Do Vets Recommend Raised Dog Bowls?

Raised dog bowls – are they worth all the hype? Do vets recommend them? Let's dive in today and learn more about raised dog bowls.

A Controversial Subject

Elevated pet bowls are becoming a new trend, and they are also becoming a controversial topic. Some veterinarians use them and recommend them to their clients. Other vets shy away from them, saying they're just a rage or only needed in dire circumstances. Every pet is different, and while they may greatly benefit some pets, they could also be harmful to others.

Why A Raised Dog Bowl Can Be Helpful

Not every dog or cat needs a raised pet bowl. Some pets are small and short and will thrive with a floor-level bowl. However, many dogs will have a better mealtime experience with a raised bowl. Elderly pets or pets with orthopedic issues especially benefit from them. Dogs who lie down to eat may enjoy having a more comfortable option where they can dine standing up. Here's one vet's take on it after a client asked if it would be helpful for her Havanese dog.

Vet's Thoughts:

"Hello, my name is Kara, and I have over 20 years of experience as a Veterinarian. I recommend elevated food and water bowls for a couple of reasons. They are more comfortable for dogs with back or neck problems, so I think they would be great for a Havanese. There is some concern that elevated food, and water bowls allow dogs to gobble food and water and thus swallow more air so that they may predispose to bloat in big dogs. As long as your pups don't gobble their food, however, and Havanese aren't big dogs, bloat shouldn't be a problem for them. I would recommend raised bowls."

Client Response:

I don't think my dogs have back or neck problems, but I don't want to cause them either in the long term. The only concern I had with elevated bowls was if you think genetically, in the wild, dogs are meant to eat from the ground, so why change that? But if studies have shown that elevated bowls are better and don't cause long-term problems, I will definitely use them.

Vet's Thoughts:

"Thanks for the further questions. Elevating food and water bowls in dogs with long backs and necks and a known predisposition for intervertebral disc disease is definitely a preventative measure.

In dogs that do have any back or neck problems, it is one of the first things I recommend doing for them, and I will often recommend it for dogs of those breeds before we see a problem as well.

Many dog breeds have a much different body type than wild canids, like wolves, foxes, and coyotes. I think you'll agree that a Havanese's body conformation isn't much like a wolf's. As we change the body type, I think it's important to make some adjustments for them.

The only study I could find that had negative connotations around using elevated food and water bowls was one that looked at increased incidence of bloat in dogs with elevated bowls.

Since your pups aren't a breed that has a predisposition to bloat (their body conformation is completely different from those large breed, deep-chested dogs that are predisposed to bloat), I think that elevated food and water bowls will only have positive effects for them.

As far as height, I recommend using bowls so that the top of the bowl is a little below the point of shoulder height for the dog."

Reasons Why Raised Dog Bowls Could Be Harmful

A while ago, a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association pointed to raised dog bowls producing bloat in specific criteria. This includes dogs that eat or drink too quickly, are middle-aged or old, or come from litters of other dogs that have had bloating in their history.

While that is not true for most dogs, it is still good to consider. If you have a large dog, ensuring elevated bowls fit their breed is a good idea. For fast eaters, a raised pet bowl might also speed up their eating. If your pet is prone to that, monitor them to ensure they maintain healthy eating habits.

Ask Your Veterinarian

Overall, raised pet bowls are an excellent fit for most dog breeds. We encourage you to ask your veterinarian to ensure your pet fits in that category. We wish you all the best.