A feeding vessel assembly, having a feeding bowl having a cavity to receive food and water and a rim defining an upper edge of the feeding bowl, a deformable shield which can be detachable from the feeding bowl rim or edge wherein the shield when installed encloses up to about 75 percent of the circumference of the top rim thus providing an opening for an animal to access the feeding bowl cavity, wherein the shield extends from the rim of the feeding bowl to a height of about 12 inches from the floor, and wherein the shield flares outwardly from the rim of the feeding bowl as it extends upwardly in the range of about 1 to 30 degrees and is configured to allow an animal to push food up an inside wall of the shield so that it can slide into its mouth when it opens its mouth.
