You
may have used a peanut butter filled Kong toy to keep your dog occupied
while you're gone. Today, we've moved way past that to puzzle toys
that serve as food bowls.
Many owners,
including my vet, have moved 100% to feeding their dogs using these
puzzles.
Benefits are
many:
- Reduces
the potential to gulp air with their food with side effects of
vomiting, gas and belching, or gagging;
- Mentally
challenges dogs especially those left at home alone; and
- Helps
curb overeating and the epidemic of overweight dogs.
Owners
of large dogs are using these to avoid a potentially fatal condition
called bloat. In fact, bloat is the second leading cause of canine
deaths (right after cancer). A dog’s stomach fills with air,
fluid or food which puts pressure on his other organs.
This
can cause difficulty breathing, and eventually may decrease blood
supply to a dog’s vital organs In severe attacks, a dog's
stomach rotates partially or a full 360° on the ligaments that
support it.
Symptoms usually include restlessness and pacing, an enlarged stomach
and vomiting. Immediate veterinary care is required.
No
one knows with certainty what causes bloat, but owners of large
dogs are often advised to slow down their dog's eating, avoid one
large daily meal, and keep their dogs from drinking large quantities
of water or exercising right after eating.
Below
are some of my favorite food 'bowls.'
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