Slow feeder for Cairn Terrier — vet recommended

Your vet's already done the diagnosis — your Cairn Terrier is eating too fast, and that's causing digestive trouble. That's really common in small terriers; they're greedy, energetic eaters and the gut pays for it. Before I point you to something specific, a couple of quick questions: is your dog eating wet food, dry kibble, or a mix? And did the vet mention any particular concern — gas, vomiting after meals, or something else? Also, how old is your Terrier and are there any mobility or arthritis issues I should know about?

That regurgitation after bolting is classic — she's eating faster than her stomach can signal fullness, and it all comes back up. A puzzle feeder is exactly the right call. For a small dog like a Cairn Terrier eating dry kibble, I'd specifically recommend the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl in the mini size. It has a raised ridge maze pattern that forces her to work around the channels to reach the kibble — typically extends a meal from 30 seconds to 3 or 4 minutes without being so complex that it frustrates a dog. It sits flat on the floor which is fine for a small breed, it's dishwasher safe, and the mini fits a Cairn Terrier perfectly without excess unused space that lets her scoop around it.

Most dogs adapt within two or three meals — including older ones. The drive to eat overrides the mild inconvenience of the maze pretty quickly. The one thing I'd suggest is not swapping cold turkey on the first day. Put the new bowl down next to her old one with a small portion, let her investigate, and by day two or three just use the new bowl exclusively. At 10 she may take a meal or two longer than a younger dog would, but food motivation in terriers is strong. The bolting habit usually improves noticeably within the first week.

One practical thing — make sure the bowl doesn't slide around while she eats, because that can frustrate older dogs and slow adoption. The Outward Hound Fun Feeder has a non-slip base but if yours is on a smooth floor, a rubber mat underneath helps. Beyond the feeder itself, since she's 10, it's worth watching whether the vomiting stops entirely or just reduces. If it's still happening after a couple of weeks with the slow feeder, that's worth reporting back to your vet — occasionally in older small dogs there's an underlying motility issue the bowl alone won't fix. But most of the time, slowing the eating rate solves it completely.

Good choice — it's genuinely one of the better-tested options for exactly this problem. Keep an eye on her for the first few meals and you should see the difference quickly. Hope her digestion settles right down.