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Brake the Chow Hound

060308_barf.jpgAfter yesterday's lively discussion about pet vomit (thanks Gregory!) and how to clean it up, reader gquaker also had a tip for slowing down the scarf (and therefore the barf) by adding an empty can of food to the dish so that the dog or cat has to eat around something and therefore eat more slowly. We did some digging and found this product to help slow them down:

Because we wouldn't want to risk a cut tongue on an open can (not that the pets don't find the cans in the trash anyway) we like the idea of this Brake Fat Bowl in either small medium or large. You're choice: metal or plastic. The prices range from $14-$36 depending on size and material.

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pets: dogs, cats, snakes, etc., cat bowl, dog bowl, dog food, pet

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Comments (11)

I understand the need but as a fast eater myself I find this a little cruel. I mean, what if all your food came delivered with obstacles. That'd be so sad.

posted by azure on 2008-06-03 17:46:50
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Or....do what we did: find a fairly large rock (large enough that there's no way your dog could eat it) and set it in the middle of the food dish. Cost: $0.

It's not cruel, they still get the same amount of food, just less indigestion and vomiting.

posted by spossberg on 2008-06-03 17:49:10
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If your pet had to fend for itself in the wild, there would be far more obstacles than a harmless plastic cone.

posted by Lori on 2008-06-03 18:05:57
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I lost a basset hound to bloat which can affect large breeds who inhale their food. My sister's basset swallowed a rock and needed surgery. I think this dish is a good idea.

posted by priscilla on 2008-06-03 18:11:45
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I use this for my guy http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Tricky-Treat-Ball-Small/dp/B0002DK26C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1212531781&sr=8-1
since he's small, his whole meal fits in it. He's not a glutton, but I figure it's a little more interesting and fun for him than just chowing out of a bowl. The SPCA recommends this, or tossing the food out on a lawn for them to forage, if you can. There's also the bigger treat ball that might work for bigger meals.

posted by erica on 2008-06-03 18:25:32
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Bloat from eating too fast can kill a dog. These bowls can save a dog from a lot of misery if you have a fast eater or a breed prone to bloat like our Weimaraner.

posted by robertcraig on 2008-06-03 18:44:05
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do they make one for cats? my kitty Roger JUST had an upset tummy 'refund' from eating too fast!

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-06-03 21:54:00
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We've got one of these bowls...we were afraid to follow others' suggestions of sticking things like tennis balls (they eat the fuzz) or Rocks (I've heard chipped tooth stories) in our Border Collie's normal bowl...so we got this exact thing.

Our Border Collie eats slightly slower, although it doesn't slow him down to the pace I THINK he should eat at. It has helped some with gas though, as well as burping/choking. The bowl definitely helps, and I would definitely recommend it over DIY remedies. 15 bucks isn't too much to spend on your baby! (:

posted by sistergray on 2008-06-04 00:09:16
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This is brilliant! I have a cat that wolfs down food, which inevitably comes right back up. It's a waste of food and can't be good for him.

posted by first5times on 2008-06-04 10:37:45
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*heather leaf* - it looks like the smallest bowl is suitable for cats.

posted by first5times on 2008-06-04 10:39:00
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I've seen someone use three golf balls to achieve the same result for a kitty who eats fast.

posted by brunocerous on 2008-06-04 12:12:11
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