Guest TheModernMutt Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Are elevated food/water bowls a necessity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3greytjoys Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Many people prefer them for retired Greyhounds, myself included. Greyhounds legs are so long, it can be uncomfortable for hounds to bend down to floor level to eat. There are items around the house that can be used in lieu of an expensive dog feeder stand. Plant baskets work fine (bowl sits inside the upper rim of the basket). Some people use plant stands, but some are a bit too high. Side note: We use a tall stainless steel bucket for water and place the bucket inside a decorative basket. Filling the bucket 1/2 way with water helps keep drippage to a minimum. (Plastic is not desired for pet bowls. Chemicals can leach into water.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 We use the Neater Feeder and have a much cleaner, drier floor now. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) i have read both - you need to use an elevated feeder, it doesn't matter. i have 2 plant stands, they work. if the water is on the floor- they drink w/o any problems. when i travel i use a chair, coffee table or park bench seat, it's what your dogs get used to. i will say the BEST thing i have purchased for myself is the messy mutz water bowl. many greys tend to spit water out the sides of their mouth when they drink and cause a wet mess. this bowl solved the problem and makes life easier for ME! http://www.messymutz.com/ Edited February 24, 2013 by cleptogrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gemma Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I don't think you have to use one but it's so sad watching tall greyhounds Bambi out their legs trying to reach the floor! So we have always used a raised feeder for Peyton. Some of our fosters have not required them, either because they were so petite or because they ate lying down in their crate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwnedBySummer Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I used raised bowls. And mainly for the same reason as some other have already said -- for my dog's comfort. If she eats off the floor, she has to splay her legs and they tremble. Surely it can't be comfortable. At a raised bowl, she stands easily and normally. Based on that, it's raised bowls here. I don't worry about bloat and the question of raised vs not raised. Summer is not a gobbler and I don't feed or water her (other than a few sips) for an hour before or after exercise. At home, she has a wrought iron bowl stand which holds her two ceramic bowls. This is very similar from Petsmart. We also have one of these, bought for traveling, but I don't like it for that. It's too big and clunky and awkward. So we use it for camping instead and just keep it in our trailer. For traveling/hotels, we now have this one, which is fabulous for this purpose. Quote Lisa B. My beautiful Summer - to her forever home May 1, 2010 Summer Certified therapy dog team with St. John Ambulance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShebasMom Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Having first had Great Danes, I always used a raised feeder, one that my father made for me out of an old wooden TV tray stand with cut-out holes for the bowls. Graduating to greys, I now have a lower-height wooden feeder that my brother made for me (like father, like son, rest their souls). I just think it's easier for the dogs. I travel with the bulky wooden feeder but plan on getting one that is collapsible so it doesn't take up so much space in the back seat of my Nissan Cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vjgrey Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 For traveling/hotels, we now have this one, which is fabulous for this purpose. Ooh! Good to know. We do a long trip with our dogs once a year, and I've been thinking about picking up some of these. Quote Valerie w/ Cash (CashforClunkers) & Lucy (Racing School Dropout)Missing our gorgeous Miss Diamond (Shorty's Diamond), sweet boy Gabe (Zared) and Holly (ByGollyItsHolly), who never made it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I've heard they're necessary to prevent bloat, but I've also heard the opposite argument. So whether or not that's a real consideration remains to be seen. I use elevated feeders, as others have said, for my dogs' comfort. But I've fed my fosters in their crate with no elevated feeder, and they've been just fine. I think it's just a personal preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I've never used raised feeders and have never had an issue with bloat or anything else. I think for a dog who may have neck issues or back issues I would get one but for the average, healthy greyhound I just set them on the floor. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante2zoe Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I use a raised water bowl since that prevents tipping. I took an old Rubbermaid step stool and had a circle cut out of the middle and the bowl drops right in. The cats drink from the same bowl and this gives them a perch to sit on while they drink. Side benefit - I can dump the entire thing in the sink for easier cleaning. The grooves tend to collect dirt. Quote Cindy with Miss Fancypants, Paris Bueller, Zeke, and Angus Dante (Dg's Boyd), Zoe (In a While), Brady (Devilish Effect), Goose (BG Shotgun), Maverick (BG ShoMe), Maggie (All Trades Jax), Sherman (LNB Herman Bad) and Indy (BYB whippet) forever in my heart The flame that burns the brightest, burns the fastest and leaves the biggest shadow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45MPHK9 Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Ooh! Good to know. We do a long trip with our dogs once a year, and I've been thinking about picking up some of these. We've been using those travel bowls for years. We love them. Quote Tricia with Kyle, our senior mutt dog Always missing Murray Maldives, Bee Wiseman, River, Hopper, Kaia, and Holly Oaks Holly“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.“ -Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walliered Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I use only Neater Feeder raised bowls. No more water sloshed around! It all stays in the Neater Feeder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I believe the current research and thinking are that raised feeders do NOT help prevent bloat. The two main factors are heredity and body type. It also makes no difference whether or not you wet/soak kibble (though it does help with regurgitating their food right after eating if you have a gobbler). Using a raised feeder is up to you. We used raised feeders because it makes it more comfortable for the dogs to eat and keeps some of the mess off the floor. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheModernMutt Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 It also makes no difference whether or not you wet/soak kibble (though it does help with regurgitating their food right after eating if you have a gobbler). That's news. We've always soaked kibble before giving it to any of our dogs. I thought it was preventative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytpups Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 We don't use raised feeders. I would if they had issues eating out of bowls on the floor. We soak kibble because the pups prefer it that way. Quote Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field. Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 The whole raised feeder/bloat thing is he says/she says even with studies - same with moistening. Raised is not required. Back when I free fed I tried a raised feeder but had to leave a bowl on the floor for Poodle. The greys, of their own choice, all used the bowl on the floor. After a few weeks I ditched the raised feeder. I had one grey that preferred to eat from the bowl on the floor while laying down (and another that would only eat in the dark when no one was watching) but that is another story.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheModernMutt Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I had one grey that preferred to eat from the bowl on the floor while laying down (and another that would only eat in the dark when no one was watching) but that is another story.... Haha! Seriously?? That's funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beledi Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I use only Neater Feeder raised bowls. No more water sloshed around! It all stays in the Neater Feeder! What size? Did you use large or large with extensions? Quote "Then God sent the Greyhound to live among man and remember. And when the day comes God will call the Greyhound to give Testament, and God will pass judgment on man." Persian Proverb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest k9soul Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Rudy is a fast gobbler. He hacks and coughs food back up easily, but he seems to do better eating from a raised dish and with the food moistened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DragonflyDM Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I've heard they're necessary to prevent bloat, but I've also heard the opposite argument. So whether or not that's a real consideration remains to be seen. I use elevated feeders, as others have said, for my dogs' comfort. But I've fed my fosters in their crate with no elevated feeder, and they've been just fine. I think it's just a personal preference. I have heard borth arguments as well--- but Boomer takes his food and pulls it to the floor regardless of how high or low the bowl is... so I keep a towel now for his food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greymatters Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 What size? Did you use large or large with extensions? Re Neater Feeder - we use large, with extension legs. Even with the legs it's not as tall as our regular raised feeder, but it really does minimize the mess! Quote Merlin (Heathers Wizard), Mina (Where's Rebecca), and Mae the Galga - three crazy dogs in the house of M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.