The U.S. market accounts for over $34 billion in annual spending on dog food for our beloved besties. We purchase the best dog food we can afford (or even make our own) in the pursuit of providing them with ultimate health, happiness and longevity, as we all want them by our side for as long as possible.  Daily, like clockwork, we lovingly prepare and serve them as they anxiously await a most favorite time of the day, mealtime.  

One to two minutes later, a few loud belches and mealtime is long gone. The mealtime experience is just as important to our pet’s health as the food given.

No matter the reason, eating too quickly can produce unwanted consequences, from stomach aches and bloat to vomiting from lack of digestion and anxiety—or even the often-deadly Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus.

A 2015 study of dogs’ eating habits, published in PLOS ONE by Azabu University and Tokyo University of Agriculture, concluded that of dogs divided into four groups (fast, fast with delayed feeding, slow, leftover), those who ate faster were shown to have a significantly higher level of norepinephrine, an indicator of higher blood pressure often triggered by stress hormones.

Alternatively, slow feeding was shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in lower heart rate variability both during and after the meal, positively affecting the digestion of food.

Until recently, most slow feeders consisted of maze-like fixed obstacles in a deep bowl to prevent a dog from easily reaching its food. This can cause discomfort on a dog’s snout, increase anxiety, stress and frustration, or even make it impossible for certain breeds to access the food. 

PetDreamHouse recognized that these traditional slow-feeder bowls, put simply, are designed to slow consumption by making it difficult for a dog to eat. That’s why they saw a need to create the first-of-its-kind Interactive Slow Feeder, which encouragees mindful and healthy eating habits. By combining slow feeding with interaction from the pet, dogs are encouraged to use cognitive thinking to solve how to access their food. This rewarded by the ability get to their food, resulting in a happy dog.

Many slow feeders are designed to only restrict access to food. PetDreamHouse designed its various levels of interactive slow feeders as a multi-purpose resource to not only improve pets’ digestive health, but to help reduce anxiety, provide intellectual stimulation, and associate mealtime with fun activities.

When Only An Ocean (North American Distributor) added the innovative slow feeders and lick paw pads to their menu of product offerings, they trusted that the innovative purposively designed feeders would be as popular with pet owners as they were with the dogs and cats who enjoyed this new way of eating. They recognized that this is the next generation of slow feeder, healthy lifestyle products for dogs.

CHOOSING THE BEST SLOW FEEDER FOR YOUR PET

PetDreamHouse provides two collections of feeding systems, PAW and SPIN, each with a full lineup of products that offer various levels of enrichment and slow-feeding solutions.

The PAW Collection of slow feeders are great for brachycephalic breeds, less speedy eaters, and are a great option to gradually introduce a pet to a new way of eating. The key to this type of stationary slow feeder is the surface area of the dish. The base plate of the PAW Slow Feeder has a large surface area with many shallow pockets. When a dog eats from the dish, the pockets only allow for small bites and portions, rather than a deep dish where large gulps of food are swallowed. The compartments of the PAW feeder are also great for introducing various textures and different combinations of foods to broaden the dog’s mealtime or snack experience.

For an added challenge, pet owners like the PAW 2-In-1 Slow Feeder, which incorporates a removable lick pad within the slow feeder, giving the pet more opportunities to challenge themselves when eating, invariably slowing them down.

When ready for more stimulation, the dynamic SPIN bowl line, with interchangeable moving parts, provides an ever-changing eating experience at every mealtime.  Dogs will sniff, lick and problem-solve throughout their meal.   

Moving interchangeable components are centered into the SPIN bowl base, where the dog must interact to move the various shaped obstacles. All of this allows for safe eating throughout the experience. The center SPIN components are available in a range of skills and styles from “easy” to “moderate” to “tricky.” In addition, each center puzzle piece can be flipped upside down or adjusted in height and tension to slow consumption up to 10x. This provides pet parents with numerous ways to switch up mealtime for their pets, all within the same bowl base.

Center SPIN components can be swapped out as the SPIN bowl base is universal in size and allows for any size meal—dry, raw or wet. Multiple SPIN components can also be stacked within the bowl base to provide for an enhanced experience.  Only An Ocean currently offers all the SPIN Accessory Inserts, including a dual-sided lick pad, which is great for raw food or messy treats.

PetDreamHouse is a family-owned business that manufactures its products with only human-standard food-grade materials. All products are BPA-free, PVC-free, dishwasher safe (top rack) and freezer safe.

We believe that pet owners now have a holistic way to feed their pets in a safe, healthy, and fun way for all types of dogs (and cats) through the line of PetDreamHouse interactive feeders.  As we all know, Love is Food and Food is Love.

Visit our website at www.onlyanocean.net to learn more about the PetDreamHouse line as well access a full library of product photos and videos.