When you get a puppy you aren’t thinking about how tall your pet will get as they grow.  Elevated dog bowls may seem silly at this point, after all a bowl on the floor is fine,  your pup isn’t all that far from the floor anyway.  However, as your pet grows the distance from floor to mouth increases and as a result they need to bend over further and further to reach the bowl.  It may not seem like an important issue, but feeding from a bowl located on the floor is not optimal for your pet.

When an animal needs to reach all the way to the floor to eat they ingest a lot of air with their food.  Dogs gulp by nature, and if their bowl is low, they will gulp food and air together.  The quick swallowing necessitated by the angle causes them to swallow air and makes them more likely to develop stomach bloat and gas; uncomfortable conditions at best.  While there are bowls with fancy shapes and knobs to slow down your dog when eating, it is better from all perspectives to elevate the bowl to the proper height. 

For older dogs the elevated dog bowl is of particular use.  As dogs age, just like humans, they develop joint problems and arthritis.  What was already an uncomfortable position in youth now becomes increasingly painful.  Crouching down to eat is difficult, and for a large dog it can become virtually impossible.  The pressure on the wrists, forearms and hips make what should be a pleasure, unpleasant.

To measure your dog for an elevated dog bowl check the height of his withers, that is the height of his shoulder when standing up, and subtract six inches.  If you have a particularly small dog, then only subtract four inches.  That is the ideal height for their dog bowl when eating.  Feeders come at all heights, so you won’t have any difficulty finding something suitable.  Next you get to consider style.

You can find elevated dog bowls in every style imaginable, from fancy to functional.  Whether you want something to match your Asian themed kitchen or a sturdy wrought iron structure for a boisterous dog, or perhaps a feeder disguised as a planter to put in the garden, you can find them online.  You want your feeder to be easily cleaned and the bowls should be removable.  Since most elevated dog feeders use stainless steel bowls you can throw the dish itself in the dishwasher and wipe down the feeder to keep it clean.

Keeping an additional water bowl outside your door allows your dog to get their first, sloppy drink when returning from a walk, without messing up the kitchen.  Getting the bowl up off the floor will also keep the mess down.  Less gulping results in cleaner eating.  If you have several dogs, assigning each animal their own bowl at the right height can help reduce conflicts at feeding time as well.   Raised dog bowls are practical, attractive and beneficial to your pet; give them a try and see how much better your dog feels. Combine good bowls with nice dog houses and you will have a happy dog.