As any experienced dog owner knows, you spend more time thinking about your dog’s eating habits than you do your own. From deciding on the right food for them to lovingly preparing their favourite treats, dog ownership opens up a whole new world of culinary talents you never knew you had!
If you want to ensure your dog gets the right mix of nutrients and vitamins, there’s no doubt you’ll spend a lot of time thinking about what sort of diet you want to give them. While what your dog eats is critically important, how they eat is crucial too.
When you choose the right bowls for your dog, you can increase their comfort while eating and maximize their enjoyment. Even more importantly, you can minimize the risk of health problems and make sure your furry friend gets all the nutritional goodness they need. To find out why raised dog bowls are so popular amongst canines and their owners, take a look at a selection of the benefits they offer…
1. Improve swallowing and reduce digestive issues
If your dog used to demolish their dinner within seconds but now takes a while trying to finish a meal, it may be because they’re uncomfortable. As dogs get older, it’s not unusual for them to develop a range of issues, such as arthritis or back pain. Due to this, they may find it difficult to bend their head forward long enough to eat comfortably.
Of course, trying to eat with your head leaning forward isn’t necessarily easy for dogs of any age! When you opt for a raised bowl or feeder, you can reduce the need for your dog to lower their neck to eat or drink and ensure they remain comfortable at all times.
2. Slow down feeding time
Most dogs can’t wait for dinner time, but some canines take things to the extreme. If your dog polishes off their food before you’ve removed your hand from the bowl, you may need to think about finding ways to slow them down.
Eating too quickly can cause subsequent discomfort, so slowing down hungry dogs is essential for their wellbeing. A raised dog bowl is an effective way to reduce the speed at which your dog eats, so it can be used to make mealtimes last that bit longer. In addition to this, a raised slow feeder maximises the impact and makes sure you dog can’t demolish their dinner in nanoseconds.
3. Make feeding easier for you
Feeding your dog and replenishing its water bowl means bending down numerous times throughout the day. If you have medical conditions, mobility issues or even general aches and pains, you could experience discomfort or pain while doing this.
As well as helping to ensure your dog enjoys its mealtimes, you can increase your enjoyment at feeding time too. Raised dog bowls will help to prevent your dog experiencing any discomfort and they’re ideal for owners who find it tricky to bend down to reach feeding bowls on the floor too.
4. Stop your dog digging or paddling
Watching a furry pup trying to swim in the water bowl may seem adorable when they’re 9-weeks old but it’s not quite the same when your 40-pound, 2-year old dog does it numerous times a day! If your dog thinks its food bowl is a great place to dig for treasure or spends its times attempting to snorkel in its water bowl, then an elevated feeder could be just what you need.
The extra height prevents dogs from using their bowls as sporting equipment, which means less clean-up for you!
5. Encourages your dog to stand
It’s natural for dogs to stand when they eat so if your dog suddenly takes to lying down to eat or drink, something could be wrong. In many cases, dogs will do this when standing up and lowering their head becomes too uncomfortable.
Once your dog has been checked over to rule out any other issues which may be affecting their posture, you may want to try switching to an elevated dog bowl. This will increase comfort when standing and prevent unnecessary discomfort.
Finding the Right Feeding Station for Your Dog
Before making any changes to your dog’s diet or feeding routine, it’s always advisable to talk to your vet. Some breeds have different requirements to others and your vet will know your dog’s history and be able to provide personalised advice. Once you have all the information you need, you can decide whether your beloved companion will reap the benefits offered by raised dog bowls and elevated feeders.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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