Do vets recommend elevated dog bowls

In our daily care of dogs, every detail of life carries our deep love for them. The food bowl, as an important tool for dogs to obtain food, may seem ordinary, but it contains many aspects worth exploring. Nowadays, elevated dog food bowls have gradually entered the public eye, attracting the attention of many dog owners. So, is it recommended to use a raised dog food bowl? This question is like a fog lingering in our hearts, making us eager to explore the answer, as it directly relates to the dog's feeding experience and health status.

From the perspective of a dog's body structure, a raised food bowl has significant advantages. For medium to large dog breeds such as Golden Retriever and German Shepherd, they are tall and have a long neck. When using a traditional low bowl to eat, dogs need to lower their heads for a long time, which can cause significant pressure on their cervical spine. Maintaining this posture for a long time can easily lead to cervical spine diseases, just like how humans can experience discomfort in the cervical spine by looking down at their phones for a long time. A raised bowl can help dogs maintain a relatively natural and comfortable position of their head and neck while eating, effectively reducing the burden on their cervical spine. For example, after using a raised food bowl, an adult golden retriever's neck stiffness problem, which had been caused by long-term eating with the head down, was significantly improved, and it was also more relaxed and happy when eating.

Raising the food bowl also has a positive impact on the digestion of dogs. When a dog lowers its head to eat, food may quickly enter the esophagus, which can easily cause choking or indigestion. Raising the bowl allows food to enter the esophagus at a smoother angle, which helps food pass through the esophagus better into the stomach and reduces the risk of choking. For some dogs with respiratory problems, such as short nosed breeds (such as bulldogs and dogs), the advantage of raising the food bowl is more prominent. These dogs have a narrow respiratory tract, and when they lower their heads to eat, it may further compress their respiratory tract, leading to difficulty breathing. Raising the food bowl can keep their respiratory tract open while eating, allowing them to enjoy delicious food more safely.

From the perspective of dogs' behavioral habits and psychology, raising the food bowl can also bring some benefits. Some dogs are more eager to eat and are prone to wolfing down food. Raising the food bowl can change the posture and speed of dogs' eating, forcing them to slow down their eating pace and reduce problems such as vomiting and bloating caused by eating too quickly. Moreover, raising the food bowl allows dogs to be in a relatively high position while eating, which to some extent satisfies their sense of territory and security. Dogs will feel that they have an exclusive and superior space when eating, which helps them to relax and focus more while eating.

However, just like everything has two sides, a raised dog food bowl is not perfect. If the raised height is not appropriate, it can actually cause trouble for the dog. For small dog breeds, a too high food bowl can make them struggle to lift their heads while eating, and can also cause neck muscle tension. So, when choosing to raise the food bowl, it is important to adjust the height accurately according to the size of the dog's body. Generally speaking, the height of the food bowl should be such that when the dog stands naturally and lowers its head, its mouth can easily reach the food, which will neither cause the dog to excessively lower its head nor make it difficult for them to raise their head.

In addition, the stability of raising the bowl is also crucial. Some low-quality raised food bowls are prone to shaking or tipping over when dogs eat, which not only scares them but may also cause food to spill on the ground, affecting their eating experience. So, when choosing a raised food bowl, we should choose products with sturdy materials and stable bases. For example, raised food bowls made of solid wood or thick plastic materials usually have good stability and can withstand the movements of dogs while eating.

Cleaning is also a factor to consider when using a raised food bowl. Due to the height of the raised food bowl and the possibility of having brackets or other structures, cleaning it may be more complex compared to traditional food bowls. If not thoroughly cleaned, it is easy to breed bacteria and dirt, posing a threat to the health of dogs. Therefore, we need to develop the habit of regularly cleaning and raising the food bowl, promptly cleaning up residual food after each feeding, and regularly disassembling the bowl for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection.

We recommend using a raised dog food bowl, but we need to be extra careful when choosing and using it. It plays a positive role in protecting the cervical health of dogs, promoting digestion, and meeting their psychological needs. As dog owners, we should carefully choose a raised food bowl that is suitable for our dogs, paying attention to issues such as height, stability, and cleanliness, so that our dogs can enjoy delicious food while maintaining health and comfort while eating. Every time we prepare food for our dog and pay attention to the details of the food bowl, it is an expression of our deep love for our dog. We look forward to dogs growing up healthy and happy under our careful care, continuing to bring endless joy to our lives with their passion and loyalty. Let this deep friendship across species become even stronger and warmer through our attentive care for every detail of life. Let us bring our love for dogs and create a more comfortable and beautiful eating environment for them, accompanying them through every happy day.