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  1. #1
    Senior Dog bmathers's Avatar
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    Elevated feeding bowls

    When I had Sprocket, the thinking was you should elevate your dog’s food bowl to help them avoid getting bloat. Now, I have started to read that the reverse is true and that you should not do that, but instead put the bowl on the floor. Before I plunk down some money to buy an elevated feeder, what are your thoughts on this topic? The other reason I am thinking of getting one is that Diggity pushes his food bowl all around while he eats and I want a way to anchor it in one spot.


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  2. #2
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    I have never had elevated food bowls but I do use weighted food bowls. I hope others have more info for you.

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  4. #3
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    I've heard pros and cons to elevated feeding bowls...I don't think they are necessary for a young dog. Maybe to consider if a dog has difficulty with arthritis or even LP. Our elderly Lab developed LP later in his life and the elevated bowl helped him to eat more comfortably. I think it really depends on the dog's needs.

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  6. #4
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    You might be able to search on that topic on this board. I am sure it's been discussed at some point (even though the board suffered a crash kind of in the middle of its existance).

    There is no solid evidence for or against elevated feeders. You can find just about anything on the web to support whichever side you want. We've used them with our dogs, starting with our first back in 2001. No problems with bloat.

    I've heard stories about how adding water causes bloat, food with citric acid causes bloat, adding water to food with citric acid causes bloat...there are a ton of old wives tales about it. I think you just shouldn't over exercise after eating a big meal.

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  8. #5
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    Our Akita girl Kiku did some burping after eating until we got her an elevated bowl to ease her arthritis. Burping = air and air can = bloat. I've sworn by elevated bowls ever since for the larger pups. And water in their kibble slowed their (Kiku and our first Lab Brutus) eating quite a bit though Kiku wasn't really a fast eater to begin with. (Akitas are prone to bloat.)

    When we got Sunnie, she refused to eat off the floor and wouldn't use the elevated table we already had. For the first nine years we had her, she would eat only (only!!!) if I held her bowl up for her. Dan didn't want to eat elevated at all.

    I really wanted to stop being held hostage to holding that bowl and so I went in search of a low elevated bowl that Sunnie and Danny both might accept. I found nice porcelain bowls on Amazon and bought one for Sunnie and she actually liked it (I had to hold it the first few times but then she accepted it). Dan liked it, too, so I bought him his own. I like the idea that they're eating at least somewhat elevated and notice that there's less musical output from each one. I don't recommend these bowl for fast, large, strong, eaters....but they work well for Sunnie and Dan with silicon bowl covers on the bottom to keep them from sliding at all (I'm pretty sure a Lab would just knock them over but I'll show you what I use anyhow because, truthfully, I think spending this much on dog bowls is ridiculous and I'm always happy to laugh at myself: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) I think Sunnie was just holding out for a foo-foo pink bowl.

    Bottom line: I like elevated bowls and the inclusion of a bit of water based on my own dogs' obvious reactions relative to air ingestion.

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  10. #6
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    Been feeding on the floor for over 34 years with no issues. See no reason to change now.

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  12. #7
    Senior Dog bmathers's Avatar
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    Thanks all. I was looking at the low feeding system here:

    Quality Pet Products | PetComfort


    Looks pretty good. The low system is in between regular floor feeding and the elevated kind I used with Sprocket.

    I’ve never used stainless steel bowls before. For some reason, I have always used porcelain — the cheap ones you get at Petco or Petsmart.

    Still deciding...


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  13. #8
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    Make sure Diggity will accept a stainless bowl before you invest. None of my Labs had issues, but both Dan and Sunnie (especially Dan) avoid stainless. Their bowls before the elevated ones were Pyrex casseroles (also their water bowl). I guess their reflections startle them.

    Those bowls look nice...very snazzy. One thing to be mindful of with bowls that fit into a slot is that water/food gets under the bowl and that area needs to be kept clean/dry to avoid ick.

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  15. #9
    Senior Dog bmathers's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SunDance View Post
    Make sure Diggity will accept a stainless bowl before you invest. None of my Labs had issues, but both Dan and Sunnie (especially Dan) avoid stainless. Their bowls before the elevated ones were Pyrex casseroles (also their water bowl). I guess their reflections startle them.

    Those bowls look nice...very snazzy. One thing to be mindful of with bowls that fit into a slot is that water/food gets under the bowl and that area needs to be kept clean/dry to avoid ick.
    Two good points. Thanks!


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  16. #10
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    No elevated feeders here either.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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