Many pet owners are used to placing their pet’s food on dog bowls on the floor, often at a lower position. It’s okay for the smaller and younger pets that don’t end up dipping their necks too low when reaching the floor.
However, it’s not an optimal feeding posture for all pets, and for many reasons. The best solution to this problem is to get your dog an elevated dog bowl.
Elevated dog bowls offer multiple health benefits to your dog by simply eliminating the strain when eating. They discourage unwanted bowl tossing, and with the right one, can add to your house’s general aesthetic.
Read on to find out seven amazing benefits elevated dog bowls can provide for your home and family.
1. Provide Better Feeding Posture
You might have noticed that larger dogs will tend to lie down when eating. When a large dog’s bowl is on the ground, the most convenient and comfortable way for them to eat is while lying down.
Poor posture when feeding creates a strain on your dog’s neck, and one notable way is when the pet has to raise its head after drinking or chewing to help facilitate swallowing. Raised bowls reduce the tension caused by this motion. Low bowls also strain a dog’s shoulders, joints, and hips, depending on the dog’s size and age.
Getting your dog an elevated bowl appropriate for their height can help you eliminate this feeding time struggle. The effect will be an upright sitting posture which will make feeding time even more worthwhile.
2. Stylized to Match the Home Decor
Elevated pet bowls are designed to match the decor in any home. Since these bowls feature stylized designs, they can be a great decor addition to your kitchen or whatever space you allocate as your dog’s feeding area.
If you shop around, you’re likely to find one unique design that blends in and compliments your home decor.
Pet feeding bowls are no longer just functional and safe dishes. The dining bowls have become accessories where pet owners can express their personal style. Whether your style is contemporary, rustic, traditional, or modern, you can bet that there is a bowl that will suit your style.
If you are a minimalist, try and pick out a color that will morph and blend into the wall it’s placed against. If you are bold with your decor, consider making your pet feeding area a style statement piece. All the same, go for a big elevated stand with multiple feeding units for the different foods you give your pet.
3. Limit the Mess
It’s not uncommon for some dogs to play with their feeding bowl, especially puppies. Other dogs find it necessary for them to crawl into their feeding bowl or drag it halfway across their feeding room. If this is your dog, then a non-adjustable elevated feeding bowl can save you and your family the messy aftermath that your dog creates.
The same applies to messy drinkers who tend to spill water all over when drinking. Sometimes the moisture can build up under your pet’s bowl, creating an environment for bacteria and mold to grow. A stationary elevated bowl will do wonders for your house.
4. Keeps the Bowl in One Place
The point of using elevated bowls is to give your dog a better feeding experience. Bowls that are placed on the floor while a dog eats tend to move around with the dog’s feeding motion which can make the feeding not as pleasant as it should be.
Buying them an elevated bowl will help prevent their food from moving around as they eat.
5. Helps with Megaesophagus
Megaesophagus is a condition where a dog is unable to swallow food in a normal way because its esophagus does not have the motility and muscular tone required to move water and food down. So instead, their esophagus dilated to push the food back up causing the dog to regurgitate.
An elevated feeder would help a dog with this condition by positioning the food at a higher point to allow gravity to aid the swallowing.
The bowls are also beneficial to dogs with joint disorders, arthritis, spinal conditions, orthopedic conditions, or senior dogs that have limited mobility. If your pet is living with any of those conditions, it’s crucial that you contact your vet before making your purchase. They will guide you on the best height to go with for your pet.
6. Reduce Strain on Older Dogs
Elevated feeding bowls provide more comfort for older pets. Older dogs endure discomfort when bending over to eat, especially if they have sore joints or stiff muscles. Back and shoulder problems are also common in older dogs. Elevating their feeding bowl will offer them relief.
Older pets already often eat less, so they usually do not attain the level of nutrition they need. When feeding becomes strenuous or painful, they likely end up eating even less. They’ll also become dehydrated if this is the same case with drinking.
7. Easier For The Owner to get to the dog bowl.
The benefits of a raised feeder extend to you the owner as they make it a lot easier to feed your dogs. Certain bending postures when placing food into the bowls are unhealthy for dog owners.
Elevated feeders can make a huge difference especially for persons with arthritis, back problems, or physically handicapped. It’s also easier for you to pick and place the bowls back after cleaning them.
Gift Your Pet An Elevated Dog Bowl
Considering getting your dog an elevated feeding bowl? Ultimately, the question of suitability will depend on your dog. Elevated feeding can be of help to dogs with arthritis, throat conditions, or adorable paw friends with smooshed faces such as bulldogs.
An elevated bowl will align your dog’s throat and neck which eases swallowing water and food. If your dog paws at their water bowl or is just a fast or messy eater then these bowls will be very helpful. If you are still unsure about making the switch, give your vet a call and let them guide you to the right decision for your canine friend.
