Elevated Feeding Bowls
- Thread starter missbeckydee
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Yep, I got mine from PetSmart. It's very unnatural for a dog to bend down that low to the ground.
Keeping their food elevated prevents problems in the future when they grow older. It's like people and hunching.
I even keep my cats food elevated. I think it's important, and protects their health. Physical health anyway.
Keeping their food elevated prevents problems in the future when they grow older. It's like people and hunching.
I even keep my cats food elevated. I think it's important, and protects their health. Physical health anyway.
It's better for their digestion - simple physics, really. If you consider when the dog is leaning down to eat their food, gravity is also pushing down, and they're trying to swallow the food UP to get it into their digestive tract... it's not comfy. Elevated food bowls also tend to help them to swallow less air.
It's also easier on dogs with joint problems/arthritis if they don't have to bend down!
You don't need to invest in the food stands they sell in stores... you can use lots of stuff you probably already have around the house or build yourself a simple box with a little lip to keep the bowls from sliding off. =>
It's also easier on dogs with joint problems/arthritis if they don't have to bend down!
You don't need to invest in the food stands they sell in stores... you can use lots of stuff you probably already have around the house or build yourself a simple box with a little lip to keep the bowls from sliding off. =>
I was just thinking the opposite - that dogs naturally eat from the ground all of the time, and us positioning food on platforms for them is just...well, our fussing. Similar for horses, cows, cats... It doesn't quite compute for me that the 15 seconds it takes a dog to eat dinner could be 'harmful' in any detectable way...
But, then again, I guess in nature they would eat lying down more often - with a carcass that takes some eating, rather than just mushy food all conveniently taken off the bone for them and dumped in a bowl by us.
Del.
But, then again, I guess in nature they would eat lying down more often - with a carcass that takes some eating, rather than just mushy food all conveniently taken off the bone for them and dumped in a bowl by us.
Del.
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I also use a raised feeding bowl, but it's maybe a foot. I wouldn't go too high.
There is a ongoing debate about raised food bowls, though. Some say no, some say yes. It is natural for dogs for dogs to eat at ground level, but most dogs on the same level of their food (laying down while eating, etc.) and not having to bend down.
I just usse extreme caution, no mamtter how I feed my boys. Do what you feel is right and comfortable for your dog.
There is a ongoing debate about raised food bowls, though. Some say no, some say yes. It is natural for dogs for dogs to eat at ground level, but most dogs on the same level of their food (laying down while eating, etc.) and not having to bend down.
I just usse extreme caution, no mamtter how I feed my boys. Do what you feel is right and comfortable for your dog.
I feed my dogs on the ground. But I have a Doberman who is a breed prone to bloat. Toker is also rather deep chested. My Chi's couldn't reach an elevated bowl. LOL.
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/home/pets/story.asp?ID=120686
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/home/pets/story.asp?ID=120686
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If you're referring to the Purdue University study, that study has been picked to shreds.
The jury is still out on whether elevated bowls contribute to bloat. In fact, more breeders than not still recommend using elevated feeders.
When Hannah was eating raw, she ate from the ground - her choice. She would take a piece of meat from her dish and lay down with it and eat. Now that she is back on kibble, she eats elevated again. It's not really a preventative measure as far as bloat goes, but a comfort factor. Watching her bend over to eat looked uncomfortable, so I elevated her dish.
Here is what a very well known and respected Canine Nutritional Consultant and Great Dane owner has to say about the study and the elevated feeder subject:
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/on_my_soap_box_purdue_bloat_study.htm
The jury is still out on whether elevated bowls contribute to bloat. In fact, more breeders than not still recommend using elevated feeders.
When Hannah was eating raw, she ate from the ground - her choice. She would take a piece of meat from her dish and lay down with it and eat. Now that she is back on kibble, she eats elevated again. It's not really a preventative measure as far as bloat goes, but a comfort factor. Watching her bend over to eat looked uncomfortable, so I elevated her dish.
Here is what a very well known and respected Canine Nutritional Consultant and Great Dane owner has to say about the study and the elevated feeder subject:
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/on_my_soap_box_purdue_bloat_study.htm
I have Dachshunds and Yorkies and neither one of the breeds can reach an elevated dish. I bought a really cute one that I sell in my boutique that is heart shaped with rhinestones. It was beautiful but they couldn't reach it with the legs on. I had to take the legs off. It was still pretty but not elevated.
I had heard that....that the jury is still out....more studies I guess need to be done. But I'll go with the latest results I guess. Dogs, I'm sure in the wild eat in a variety of positions and their food may be uphill from them sometimes and downhill other times. Maybe it doesn't make much difference. Of course wild dogs aren't great big huge, tall animals with artificially altered anatomy from human selective breeding.
My Doberman isn't a gulper. He often doesn't even want all his food at once and I offer it to him later. So, I'm not worried about fast eating. It's just their anatomy sometimes which predisposes them to it I think. My little Chi mix gulps....he eats his meals in less than 20-30 seconds. But it's not very much. He looks so disappointed when it's all gone.
I did see those bowl with the thingies sticking up adverstised during the Eukanuba show....pretty cool. Or you can put in rocks or balls or something to slow them down. I use to do that for my horses who ate their grain too fast for my liking.
My Doberman isn't a gulper. He often doesn't even want all his food at once and I offer it to him later. So, I'm not worried about fast eating. It's just their anatomy sometimes which predisposes them to it I think. My little Chi mix gulps....he eats his meals in less than 20-30 seconds. But it's not very much. He looks so disappointed when it's all gone.
I did see those bowl with the thingies sticking up adverstised during the Eukanuba show....pretty cool. Or you can put in rocks or balls or something to slow them down. I use to do that for my horses who ate their grain too fast for my liking.