A dog who empties a bowl in fifteen seconds swallows a fair amount of air with it, and that is where the retching, the burping and the after-dinner discomfort come from. Raised bumps in the base fix the problem mechanically: there is no clear run at the food, so every mouthful has to be worked out from between the obstacles and dinner takes minutes instead of moments.

Stainless steel matters more here than in a plain bowl. Most slow feeders are moulded plastic, and plastic that a dog scrapes at develops fine scratches which hold bacteria and, in some dogs, bring on the chin irritation owners mistake for a skin condition. Steel does not scratch in the same way, does not hold smells, survives the dishwasher and will not warp. It is also heavier, so it stays put rather than being shunted across the kitchen floor.

• Food-grade stainless steel, rust-resistant and hygienic
• Rounded raised bumps in the base slow fast eating
• Dishwasher safe and wipe-clean
• Heavier build resists pushing and tipping
• Doubles as a sturdy water bowl
• One size

Two things worth knowing. Slowing a meal down helps with gulping and comfort, but bloat has several causes and no bowl prevents it — if yours is a breed at risk, talk to your vet about the rest of the picture. And a handful of dogs solve the puzzle by simply tipping the bowl over.

Who it's for: Dogs who eat far too quickly, households tired of replacing scratched plastic feeders, and anyone who would rather buy one bowl that lasts.