As dog owners grow more aware of differing canine nutritional needs and special diets, how we feed our dogs has changed. Some pets can happily eat together; some pets need to be separated due to food aggression or dietary restrictions that make their food only appropriate for them. However, in a multi-dog household, micromanaging every mealtime can be stressful and time-consuming. Microchip pet feeders are a new introduction to the pet bowl market, with the intention of simplifying mealtimes for pet owners. Microchip pet feeders allow only one designated pet to eat from the bowl, which can save owners the time and frustration of trying to separate out medicated food or expensive prescribed diets.
What are microchip pet feeders?
Microchip pet feeders are still fairly new, and many pet owners haven’t heard of them. Microchip pet feeders look very similar to other pet bowls. However, they have a door blocking constant access to the food. The feeder has a built-in chip sensor that scans your pet. Depending on the brand, your dog either may activate the bowl with an impacted microchip or by wearing a tag on their collar. When the correct pet’s tag or microchip is sensed, the door opens, dispensing the food. This allows only one specific “user” per bowl.
Microchip pet feeders can help with a variety of issues surrounding mealtime for pets. They’re particularly helpful in cases where an animal can only eat a specific food for their health. For example, if one of your three dogs has a grain allergy, it’s more cost-efficient to switch only one dog to grain-free food. However, given that dogs are food motivated by nature, this can be hard to accomplish. Most dogs will try to snatch leftovers from others’ bowls, which could trigger an allergy attack in this case. Microchip pet feeders ensure that each pet gets the correct food. It can also prevent overeating in cases where pushy canines may steal from other dogs.
Challenges of feeding multiple dogs
Feeding time can be one of the most challenging parts of a multi-dog household. Food aggression is a common behavioral issue in dogs. While ideally behaviors like this can be trained out, it can take lots of work. There’s also the concern of preventing incidents while your dog is in training.
Obesity is another common problem affecting many dogs, and it can shorten your dog’s life. Microchip pet feeders can prevent both of these issues by stopping ‘grazing’ from other bowls and by allowing your dog to feel secure in their food access.
Microchip pet feeders can also be helpful in households with one dog and other pets. Cat food is often sought out by dogs, particularly wet food, which smells appealing to canines. However, cat food is high in taurine, which is detrimental to dogs over time. Eating cat food on a regular basis can cause GI distress and other health concerns. You can keep each species eating the correct diet with the aid of a microchip pet feeder.
How microchip pet feeders work
A microchip pet feeder is simply a closed bowl activated by a specific device. Every brand varies, but the most common ways for a microchip pet feeder to unlock is via a microchip, a collar magnet, or a collar with an RFID tag. The sensor on the bowl will automatically recognize your pet’s unique “signature” and open the bowl.
“It helped stopped malnutrition, diet issues, stealing of food, bullying, and fighting in the house and among my cats,” said Clair Chesterman of TechnoMeow. Her larger dogs were stealing food from the cats in the home, which can be harmful to both pets. The addition of the microchip pet feeder in her house solved what could have become much larger health and behavioral issues.
“At $150 for an investment, it’s pricey. That said, if your pet is on a prescription diet or you have a multi-pet household where food stealing is an issue, this invention is the dream!” said Dr. Justine Lee, a veterinarian who tested the SureFlap microchip feeder, one of the biggest brands of microchip pet feeder on the market.
Some training is required in order to have pets efficiently use the feeder. It may initially be confusing for your dog, and they may try to eat out of the wrong feeder. However, with patience, most pets pick it up, especially since the task is inherently food-motivated.
Choosing the right microchip pet feeder
Not every microchip pet feeder is created equal. Factors such as your number of pets, size of your dogs, and the amount of time you wish to spend on training to use the bowl impact what bowl will work best for you. These feeders are also pricier than most familiar pet bowls, due to their electronic components.
For pets with health issues, the PortionPro feeder is often a good fit. This feeder can dispense food on a schedule up to six times a day, which is great for dogs prone to bloat or who prefer eating smaller meals. The frequent feeding schedule can be convenient for pets with special diets.
One of the most popular microchip bowls is the SureFeed. This brand is often praised for ease of use. However, the bowl is designed for small dogs or cats, so it won’t be a good fit for large dogs.
Don’t immediately replace your pet’s bowl with a microchip feeder. For best results, introductions to any new feeder should be slow. This gives your dog the highest chance of success with using the bowl. Consider replacing the feeder bowl within the feeder temporarily with your pet’s regular bowl to give them some familiarity. Or, for more wary pets, slowly move the bowl over to the new feeder day by day until it’s within the feeder. While this might seem like a hassle, it’s far worth it in the end for daily peace of mind with mealtime.
