THIS IS AWESOME! My favorite dog trainer and dog whisperer of all time has just released a free video online explaining how to eliminate 94% of all unwanted behavior in ANY dog. Her name is Krista Cantrell and I absolutely LOVE the way she teaches. Click on the video to watch. You'll be glad you did...

So now that you have a new dog, daily meals will become familiar very quickly. Raised dog bowls make life easier for your pet as well as for you.  The most common bowl that sits on the floor will always be a classic, yet, these bowls can be very dangerous on larger dogs.

There are a number of medical issues that are related with eating at such a low height, and the mess is greater as well.

Stomach Bloat
While uncommon, stomach bloat occurs most commonly when dogs guzzle their food from low bowls. The next time your dog is eating, watch how his food will immediately disappear.

Dogs are fast eaters by nature. It is a form of protection against anyone or anything taking their food. What a lot of people do not know is that it is very hazardous for their health to eat from the bowls on the ground.

By scarfing their food at such an angle, most dogs inhale a great deal of air.  That air can inflate the stomach and even cause it to turn.  A dog with stomach torsion is an emergency.

The majority of dogs that get this painful problem, rarely make it. Those who do make it have a better chance at getting it again.  On a less serious note, there is also the gas to deal with, and that is uncomfortable for you as well as your pet.  Raising the food eliminates the possibility.

Joints and Muscles
Elderly dogs have a little more trouble bending down to eat their food and is very hurtful on joints and muscles.  The concluding tension on elbows and wrists as they bend over causes them to eat fast or poorly.

Imagine attempting to eat your food at a push-up stance.  That is how a dog feels after each feeding.  The position is bad for their posture and makes eating tough.  Raising the food helps reduce pressure on those tender joints.

Less Mess
If you purchase a stable elevated dog bowl, you don’t have to worry about any messes to clean up. There is no longer a reason to quickly throw the food back to the throat, and they don’t have to eat so fast. 

With less tension on their joints, dogs rest a bit and enjoy their meals more.  If you have a dog that really bolts their food no matter what, consider getting a bolt preventing bowl to an elevated bowl.  It will make your pet to slow down.

Elevated dog feeders are easily found either at your local pet store or on the internet.  To get the height to your dog, measure your dog at the withers.  The withers are the front shoulder joint.  Take away six inches and you have the perfect height for your dog’s feeder. 

Find a bowl that can relate to that height and give it a chance.  Both you and your dog will be happier about feeding time and as a plus, you won’t have to bend quite as far to put the food in the bowl.

No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post)

Technorati Tags: , ,

Tagged with: • •

Filed under: General Dogs Discussion

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!