I have read lots of things for & against elevated food bowls. What does everyone else have/ recommend?

I personally like them better, but I don't think that it particularly makes a difference. We have one for Koda, but not one for Hailey (I know, so mean, but we haven't been able to find a reasonably priced one that I like!). I think it's more personal preference. I don't think Hailey suffers for it and I don't necessarily feel that Koda is that much better off for it either

Not much help, I know... but those are my thoughts.

we just set embrys food dish on a stool for him, but i do know he prefers laying down and eating.

I'm in the "doesn't matter" camp too. For the most part at home they eat elevated. I bought those silver flat feed bowls for $5 each, and put them in a plastic plant pot from WalMart $1 each. Works perfectly, and on the cheap too. When we camp they eat flat on the ground.

harrise wrote:

I'm in the "doesn't matter" camp too. For the most part at home they eat elevated. I bought those silver flat feed bowls for $5 each, and put them in a plastic plant pot from WalMart $1 each. Works perfectly, and on the cheap too. When we camp they eat flat on the ground.

that is the BEST idea i have ever heard!!!! im so gonna do that, wait i might have to wait till next summer as i bet all the flower pots are gone now.
I was looking into single raised feeders but they cost so much i never got one, for now they eat ground level.

I'm all for elevated food/water bowls but see nothing wrong with NOT having them either. I'm more on the "don't care much either way" side too. I would love to have an elevated water bowl for my sibe since it cuts down on his coughing after taking a drink but that's just out of the question since an elevated water bowl would mean that my two Chihuahuas would not be able to drink from it. Yeah I could have two water bowls (one elevated and one not) but this is one of those cases where I'll say "less is more". I'm not that crazy that I need separate water bowls for the different dogs. lol Plus, I know that if I did have an elevated bowl for my sibe and a bowl on the floor for the Chis then he'd most likely end up drinking out of the Chi's bowl on the floor anyway. No, I've not tested that theory out but I'm pretty sure that's what would happen if I did.

For feeding what I do is have my sibe lay down before he gets his food bowl, this eliminates the need for an elevated dish entirely.

Mine all eat from elevated feeders. I bought them for 12.99 at Drs Foster and Smith.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21926
It seems to be easier on them and they all have their stations for eating. When we vacation, they eat on the floor.
I love the pot idea! You could even make pretty ones by painting the pot, put their names on it or something.

I would stick to elevated, I have heard nothing but good things. I have a large husky and it helps in digestion.

Nut's weird. She likes to drink from her elevated bowl, but would rather eat from her "on the floor" crate bowl.

What are elevated food bowls? Does it literally mean elevated food bowl?

SiberianHuskySibhee wrote:

Does it literally mean elevated food bowl?

Yep, that's exactly what they are.

Here's an example:

So I have gone a little overboard but I came across these feeders on Etsy and fell in love with them, but now I'm torn between the two. I want to get these as their larger Christmas presents this year, not that they care but at least I can justify spending the money. Which one do you guys like better? I can see pros and cons for both and need help deciding!

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I think I would go with the second one. Mostly because the first one looks like you have to wall mount it. :/

Yeah, the first one you do need to wall mount. Wasn't sure if that was cool, or not. Haha.

I like the second one too, but mostly because Dizzy is clumsy and I can totally see him knocking the bowls out from underneath while he's hunting for stray kibbles.  

That is a very good point! I also liked the second one cause then I keep the place mats under it for easy clean up just wasn't sure if the first one is more convenient because then you can choose the height and change it whenever.

I like the second one. I saw these on etsy too haha

Then the second one it is! I'm just a sucker for customized dog stuff.

I actually like the wall mounted one, maybe I should switch to that one. I have 3 elevated food dishes for my dogs and it seems the hair builds up on the legs. So, I'm always moving them to vacuum/sweep and cleaning off the legs. They also seem to get bumped around sometimes. I don't use matts though as it is just more to clean (I'm lazy and the dogs seem to leave water 5' from their dishes). Wonder how much weight they hold as my cats will drink from the water too in those dishes.

i bought layla an elevated bowl. mostly due to she is bad about playing in her water. now she cant play in the water. also since we have had it she seems to love it.

I guess there's some dispute, but I'm staying away from elevated bowls because they might increase potential for bloat.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/july/raised-bowls-and-bloat-ratcheting-controversy-risk-gdv-dogs#.UkYplYYqj_s

Maybe they don't, but why take the chance?

Interesing, I've always heard that in dogs that are often more prone to bloat that you need to go with raised food balls for their health.