Unless your veterinarian advises otherwise, the correct height for your dog's food bowl is right on the floor. Dogs are designed to eat at ground level, and doing otherwise puts them at risk for gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome, aka GDV. This is a potentially life-threatening condition involving a dilated, pressurized stomach that's at risk of twisting or rupturing. However, in certain circumstances the benefits outweigh the risks of using elevated dog feeders. In these cases, it's important for your dog's comfort and safety to determine the correct bowl height. Involve your vet.
Ask your veterinarian about using an elevated dog bowl if your dog has the neurological disorder megaesophagus that interferes with proper swallowing. Also, inquire about using one if your dog has arthritis, a neck injury, a back or spinal problem, or another condition that makes lowering her head to floor level uncomfortable or painful.
Bring your dog into a room with a level, hard floor, not a carpeted surface. Bring a tape measure with you.
Kneel down next to one of your dog's front legs. Make sure she's standing straight up with her feet right below her.
Feel for your dog's withers, which are the apexes of her shoulders, on the leg in front of you.
Determine the distance from the floor to her withers using your tape measure.
Reduce the measurement by 7 inches. This is approximately the correct height for her food bowl in an elevated feeder, which should come to the bottom of her chest region.
Tips
Opt for an adjustable elevated dog feeder so you can play with the height a bit to get it just right. Your dog should be able to eat out of the bowl without stretching, straining, bending or otherwise exerting herself.
If you're not buying an adjustable elevated feeder, try to take your dog along with you when you shop for the feeder so you can test out the height. Otherwise, err on the side of a little too low, because a feeder that's too high is no good.
Tips
Opt for an adjustable elevated dog feeder so you can play with the height a bit to get it just right. Your dog should be able to eat out of the bowl without stretching, straining, bending or otherwise exerting herself.
If you're not buying an adjustable elevated feeder, try to take your dog along with you when you shop for the feeder so you can test out the height. Otherwise, err on the side of a little too low, because a feeder that's too high is no good.
An Item You Will Need
- Tape measure
References
- DogChannel.com: Using Raised Dog Food Bowls
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus Syndrome in Dogs
- PetPlace.com: Picking the Right Dog Food Bowl
- Whiner and Diner: Measuring Your Dog for the Best Elevated Dog Feeder Height
- Livestock Guardian Dogs Association: How to Measure Your Dog
Tips
- Opt for an adjustable elevated dog feeder so you can play with the height a bit to get it just right. Your dog should be able to eat out of the bowl without stretching, straining, bending or otherwise exerting herself.
- If you're not buying an adjustable elevated feeder, try to take your dog along with you when you shop for the feeder so you can test out the height. Otherwise, err on the side of a little too low, because a feeder that's too high is no good.
Writer Bio
Eric Mohrman has been a freelance writer since 2007, focusing on travel, food and lifestyle stories. His creative writing is also widely published. He lives in Orlando, Florida.