The best slow feed bowls for dogs

A slow feed dog bowl does precisely what the name implies: It gives your dog portions of food at a time so they can’t inhale their meal. There are many reasons why it’s a good idea for dog owners to invest in a slow feeder bowl, including digestion and your doggie’s penchant for stealing another pet’s food after inhaling their own.

There are plenty of options on the market, from high-quality stainless steel bowls to brightly-colored lick mats. Some come in varying heights and different shapes. Which one is best for your dog?

We went digging. We reviewed these feeders ourselves using the following criteria: how fast a dog ate out of the slow feeder bowl, durability, safety, ease of cleaning, assembly, and packaging.

Neater Raised Slow Feeder Bowl is accessible for large and small dogs. It boasts two elevations so that you can adjust to your dog’s height. The small pockets slow your dog’s eating down, but they can hold up to 6 cups of food, making them a good option for large dogs, too.

• “Time to eat”  test. The egg-shaped grooves did the trick. Our team’s dog spent 60 seconds eating ¼ cup of dry food out of this slow feed dog bowl.
• Durability. Our editorial team was a bit worried about the durability of the Neater Raised Slow Feeder. The plastic parts feel like they may break over time. They were also concerned pet parents may accidentally lose some of the parts during or after cleaning.
• Safety. You’ll want to keep an eye on your furry family member when they eat out of this feeder. Some of the rubber grips from the anti-slip feet could come off, and your pet may consider them part of their meal.
• Cleaning. Good news for busy pet parents: This slow feeder cleans well in a dishwasher. 
• Assembly. The instructions that came with the bowl were a little confusing. But once we figured it out, it was like a light switch went off. It only took five minutes total to assemble, even with the initial snafus. 
• Packaging. The feeder came with instructions but not with a bag. Unfortunately, it was a little dirty from the cardboard box when our team got it. At least it’s dishwasher safe.

Dogit’s Dog Bowl Feeder is durable, affordable, and even travels well, making it a good choice for road-tripping pet parents. Dogit also scores some style points by offering many colors: Black, white, pink, and blue. It’s even offered in four different sizes so small, medium, and large dogs can use this bowl.

• “Time to eat” test. It took our team’s dog 32 seconds to finish a ¼ cup of their food. That’s slower than a regular dog food bowl, but not by much.
• Durability. Dogit’s slow feeder is something pet parents can count on to last a while. It’s made of heavy-duty plastic and rubber materials. 
• Safety. This slow feeder is very safe. The materials are all BPA- and PVC-free, and the durable parts stay put, reducing swallow risks. The rubber prevents the bowl from sliding all over the place.
• Cleaning. You can put this bowl in the dishwasher and feel confident it will get squeaky clean. 
• Assembly. This no-fuss bowl doesn’t require assembly.
• Packaging. The bright red and yellow packaging stands out but isn’t exactly stylish. But it did its job to protect the bowl and instructions that came with it.

Paw 5’s Wooly Snuffle Mat is an engaging, sustainable, fuzzy feeder designed to play on your pup’s hunter instincts. It’s a fun bowl alternative. Hide their favorite bacon or peanut butter-flavored treats in the mat and let your doggie have as much fun finding it as they do eating it.

• “Time to eat” test. This feeder slowed our team’s dog down the most. They clocked in at 2 minutes and 35 seconds to eat a ¼ cup of food. It may be too frustrating for a dog to eat daily meals out of it, but it’s perfect for a treat hunt. 
• Durability. The fabric material may wear down over time.
• Safety. The materials are generally safe with supervision, but this mat is best for low chewers. If your pup has consumed stuffed toys you’ve bought in the past, you may want to steer clear of this product. They may accidentally gnaw off pieces of fabric.
• Cleaning. You can put the mat through the washer and dryer. Just take care not to use any detergents that irritate your pup’s skin. 
• Assembly. There’s no assembly required — just unroll the mat and let your dog go to town.
• Packaging. The Wooly Snuffle Mat comes rolled up with easy-to-follow instructions on using and cleaning it. 

The Bone-Shaped Dog Licking Mats from HUSUKU work for both dogs and cats and are ideal for a wet meal or treat. The fun colors (green or yellow) are stylish, and the ability to “lick” the food up can help soothe anxiety.

• “Time to eat”  test. It took our team’s dog 34 seconds to eat a ¼ cup of food off this mat, but it was dry food. Wet food or peanut butter may take longer. 
• Durability. These mats are made of food-grade silicone but are a tad flimsy and may not withstand years of washes.
• Safety. Pet parents can rest assured their dogs will swallow their food rather than the product’s parts when using these slow feeder mats. It’s made of non-toxic materials.
• Cleaning. You can throw this mat in the dishwasher or wash it by hand using pet-safe soap. 
• Assembly. Just unpack it, and it’s ready to go.
• Packaging. These mats came as a pack of two. The packaging was simple but effective — the bag kept the products clean.  

👉 The Lab is where we film product review videos, store our products, take first-hand photos, and test products.

We reviewed popular slow feeder bowls and mats on the internet and marketplaces such as Amazon and Chewy to choose the products on this list. We looked for products that were in stock. Then, we trimmed down our list. Our biggest priorities at first were to find safe, durable products. We also steered clear of slow feeders that had poor reviews.

We know how much you love your pets and want them to stay healthy and happy. We reviewed and tested the products to ensure they were safe for your pups to eat out of and lick to their little heart’s content.

