By Caroline Miller
It's an accepted fact that dogs these days are not pets, but family members and companions. Would you plop a bowl of food before your child, and ask her to gulp it down? No, of course not. You would get her a divider plate if she's a toddler, so she doesn't mix up all the foods on her plate. You would fill a short and stout glass like a shot glass, with water, and place it by her plate, so she doesn't accidentally knock down the glass, and spill the water.
Similarly, a dog is a unique living being with his own special needs. He's someone who brings great joy into your life, and as such, he deserves every bit of the care and attention you bestow on his lifestyle.
So if you've been plunking a dog bowl full of food in front of your dog, and expecting him to gobble it up and not complain, it's not really your fault. Maybe you just don't know any better. Well, now there's no reason to be unaware of what's right for your dog. Read on, and find out what kind of dog feeder is right for your dog.
Smaller dogs and puppies or dogs with short noses can easily eat from a shallow bowl. These don't suit long nosed dogs, however. For a long nosed dog, buy a narrow and deep dog bowl that allows him to get to the food without smashing his nose.
Some dogs like cocker Spaniels have long and floppy ears that can dip into their food while they are feeding. If your dog is a long eared breed, get him a feeder with a narrow opening. This allows him to reach the food, while keeping his ears safely out of the scene.
Tall dogs need to eat from an elevated dog feeder. An elevated dog feeder is a feeder in which the bowl is placed a few inches above ground. The distance from the ground can vary depending on the dog, and you should easily be able to find a feeder that's perfectly suited to your tall dog.
Feeding from a shallow bowl can cause a tall dog to develop indigestion, because the food takes a longer time to travel though the stomach and into the digestive tract. It also increases the amount of strain on the dog's neck and shoulder muscles. Older dogs who suffer from arthritis also benefit from an elevated dog feeder. Don't forget to get your senior dog an orthopedic dog bed or a dog bed with extra padding to cushion his body.
Feeding is an important part of looking after your dog, but how you feed him is just as important. Keep these points in mind to buy a suitable feeding bowl for your dog.
| Caroline Miller lives in Flemington, NJ with her husband and 3 month old daughter and is an expert contributing author for http://www.babygiftstation.com, a luxury baby gifts boutique offering variety of baby shower favors, baby gift baskets, handprint footprint kits and more. Babygiftstation is also dedicated to providing valuable and informative articles on childcare, baby safety tips, pregnancy health, parenting training and more. |
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