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Pet owners shopping for elevated dog bowls have many factors to consider while choosing a bowl: style, capacity, and height, to name a few. Choosing the correct height of your dog’s dish is often the hardest decision. We are frequently asked “how high should my dog's bowl be?”
While shopping, you will likely see infographics and measurements that try to oversimplify this decision. This can be a good starting point, but relying solely on these guides can be misleading or incomplete.
As mentioned above, there are suggested ways to calculate the height of your dog’s elevated bowl. In our opinion, this measurement should be treated as a starting point for a bowl stand’s height — and usually a maximum height. That is, of course, unless you are otherwise instructed by a veterinarian.
To calculate this starting height:
For medium and large breeds, the result can come out anywhere from 9” - 24” — a huge range! We often suggest erring on the side of a shorter bowl.
Typically, a bowl that forces your dog to reach upward or allows them to gulp their food is too tall, so these stands are easy to eliminate from your decision.
If your dog has a specific medical condition that requires eating from a certain height, your veterinarian should prescribe that. If not, a bowl that maintains a more natural eating position is usually a good fit. This is why we believe the above calculation is often too tall.
There is some controversy around elevated dog bowls that suggests overly large breeds can be at risk for bloat or GDV if eating out of elevated dog bowls that are too high. Read more about this study when determining why to choose an elevated dog bowl.
Pet Junkie creates single elevated dog bowls for medium and large breeds in 10” and 6” heights. We believe these heights are good for a wide array of dog breeds of various sizes and ages.
We also have slightly elevated bowls for small dogs and cats in 3” and 5” heights.
Mid-height 6” bowls and large 10” bowls can be good for medium and large dogs that simply don’t have a medical condition requiring a taller elevated dog bowl. These bowls offer other benefits:
We often hear dogs that switch to Pet Junkie bowls love them! There's not always a known condition requiring a raised dish.
When in doubt, always consult your dog’s veterinarian. This is especially important if you believe your pet may have a medical condition requiring an elevated bowl or if your dog is predisposed to bloat. And of course, always monitor your pet while they are eating.
