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When you feed your dog it is only a simple process of filling up the food and water bowls and placing them back on the floor, right? It's not complicated, because dogs dont need anything fancy. The truth is, numerous veterinarians don't agree with that statement. Although a lot of dog owners do feed their dogs this way, eating and drinking from an elevated feeder is really healthier for the dog for numerous reasons. It may not appear to be an important distinction, but the health issues that can be easily resolved by using an elevated dog feeder are numerous.
If you sit and consider it for a minute or two, the idea of eating and drinking with your neck and back bent doesnt seem very comfortable or pleasant does it? For senior dogs especially, an elevated feeder is significant to their health. Like all mammals, including humans, older dogs generally eat smaller portions anyway. Add to that the discomfort of eating from the floor and the risk of your dog not getting the proper nutrition is increased. It's necessary for older dogs to be as comfortable as possible to remain healthy and get the fuel they desperately need. This exact theory is applicable to older pets that have arthritis or other joint problems. A elevated dog feeders is an a great technique to use to ensure the proper nutrition of a senior or ailing animal.
Lets keep in mind overall sanitation for a minute. Pet dishes placed on the ground soon become a breeding ground for germs and mold. The moisture from the water the dog loses when he raises his head to swallow collects below the dishes and makes the perfect environment for dangerous little pests to grow. This isnt safe for the dog or the people in the house. When dogs drink from an elevated feeder it they don't need to raise their heads in order to swallow and all the water that escapes tends to go back into the bowl instead of onto the floor. An elevated feeder will be useful for eliminating this probable health hazard to the whole family.
Another benefit to using an elevated feeder is gas. Go ahead and chuckle, there isnt a single dog owner who hasnt experienced their dogs noxious gas at one time or another. If there was ever a reason to switch to a elevated dog feeders this is it. An elevated feeder makes it so the dog can hold their head at a more natural angle while they eat. As a result, the dog gulps less, reducing air intake into the stomach and thus eliminates less odoriferous air into your breathing air. Of course the dog also feels much better without the bloated feeling of constantly having gas - so it's definitely a win-win situation.
On a more serious note, eating directly from the floor just isnt healthy for the four-legged member of the family. Some dogs are hindered by a condition called megaesophagus. This is a condition in which the muscles of the esophagus become loose and too large. Eating from the ground forces the affected dog to work against gravity with faulty equipment. Since the esophagus is already weak to begin with, the food often collects there instead of continuing to stomach. An elevated feeder lessens the work the muscles have to do and aids gravity in getting the food to the stomach, where it needs to be.
There are a lot of different reasons to pamper and care for your pet. The most important of those being the day you agreed to bring him home; you in essence promised to take care of him for the rest of his life. Providing your dog with the proper equipment to ensure good health is just part of keeping that promise.
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