Slow Feeder for Gordon Setter — Vet-Recommended

It sounds like your vet is being really thorough — combining a dietary change with a slow feeder at the same time is exactly the right approach for a dog who's been having digestive trouble. Dogs that eat too fast are at increased risk of bloat, which can be life-threatening in larger breeds like Gordon Setters, as well as vomiting and ongoing gut discomfort. A well-chosen slow feeder can genuinely halve eating speed, which takes a lot of pressure off the digestive system while the new diet does its work. Can you tell me a bit more — roughly how much does your dog weigh, how fast are they currently eating (we're talking seconds, or more like a minute or two?), and what kind of issues has the vet flagged specifically?

30 seconds for a full meal at 28kg is genuinely fast — that's the kind of pace that causes problems. Given she's already symptomatic and the vet has flagged urgency, I'd go with the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo-Bowl in the large size. It's got deep, maze-style ridges that force dogs to work around obstacles rather than just scooping, which consistently produces a 10x slowdown compared to a regular bowl — real-world times for dogs her size typically come out around 5 to 8 minutes per meal. It's wide and stable, which matters for a dog her build, and it's dishwasher safe, which is worth thinking about if she's on a wet or mixed diet as part of the new regime. The maze pattern also works well with kibble, wet food, or a combination.

Both good questions. Yes, it's fully dishwasher safe — top rack — so cleaning the ridges isn't the chore it can be with some slower feeders. On the sliding issue: the large Outward Hound Fun Feeder has a rubberised base ring that grips the floor reasonably well on tiles and hardwood. It's not perfect on very smooth laminate, but for most surfaces it holds. If she's particularly persistent about pushing it, you can place it on a non-slip mat, which costs almost nothing and solves it completely. Given she's already been diagnosed with gastric discomfort, I'd get that mat from the start just to remove any frustration that might make her eat more frantically.

Given the vet's urgency and the fact she's already symptomatic, I'd switch immediately rather than phase it in. Some dogs are puzzled for the first meal and eat a little slower than even intended — which is fine. By meal two or three, most dogs have worked it out and settle into a steady, manageable pace. Since you're also changing her diet at the same time, keep a note of how she does over the first week so you can tell the vet whether it's the food, the eating speed, or a combination that's making the difference. That'll be useful information at her next check-in.