Is any good to use elevated dog feeder?

[martin649]

Going to adopt a Kuvasz which will be huge in size. My friend advised me to use elevated dog feeder (preferably an adjustable one, so that it can be moved up as the puppy grows) it would help so that the dog does not have to bend down to eat and drink (by the time a Kuvasz is full grown, they have to bend down pretty far regarding their size) It’s easier for the dog and it helps them keep a good posture. But some articles say, "Don't use elevated dog feeder!" Any experience, comments, ideas........Thanks.

[kigndano]

works great for my dog.

i just turned one of those big tupperware bins i moved with into one.

cash seems like he has a much easier time drinking and eating. he used to get all hunched over to do it, looked pretty uncomfortable.

[Lise]

A lot of people used to say using an elevated bowl was better for giant and large breeds because of their problems with bloat,the newer studies are showing that it could contribute to it.I wouldn't use elevated bowls unless there was a problem that made it so the dog couldn't eat from a bowl at ground level,which is a more natural position.Just my opinion though

[Masha]

We use an elevated bowl for our GSD.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by Lise

A lot of people used to say using an elevated bowl was better for giant and large breeds because of their problems with bloat,the newer studies are showing that it could contribute to it.

I've heard the same thing. My great dane has regular bowls and never bloated.

[Winston]

I use the elevated bowls too! I have a large dog and it works well for them!

[Gail P]

Originally Posted by Lise

...the newer studies are showing that it could contribute to it.

How, do you know?

[Smiley14]

Originally Posted by Gail P

How, do you know?

Google for it and do a search here as well. It's been discussed many times before. As I have a GSP, a breed prone to bloat, I refuse to use elevated bowls.

[Lise]

Talked to three different vets at two clinics,article in Dogs Canada,dane breeder who boards with me all said to use bowls at ground level.We have a collie which is a breed that has a predispotion to bloat as do many of the deep chested breeds.

[luckypenny]

Here's an interesting article/study:

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proce...5091&O=Generic

[Purpledomino]

Had a Chow that died from bloat.... he had been fed at ground level. Currently have a Dane, and a Bullmastiff that I feed elevated, with no problems.

I truly believe that in regards to bloat, it is even more important to restrict exercise before and especially after mealtimes, rather than the height of the bowl. Also...gas causing foods in the diet should be carefully monitored.

[Sylvie]

I don't know the answer to that question. I have fed both ways. Didn't see any difference.

it stays that way

[Gail P]

I feed both ways myself (7 dogs, with bowls spread around my kitchen and laundry room). We used to have 2 great danes that we always fed/watered elevated, and fed twice daily. Lost the male to torsion at only 2 1/2 years of age but his sister never had any trouble that way. We followed every recommendation we were given to try to prevent bloat, at that time elevated feeding and watering was recommended, multiple daily feedings, restricted activity before and after feeding etc. Also we fed a giant breed food that was formed into huge nuggets rather than small kibble (Royal Canin giant breed). Our stands were homemade wooden ones and after the danes we kept them but lowered them so they would be at chest height for the dogs we now have. All of the dogs share the elevated water bowl and a couple use the double bowl stand for feeding. The rest eat at floor level. I have a friend with a few collies, she used to occasionally breed and at one time had 15 collies herself. Over the years she has lost a few dogs to bloat/torsion, all but one were the larger bodied males. She never fed elevated, her dogs are all fed morning and evening in their kennels. She became suspicious of the brand of food she was using, switched foods and has had no more problems.

[martin649]

Originally Posted by luckypenny

Here's an interesting article/study:

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proce...5091&O=Generic

"One traditional preventative has been to raise the height of food and water bowls, but this was found to actually increase risk by 110 percent. This correlation of risk was verifiable; the dogs of the breeders in this study did not have close relatives that had experienced bloat." According to this article, ground level is better ???

[Hogansma]

I also use an elevated bowl for my old girl, Bailey. She has an arthritic back and bending down to the ground is very hard on her.

[kandy]

Having owned (and currently owning) big chested dogs, I've done some research on elevated bowls and the connection to bloat - and I've come to the conclusion that it probably isn't only whether the bowl is elevated or not, but a combination of things. In my reading, it seems that dogs that eat fast & then drink lots of water have more problems, kibble that swells significantly adds to that (I test this by putting a piece of kibble in a cup of water and letting it sit - then I compare it to the dry piece to see how much it swelled), and dogs that can't burp for whatever reason have more problems. I think it depends on the particular dog as to what measures you should take to avoid bloat. If the dog swallows air while eating and can't burp - then I think the elevated bowls would likely be better, but if the dog is one that inhales his food and then drinks a ton of water, I'd put something in with the food (like a big rock or a ball) to force him to slow down, and I'd likely soak the kibble first so that it's already swollen before the dog eats. And of course the restricted activity.

Although my family never fed from elevated bowls, I did buy one after I read that it would prevent bloat - and got rid of it when the next set of experts said it raised the risk of bloat. Then I did my own research to try to decide who I agreed with.

I have thought about going back to an elevated bowl for my big girl just because it makes my back hurt to watch her hunch over. She eats very slowly - thoroughly chewing each kibble, so she ends up standing there awhile.