Raised dog bowls

SayaSaya
edited June 2009 in General
I'm going to be getting some raised dog bowls for Bella and I'm wondering do anyone else use these?

In some sites I've read they're good for the dog others they're bad I didn't really look into why, but I was wondering what are all of your opinions on these bowls?

I've seen alot of different types of raised bowls at petsmart and buckles petstore so I'm not really sure which will be the best to get I'm getting two for their food bowl and water bowls also once Saya is big enough I plan to get another one for her too.

Thanks for any help on this stuff I wish I knew about these types of bowls I'm sure my past dogs would've loved them.

Comments

  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited June 2009
    There was something about bloat on here and how raised bowls could help or cause that I thought. I know for our paralyzed esophagous schnauzer, raised feeding bowls were recomended.
  • WrylyBrindleWrylyBrindle
    edited June 2009
    I find the raised bowls issue to be inconclusive- my greyhound cross is much more comfortable eating from a raised bowl. My vet says bloat happens when dogs eat too much, too fast. There are bowls with obstacles built in- bumps that the dogs have to eat around to slow them down. Sage doesnt care if his food is up or not, but he's not built like Reilly. She's a supermodel: leggy, muscular, trim, with a big chest and a tiny waist...she is not comfortable in certain positions (like "sit" she'll do it but only if ask, or if she is offering behaviors that might get her a treat- never on her own b/c she feels like sitting) and I raised her bowl when she became full grown because she looked uncomfortable and didn't eat right up. When I have tried to read more about raised bowl eating you get a chicken/egg information: "Deep chested dogs should eat from raised bowls to avoid bloat," and "(insert high % here) dogs with bloat were discovered to be eating from raised bowls." My guess is that they were eating from raised bowls because their owners were afraid of bloat to begin with and that the bowl height may have nothing to do with it at all. I wish I had more convincing information up or down...
  • SayaSaya
    edited November -1
    Yeah I looked it up a bit more Purdue university did some study on this and they say raised bowls increase it. Bella doesn't seem to be having too much trouble eating from her bowl on the ground she eats pretty slowly like my last boxer Pearl which is a good thing my dad's boxer mix would eat so fast we had to seperate him and just feed him a little bit at a time I remember seeing those bowls on it's me or the dog.

    My mom is the one that is interested in the raised dog bowls, but I'll probably have her hold off since it seems it's not too good for dogs prone to bloat, but once she's old and if she has bad joints I'll probably get one to ease joint pain.
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    As for bloat, this past thread can help:
    http://www.nihonken.org/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3645&page=1#Item_26

    There's discussion and a link to results from a study posted on there that states that raised bowls increase chances of bloat.
  • WrylyBrindleWrylyBrindle
    edited June 2009
    Which one do you mean, Calla? there's a few in there, and I havent followed all the lnks yet...still wading
    (edited: Got it= the first one in Leonberger's post.)
  • tjbart17tjbart17
    edited June 2009
    My friend's vet recommended raised bowls for Roxy who is a Boxer like Bella. Whether or not it helps I don't know but, I don't think it hurts. If you feel comfortable with it do it.
  • ShikokuSpiritShikokuSpirit
    edited November -1
    I've started to "pre-prep" kibble by watering it down. I just recently did it this year for Lynx because she always devours her food like she hasn't eaten in years.
    Even though the Shikoku don't eat as quickly as Lynx does...I just started yesterday to also allow their kibble to completely absorb water before feeding.


    When I compare the kibble from it's "dry" form to it's "wet" form...it's looks like A LOT more food! I can't believe how much dry kibble expands while in their stomachs. I'm feeding 2 cups + split canned for all 3 of them...broken up to 2 separate meals per day. Depending upon our activity for the day I may increase Lynx's food by 1 cup but the Shikoku still get fed the same amount reguardless of their activity level that day.


    I don't think raised bowls make too much of a difference but I don't have the experience with them. I'd just have it raised enough for a "comfortable" level, you don't want anything too high as that may induce a "choking" threshold. So, if you want to do it, then find a "happy medium".

    I know they're more commonly used for dogs with deformities, structural issues, injuries or old age on-sets that makes it almost impossible or very awkward for them to eat on the ground.
  • wliu003wliu003
    edited November -1
    Kelly recently had a mini growth spurt and i decided to raise her food/water bowls too. As of now im using a shoe box to see if she likes it or not and i can see that she does. So i would recommend on behalf of me and kelly.
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Mookie is a silly bum and when it comes to eating, he lays down while doing it. He would hate a raised bowl. LOL
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