Raised Dog Bowls: Who They Help, and Who Should Check First

Raised bowls have gone from a niche product to the default in plenty of homes, and they make a lot of sense for some dogs. They aren't for every dog, though, and getting the height right matters more than the stand itself.

Dogs they tend to suit

• Tall dogs that have to stoop a long way to reach a floor-level bowl.
• Older dogs with stiff necks, shoulders or front legs, for whom bending right down is uncomfortable.
• Dogs that push their bowl around the floor. A stand holds it in one place.
• Messy eaters and drinkers. A bowl held off the floor tends to keep spills in one spot, and a no-spill water bowl helps even more.

Getting the height right

A good rule of thumb is to have the top of the bowl at about the height of your dog's lower chest, so they can eat with their head slightly lowered rather than craning up or stooping down.

1. Stand your dog square on the floor.
2. Measure from the floor to the bottom of their chest, just behind the front legs.
3. Pick a stand that puts the bowl a little below that.

Puppies change height fast, so an adjustable stand saves you buying twice.

Who should check with their vet first

There's an important caveat for large and giant breeds with deep chests, like Great Danes, Weimaraners, setters and standard poodles. These breeds are at higher risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), a life-threatening emergency. A 2000 study from Purdue University found raised feeding bowls were linked to a higher risk of bloat in large and giant breeds. The research on this is mixed and still debated, but if you have a deep-chested breed, talk to your vet before switching to a raised bowl. If your dog has a medical condition that affects swallowing, your vet may actually recommend one.

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This is general advice, not veterinary advice. If you're unsure whether a raised bowl suits your dog, ask your vet.