Vet-recommended slow feeder for Irish Setter

Your vet flagging stomach distension in an Irish Setter is worth taking seriously — that breed sits firmly in the high-risk category for bloat, and eating too fast is one of the most common triggers. Dogs that eat too fast are at increased risk of GDV (bloat), which can be life-threatening in large breeds, as well as vomiting and ongoing digestive problems — but a well-chosen slow feeder can genuinely halve eating speed. Since your vet has already strongly advised one, you're in the right place. Can you tell me a bit more about your dog — roughly how much does he or she weigh, are they eating dry kibble or wet food, and do you know how fast they're currently finishing a meal?

Under a minute for a full meal is genuinely fast — that's exactly the kind of speed that puts pressure on the stomach before the body has any chance to signal fullness. At 27kg with a known stomach distension history, I want to make sure you get something with enough capacity and a genuinely effective maze pattern, not just a shallow ridge design that a determined setter will work around in seconds. Does she eat one meal a day or two, and is she fed on the floor or raised?

Good — floor feeding is actually the right call for large deep-chested breeds like Irish Setters; raised bowls were once recommended but the evidence has shifted. Two meals a day is also better than one large meal, so you're already doing the right things. For a 27kg dog with a vet-confirmed distension history and a meal gone in under a minute, I'd go with the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo-Bowl in XL. It has a deep, interlocking ridge maze that forces dogs to work around multiple barriers rather than just push food to the edge — it typically slows eating by around 10x compared to a standard bowl. The XL size holds enough kibble for a large-breed meal without needing to be overfilled, and the rubber base keeps it stable on hard floors. It's also very easy to clean in the dishwasher, which matters when you're using it twice a day every day. This is the one I'd buy without hesitation given what your vet observed.

Yes — introduce it gradually if you can. For the first few days, put half the meal in the slow feeder and half in her normal bowl alongside it, so she gets used to the new behaviour without frustration. Some dogs take to it immediately; others need a meal or two to figure out the pattern. If she starts pawing at it aggressively or trying to flip it, it usually just means she needs a couple more sessions to build the habit. Also keep an eye on whether she's finishing meals fully — occasionally a very deep maze can leave kibble trapped in the ridges, so just check the bowl after eating and knock any stuck pieces loose. After the first week you should be able to use it for both meals without any issues.

That's a solid decision — especially with the vet's advice behind it. Given her history, slowing that eating speed down is one of the most practical things you can do between now and her next checkup. I hope she takes to it quickly. If you notice any continued distension even after she's using it consistently, it's worth mentioning to your vet as there can occasionally be other contributing factors. Good luck with her.