We liked and disliked elements about each one. The best slow feed dog bowl for your pet depends on how you’re looking to use it — for regular meals or treats. Learn more about each of the six criteria we graded these slow feeders against below.

On paper, here’s a glance at how the products stack up against each other.

*Price on Amazon or Chewy at the time of our review

We worked with our vet and the editorial team in The Lab to determine the most important criteria for evaluating slow feed dog bowls. We factored in the following six qualities when choosing and ranking the products and even had a dog chime in.

• “Time to eat”  test. We tested how long it took our dog to eat ¼ cup of dry food out of each of these slow feeders. The dog was a 1-year-old, female golden retriever that tends to eat pretty quickly.
• Durability. If you and your pup love a feeder, you want it to last a while. We assessed the materials for how well they could withstand daily feedings and regular cleanings.
• Safety. Safety is a top priority for pet parents — your dog is your best friend, after all. We kept our eyes peeled for toxic ingredients, as well as materials dogs could easily chew off and swallow.
• Cleaning. Pet parents and dogs have places to go, things to sniff. You don’t want to spend hours doing dishes, so we clued you into which ones were dishwasher (or dryer) safe.
• Assembly. How easy is the product to put together? We tried it ourselves. Many didn’t require any assembly.
• Packaging. A good bag or box keeps a product clean and intact throughout its journey from a warehouse to your doorstep.

There were two popular slow feeders we didn’t get to test because they were out of stock at the time of our review.

• Mr. Peanut’s Slow Feed Stainless Steel Dog Bowl. This slow feed dog bowl’s unique design has a dog has to “chase” their meal, slowing down feedings. We love it for large dogs. Dr. Diener was concerned about reports of rusting, so keep an eye out for that if you buy this bowl.
• Outward Hound Fun Slow Feeder Bowl. Pet parents rave about these fun, dishwasher-safe feeder bowls. It comes in numerous colors and unique designs, including a purple flower-shaped bowl and a mint-hued option with wave-shaped wedges.

Does your dog need a slow feeder?

Most dogs can eat from a slow feeder. They’re a great way to slow down feeds. Some double as puzzle feeders and boast unique or simple designs. They make feeding time fun by having your dog “hunt” or “chase” food.

Fast eaters may particularly benefit from a slow feed dog bowl. Eating too fast can cause a range of tummy issues, from uncomfortable-but-harmless flatulence to gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) or bloat. GDV can be fatal Trusted Source Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Veterinary school. Go to source and occurs when a stomach expands, twists onto itself, and restricts blood flow to the heart. Slowing down a feed can help reduce the risks of these issues.

👉 Eating too fast can make a dog burp, have flatulence, or have other more concerning gastrointestinal issues, like bloat.

Slow feeding bowls are great for pretty much any dog

Slow feed bowls are designed to force your dog to slow down when they eat. Some are literal games; others have bumps and ridges inside them that separate food and make your dog work for their meal.

They help protect your dog’s digestive health — The most important benefit of eating slowly is that it helps reduce the load on your pooch’s digestive system and improve their overall health. Gastrointestinal problems in dogs are incredibly common, and they happen for a lot of different reasons. Using a slow feed bowl is a simple step you can take to help alleviate — or even prevent — those types of health conditions down the road.

They can help fix resource guarding — Slow feed bowls help to curb a carnal instinct called resource guarding, which is when insecure dogs protect their food by barking, biting, or staring. Slow feed bowls can help distract dogs and even fix the problem altogether. All dogs are different, but our team’s seen pretty good results. Consult your vet or behavioral specialist if your dog has this issue.

They help prevent stealing — If your dog loves to inhale their food and then go steal food from other pets, your entire crew will benefit from a slow feed bowl.

What to look for when you shop

Here’s what pet parents should consider when deciding which slow feed bowl is right for their pup.

Think about size — Larger dogs need larger bowls. Raised feeders are super helpful for large and medium-sized breeds because they help reduce neck strain and the risk of bloat. (You can also put a regular bowl on a stand, of course.)

Think about the snout — Dogs with short snouts, like pugs and other brachycephalic breeds, can have a harder time fishing kibble out shallow bowls with lots of knobs.

Think about your dog’s habits — If your dog loves to shred things, invest in a rugged-built bowl. If your dog likes to move their bowl around or tip it over, get a bowl with a non-slip base, like Dogit’s slow feeder.

The risk of canine bloat

Gulping dogs swallow air along with their food. This can cause an upset stomach, gas, or vomiting. It even puts them at risk for a serious condition called canine bloat.

This bloating happens when a dog’s stomach is filled with air, causing the abdomen to twist. That can result in hypovolemic shock and even death.

Though bloating can happen to dogs of any breed and size, large or giant-sized breeds have a higher risk of canine bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Canine bloat is most common in purebred dogs, though mixed breeds can also suffer. These higher-risk breeds tend to have narrow, deep chests. Here are the dog breeds at high risk of canine bloat:

• German shepherds
• Great Danes (have the highest incidence of GDV Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source compared to other breeds)
• Boxers
• Weimaraners
• Irish setters
• Doberman pinschers
• Standard poodles
• Basset hounds
• Saint Bernards
• Gordon setter
• Irish wolfhound
• Newfoundland
• Akita
• Collie
• Rottweiler
• Bernese mountain dog
• Mastiff

If your dog is obese, using a slow feed bowl can help them lose weight, as the portion control will make them feel full even as they eat slowly. Some dogs, particularly puppies, benefit from the workout needed to get their food.