Elevated food dish or not?

[wolf_Q]

I'm confused about elevated food dishes. Some say they are better and will help prevent bloat and other problems and some say they can cause bloat and other problems. I've seen some conflicting links....I'm not sure if there's any absolute proof either way...what do you guys think? Do you use an elevated food dish or not?

I don't use one for Nebo. I have one but it's really too big and there's no good place to put it so it's outside and not used. I end up feeding Nebo basically wherever I'm at in the house so his food bowl moves around a lot. He usually lays down with the food bowl between his paws when he eats so it's not like he's bending over anyway.

[PJ's Mom]

Neither of our food dishes are raised.

[Suki Wingy]

Well, we always used one in the unfinished side of the otherwise finished basement, that is, until we went on vacation and left food in it! Ew, mouse poop in his food bowl! It was old, from Clark (1999) anyway, we were going to get Niño a new one, but we haven't yet. Now the whole basement is finnished and his food is in the kitchen where it belongs.

[sammy101]

both mine eat out of regular metal bowls,theyre not elevated.I've never liked elevated dishes for some reason,i personally wouldnt buy one.

[RobiLee]

Our is elevated. We bought it because Katie always eats standing up and I always thought she looked uncomfortable that way. I've also read different things about the bloat issue and don't have a clue what is best.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Elevated food dishes are said to help prevent bloat because when the dog bends over to eat or drink if the dish is on the ground, it causes them to "gulp" their food, thus taking in and swallowing more air. They're also good to use for older dogs that have arthritis or other back/neck/joint problems because it's less stress on the joints and/or other infected areas.

We have one and Molly uses it from time to time. Both of my girls seem to prefer "regular" food dishes, though.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

We put Winston's bowl on a stool because he's so tall. I've heard it's better to have their food dish raised if they're a fairly large dog.

[LuckiLab03]

We don't use one with Riley.

When we had Brooke she didn't know how to use an elevated dog bowl. We took her to a kennel and they had them, she wouldn't touch it so from then on they had to put it on the ground. She ate standing up, but ONLY drank laying down with her arms around the bowl. She did that with other dogs around too (she didn't go to dog parks or anything) so they couldn't have any. Riley just tips the water bowl over so other dogs can't have any.

[shais_mom]

I don't use an elevated dish BUT I have the bowls on top of a large storage crate that I put Keegan's food in.....

[Giselle]

Elevated. Not really because of bloat considering there are studies on both sides of the argument and, like another poster said, I have no clue what to think about it. I just use elevated because Gissie eats standing up and she's 26" at the shoulders and her neck can only go down so far

[K9karen]

Timely...was just considering getting an elevated stand for Klo's bowls, thinking that it'd help to prevent bloat (poor Dale). I use 2 bowls on a mat and we all are constantly kicking the water bowl. Our kitchen is an OK size but oddly shaped so the bowls have always been near the counter ("excuse me Cody..excuse me Logan, move your butt)I'm going to have to do more research but I imagine a raised bowl may be more comfortable..

[Oggyflute]

We don't use elavated bowls, but to be honest, I've been thinking about building a little wooden bench, for the bowls to be put on.

[cloverfdx]

Not at the moment but i am going to see about getting something made for both Clover and El, Clover is a "gulper" so i would prefer she has her bowls at head height.

[chocolatepuppy]

I use elavated food dishes. Both of my dogs are fairly tall. I didn't get a real tall dish set, but it just looks more comforatable. First they say use them, then they say don't, doesn't sound like they're sure either way.
Just not sure what to do

[dukedogsmom]

Duke's been using one for years. He's kind of short so we had to cut the legs off a little. I've always heard they were good to use.