By: Kelly Marshall
Submitted: 2011-10-15 18:24:21 | Word Count: 518
One of the big advantages to an elevated dog feeder is the fact that it will slow down eating. Large dogs especially, need to take it easy at meal time. Bloat is a potentially life threatening ailment and you can help avoid it by slowing down the dogs eating habits. Not always easy, granted, but it is possible.
Dogs with neck or back problems benefit greatly from a raised dog feeder. Not having to bend over to reach food or water makes life a lot easier for them. Arthritis or joint pain can keep your pet from enjoying their meal and may cause them to eat more quickly to shorten the painful periods. This can be avoided with your elevated dog feeder.
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Before purchasing your feeder, consider the size of your dog. Is it small, medium or large? All sizes can benefit from the use of the feeders, but you don't want one that is too high for your pet any more than one that is too low. There are some that are adjustable. They can fit that baby from puppy through adulthood.
The possibility of building your own is also there. A simple selection of wood that is made into a bench like structure with two holes that fit your dog food bowls will do nicely. If you wish to buy them, you can get them in every material out there. You can get plastic, metal and wood. Some will hold just one bowl and others can handle three or four, depending on your needs.
Most of the feeders come with lightweight stainless steel bowls that are easily removed and cleaned. Some have porcelain or ceramic bowls which require a more gentle handling and may not be the one for your mastiff.
The first place to look is at your favorite pet store. They usually have quite a variety of bowls to fit just about any dog. If you are looking for something that fits in with your home décor, you can find a sizeable collection on several different sites on the internet. The next decision is how much do you want to spend?
If price is no object, there are some sculpted stands that hold one bowl and sell for about $75. There are adjustable feeders that are in the $125.00 range. If price is an object, there are plenty made of lightweight metal and stainless steel in the $10-20 range.
There are veterinarians that prefer that you not use a raised dish. They state that it is better for the dog to reach down to their food as they would in the wild and forage. However, domesticated dogs have a tendency to be just a little more spoiled than a wild dog that is foraging and our pampered pooches know how special they are.
One of the five star rated varieties is a pedestal shaped, colorful set to suit your style. They are in the $60.00 price range. You can also find those that have storage in them. However if your pet is big and hungry, they don't appear to be too secure from the foraging dog.
