A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Aug. 29, 2024
If your dog plays with his water, makes a mess or has an achy arthritic neck, our pet expert explains how elevated dog bowls can help.
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An elevated dog bowl offers your pet more than a fancy dining experience. It prevents messes made by water-splashing canines who love to “dig” in the water bowl because it won’t slide around as much, so your dog doesn’t have to “chase” the bowl over the floor. An elevated dog bowl also reduces neck strain for tall dogs, old pets with arthritis and canines with elbow or hip dysplasia who must stretch down to reach the food. There are many styles available, from inexpensive to high-dollar and everything in between. Choose your dog’s feeding station based on individual needs.
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The Neater Feeder elevated dog bowl design keeps the mess from doggy diners contained. The protective walls keep dropped food off the floor and away from ants or other pests. Water drains back into a reservoir to keep your floors dry. This elevated dog bowl comes in three sizes to suit every dog. Each comes with two stainless steel bowls (a slightly larger bowl for water) that fit in the pre-formed plastic tray. Additional “booster” legs are available for taller dogs.
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The classy Foreyy raised pet bowls feature two stainless steel bowls in a natural bamboo wood frame that comes in four heights. Anti-slip feet keep it stable, even during energetic meals, while the bamboo repels water. The moderate cost and long life make it an economical choice.
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The PawHut pet feeding station offers an elevated feeding surface and a way to store your dog’s food. This product assembles easily, with a solid wooden base and two stainless steel bowls. Designed for large dogs like Golden and Labrador Retrievers, it measures 16.25 inches—enough storage space for those large bags of kibble. Handles on each side of the wooden station allow for effortless movement, and it fits in with your furniture in either brown or white. It’s pricier than other options, but your dog is worth it. For another similar worth-it option, check out the Yeti dog bowl, too.
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The Emfogo dog bowl stand comes in three stylish wood selections which sit on a minimized frame that’s adjustable to your dog’s size. It can raise as little as five inches off the floor for little dogs and up to 13.5 inches for large dogs, adjusting as your puppy grows to adulthood. The dishwasher-safe stainless steel bowls provide enough room for small to large meal servings. The rustic wood composition looks elegant and a non-skid base keeps the food station in place.
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Pick from three sizes of Vantic elevated dog bowls: small, medium or large pets. Each size has seven adjustable heights and angles for the bowls to satisfy any dog’s needs. It’s able to tilt 15 degrees, one of the few with this option, and provides additional help for dogs with neck strain or other issues. Assemble it in minutes without screws or tools. Made from smooth-finished natural bamboo, the attractive stand easily wipes clean and disassembles for storage when necessary. The stainless steel bowls are dishwasher safe, too. Reviewers repeatedly comment on the company’s excellent customer service for corrections on bowl size and more.
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These gorgeous Double Diner Feeder elevated bowls for large dogs come in 18 vibrant powder-coated colors. They fit into a lightweight, easy-to-move wrought iron stand sized for large dogs at 11.25 inches high. With no assembly required, this feeder arrives ready to use. The bowls are chip, rust, fade and scratch resistant and dishwasher safe. For pet parents who want to add color to their dog’s dining station, this gorgeous feeder earns top marks. Another must-have pet accessory? A comfy dog bed.
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For small dogs, you can’t go wrong with the Frisco Diamond Dog Double Bowl Diner. The simple and effective diamond stand design comes in two sizes for tiny to small size pets, with either two- or four-cup, dishwasher-safe stainless steel bowls. The non-skid, wrought iron metal stand is hand washable, with no assembly required. And the under-$20 price tag can’t be beat!
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The ZPirates Store offers a single adjustable dog bowl stand in three sizes and two design options. Each size can adjust the height of the bowl by two to three inches. These stands offer the freedom to truly customize your pet’s bowl. Choose any style bowl, measuring 5.5 to eight inches around the outer diameter. Round, square, V-shaped, U-shaped or polygonal style bowls fit into the kitchen-grade wooden bamboo stand. It collapses to take on the road, and the company will replace or refund the product if you’re not satisfied.
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The URPower elevated dog bowls work well for everyday use or on the road. The adjustable platform offers bowls at 2.8-, 8- and 12-inch heights by removing or adjusting the placement of the plastic legs. It comes in black or gray and features two stainless steel bowls. Rubber anti-skid pads on the ends of the legs keep bowls in place. Silicone mats in the pet bowl cavities reduce movement or spillage. Speaking of keeping your pup hydrated on the go, we also love this portable dog water bottle.
Veterinarians recommend seeking or avoiding elevated dog bowls for specific medical conditions. For dogs not in these at-risk groups, an elevated dog bowl adds to doggy toy delight and offers style and convenience.
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I’m a pet expert with decades of experience. Drawing from my work as a vet tech to an animal behavior consultant, I’ve written about all things dogs and cats, including how to brush their teeth and where to find the best scratching posts. I’ve authored 35 titles on the subject of pet care and have been able to write for a wide variety of publications, such as The Spruce, Family Handyman, Daily Paws, Reader’s Digest and more.
My specialty may be pets, but I’m no stranger to shopping. My search for the best elevated dog bowls started with extensive research, including combing through good and not-so-good customer reviews, to find the bestselling products that actually work for dogs. Then I narrowed down my list, carefully examining price, dimensions, design, materials and special features.
In most cases, dogs do well without an elevated bowl. An elevated dog bowl may relieve neck strain for aging dogs or help with digestion in specific cases.
The height of the dog bowl depends on the size of the dog. It should reach no higher than where the dog’s front legs join the body.
Elevated dog bowls are not specific to any breed, but some dogs can be predisposed to conditions that require an elevated bowl. Large dog breeds may find eating and drinking easier from an elevated bowl since they won’t have to lean down as far. Consult your vet if you’re unsure whether your dog’s bowl should be elevated.
Some elevated dog bowls can also tilt, further relieving any stress on your pup’s neck. This can mean more spillage or less room for food and water, but it’s an added bonus especially if you can adjust the degree of the tilt to fit your pet.
You should wash your dog’s food bowl after every meal and the water bowl daily to keep them clean and your pet healthy.
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