insert before first use.
Silicone is flexible, non-porous, and can withstand repeated use and washing. Start with basic shapes at first while your dog gets used to the insert. You can make progressively more complex inserts as needed to continue challenging your dog at mealtimes.
How to make a plastic slow feeder insert
For a sturdier insert, you can make one out of plastic using these steps:
- Sheet of food-safe plastic like acrylic, PETG or polycarbonate
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- Trace the bottom of your dog’s bowl onto the plastic then cut out the shape with a jigsaw.
- Drill holes or cut slits in the plastic to make mazes, waves, or other challenging patterns.
- Round and smooth any sharp edges.
- Wash thoroughly before first use.
Plastic inserts can have more intricate designs than silicone. Start basic and get creative sculpting the shapes over time. Just be sure to fully smooth sharp edges and remove any small cutout pieces that could pose a choking hazard.
5 best slow feeder insert designs
Here are 5 great slow feeder insert designs to try:
| Design | Description |
|---|---|
| Wavy | Silicone or plastic insert with waves dogs eat around. |
| Maze | Insert with pillared walls forming different maze pathways. |
| Spiral | Insert shaped in a rounded spiral from edge to center. |
| Bumpies | Evenly spaced bumps dogs must eat around. |
| Circle | Insert with holes or slits dogs must manipulate kibble through. |
Try out different designs to find the right level of challenge for your dog. You can make multiple inserts and rotate them daily to keep your dog engaged.
Tips for transitioning your dog to a slow feeder
Here are some tips for smoothly transitioning your fast-eating dog to a slow feeder insert:
- Introduce it during a calm mealtime when your dog is less likely to be frustrated.
- Put a small portion of food in the bowl with the insert at first so your dog can get used to it.
- Supervise initial uses and guide your dog’s snout to openings if needed.
- Offer praise and encouragement to reinforce slow eating as a good behavior.
- Gradually increase the complexity of the insert as your dog masters easier designs.
- Remove the insert if your dog becomes overly frustrated or anxious.
- Try again at the next calm mealtime, starting with an easier design.
With patience and positive reinforcement, your dog can learn to see the slow feeder as a fun challenge, not an obstacle. Proper introduction is key to success.
Potential problems and troubleshooting
Here are some potential problems you may encounter using a slow feeder insert and how to troubleshoot them:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dog flips bowl in frustration | Use non-slip bowl and insert. Start with simple design and supervise initial uses. |
| Dog eats around insert | Ensure insert fits bowl snugly with no gaps. Consider more complex design. |
| Dog struggles to access food | Try smaller openings or sloped designs. Monitor for excessive frustration. |
| Food gets stuck | Avoid small slit openings. Use rounded edges dogs can manipulate food through. |
Pay close attention at first uses to ensure your dog is adjusting well to the insert. Make adjustments to the design, fit, or transition as needed to set your dog up for success.
Conclusion
With some simple supplies, creativity, and proper training, you can easily make a custom slow feeder insert to meet your dog’s needs and eating style. The health and behavioral benefits make it well worth the effort to break the fast-eating habit. Just be patient, start simple, make adjustments as needed, and offer lots of praise and encouragement along the way. Your dog will learn to see mealtimes as a fun challenge to master, not a race against the clock.