Raised Dog Food Bowls ...For Big Dogs
Personally, I know that dogs (even big dogs) can live long, happy lives even if they eat their food at floor-level.
They do it in the wild. And they probably do it in 90% of all households.
My guess is I'm among the few who have purchased a raised dog food feeder for their dogs.
But here's why I did... and why I recommend that you do, too.
Our Pets Big Dog Feeder
The Our Pets Big Dog Feeder is:1) Easier to fill with food and water
2) Easier to clean
3) Helps prevent bloat
...Not to mention the fact that our dogs just look more comfortable while eating from raised food bowls then they do when they're stooping down to eat out of bowls placed on the floor.
Why I Like This Particular Brand of Raised Dog Feeder:
It's very durable and dog-proof. The rugged thick plastic is tough and long-lasting. (We've used ours for over 3 years now and it still looks like new.)
It's easy to clean.
The stainless steel bowls wipe perfectly clean every time. The base itself wipes clean with a soft cloth. I'm sure you could use chemical cleaners or abrasive scrubs on this product, and it still wouldn't hurt the finish, but I've never had to do that thorough of a cleaning.
The bowls rest securely in place.
In the heavy-duty plastic base, there are perfectly shaped cut-outs where the bowls go. As a result, when your dog is eating or drinking, the bowls stay in place, rather than scooting all over the floor. (There's also a small notched-out space, making it easy for you to grab the lip of each bowl with your fingers anytime you need to refill them with food or water.)
It comes with a built-in placemat.
Surrounding each of the bowls themselves, is a wide catch-all base, where drips and crumbs tend to fall. This prevents spills and splashes from messy eaters ever reaching your floor or carpet!
There are no sharp edges.
Before I bought this one, I had tried a raised dog feeder that was more "cute" than it was practical. It had wrought-iron designs all around the top -- like a border around the bowls. Adorable, yes. But the dog's dangling tags kept getting caught in between the open slats of the wire design! When your dog appears at your side toting a pretty wire feeder tray attached to his collar, it's not so pretty anymore.
It has a very sturdy base.
The legs are filled (by you) with sand or pebbles. (We chose sand.) Best I can tell, there's no way that the feeder could ever be tipped over or even bumped in a manner that would spill the contents of the bowls. This feed station itself stays in one place -- all the time.
It looks good.
I don't feel like I have to "hide" the dog's food & water bowls whenever company comes over anymore.
In sum...
The Our Pets Big Dog Feeder includes a raised dog food platform and two bowls -- one for food, and one for water. This sturdy tray is the ultimate feeding station for big dogs... and they'll love it, too!
Such an innovative product! True enough, elevated feeders are not just feeding bowls. These raised dog diners can make eating easier for your dog and improve his digestion as well.
Nice site, good information. The issue of raised food bowls has gone back & forth. The most recent studies seem to show as much as 110% increase in likelihood of bloat with the raised food bowl however. The next most significant factor was having a first degree relative (mother, sibling) that had bloated.