Benefits of Elevated Food Bowls

As dog owners, we care greatly about our dogs and their health. There have long been debates about the kinds of dog feeders that owners should use, and whether or not to use elevated dog feeders to improve their health. There are both benefits and drawbacks to using elevated dog feeders; as a result, it is important to make the best decision for your dog and your family.

Finding the Right Elevated Food Bowl

If an owner decides to purchase elevated food bowls for their dog, it is beneficial to make sure that it is the right height for the dog. To measure correctly, have your dog stand up and measure from the ground to the dog’s chest. After this, you will subtract 3 or 6 inches depending on the size of your dog. If you have a big dog, subtract 6 inches. If you have a smaller dog, subtract 3 inches.

Bloating

Although elevated dog bowls have been thought to fix the deadly problem of bloating, this is not the case. Bloating is harmful for all dogs, but especially larger dogs. The largest study performed on the correlation between bloating and elevated food bowls shows that elevated food bowls may cause bloating instead of curing it. This is particularly harmful to dogs that have sensitive stomachs to begin with. This may not be a route to choose if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach.

Posture

Elevated food bowls can change the posture that your dog eats in. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. Dogs typically eat with their head down, and changing this position can be helpful to older dogs or dogs that experience arthritis or injury in the neck. There is not a ton of research that supports or refutes this, so it is most likely inferred. The change of posture caused by elevated food bowls could be a good or bad thing for your dog depending on their age and health issues.

Cleanliness

If you live in a home with young children, it can be very hard to keep the house clean. Adding a dog that frequently spills their food and water bowls on the floor can add to the mess. By using elevated food bowls, this mess can be eliminated. When the food bowls are elevated, they do not slide on the floor anymore and cause excessive mess. It also prevents dogs from further digging into their bowls or splashing the water, which eliminates more mess. If your dog is prone to either of these things, elevated food and water bowls could be a good option for you.

Ultimately, it is the owner’s choice to decide what is best for their dog and their family. There are some slight benefits to having elevated food bowls, but nothing that seems to be too drastic.