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    When you feed your dog it is only a simple process of filling the food and water dishes and putting them back on the floor, right? Not anything too difficult, because dogs dont require anything fancy. The truth is, a lot of veterinarians do not agree with that statement. While there are a lot of pet owners who do feed their dogs this way, using an elevated feeder is really healthier for your dog for numerous reasons. It may not seem like an important distinction, but the health problems that can be easily resolved from using an elevated dog feeder are numerous.

    If you sit and consider it for a minute or two, the concept of eating or drinking with your neck and back bent sounds pretty uncomfortable and unpleasant doesn't it? For older dogs especially, an elevated feeder is important to their health. Like all mammals, including people, older dogs usually eat smaller portions anyway. Add to that the discomfort of eating from the floor and the potential that your pet isn't getting proper nutrition increases. It's necessary for older dogs to be as comfortable as possible to continue to be healthy and get the fuel they so desperately need. This exact theory applies to animals that are suffering from arthritis or joint problems. A dog feeders is a perfect item to use to ensure the ideal nutrition of an older or ailing dog.

    Lets keep in mind overall sanitation for a minute. Dog dishes placed directly on the floor quickly turn into a breeding ground for parasites and mold. The moisture from the water your dog drips when he raises up his head to swallow collects underneath the bowls and creates the optimal environment for harmful little pests to live. This isnt safe for the dog or the human occupants of the house. When dogs drink from an elevated feeder it they don't need to lift their heads to swallow and any water that does escape them tends to go back into the bowl rather than onto the ground. An elevated feeder will go a long way in eliminating this likely health hazard to the whole household.

    Another benefit to using an elevated feeder is gas. Laugh if you want, there isnt a single dog owner who hasnt experienced their dogs noxious gas at one time or another. If you need more reasons 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 eating. This means that your dog gulps less, reducing air intake into the stomach and thus eliminates less odoriferous air into your breathing air. Without question the animal also feels a lot better without having the constant bloated feeling that comes from having gas - so it's definitely a win-win situation for the two of you.

    On a more serious note, eating and drinking directly from the floor is really unhealthy for for your dog. 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 and drinking off of the ground forces the affected dog to work against gravity with faulty equipment. Since the esophagus is already weak to start with, food will often collect there rather than continuing to stomach. An elevated feeder reduces the work the muscles are forced to do and aids gravity in getting the food to the stomach, where it needs to be.

    There are many different reasons to spoil and care for your pet. The most important of those being when you accepted him into your home; you essentially made a promise to take care of him as best as you could. Providing your dog with the proper equipment to ensure good health is just part of doing your job.


     
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