Will You Buy Your Dog the Right Bowl?

By Michael Brown
2008-03-09

Will You Buy Your Dog the Right Bowl?

There
was a time that we thought as long as our dogs were fed daily they were
getting everything they needed to live a long and happy life. But
fortunately advancements have been made in the veterinarian world and
research has proven that there is a lot more to feeding a dog than just
providing food for him.

We now know that dogs - like humans,
require specific diets and nutrients. The days are gone that one has to
choose from only a few select brands of dog food in the grocery store.
There are now stores that cater only to our pets and their needs. In
those stores we can choose from dozens of brands of food that were
carefully blended in order to provide a balanced and nutritious diet
for our dogs. In some cases we can even have the diet custom blended
for our special dog. As responsible pet owners we also know that water
is essential to a dog's health and that water consumption should always
be encouraged.

In addition to learning about our pets'
nutritional needs we have also learned more about how to make their
meals more relaxing and enjoyable for them. In very recent years we
have learned about the advantages of using particular dog bowls or dog
bowl styles. We've heard it said before that presentation is everything
and when discussing our dog's food that remains true. Although your
dog, like mine, may be willing to eat off the floor at times, it is to
his advantage as well as yours to provide him with an appropriate dog
bowl.

The bowl should be big enough to hold a full feeding for
your dog. If the bowl is oversized it is easy to give the dog more food
than is required which can result in your dog becoming overweight. If a
bowl is too small you will find that your workload is needlessly
increased.

It's important that the dog is able to reach the food
without difficulty. This means that the diameter of the bowl must be
appropriate to the size of the dog's face and nose. If your dog has
long floppy ears it is necessary to find a bowl that will allow his
nose and mouth to reach the food, but at the same time one that does
not allow the ears to fall into the food.

Buying a bowl that has
rubber feet or a rubber rim around the bottom will minimize tipping,
spilling and sliding. This makes eating more enjoyable for your pet and
fewer clean-ups for you. Elevated dog bowls can make eating a more
pleasurable experience for your dog because he will not need to bend
his neck so far to reach the food. This aids in proper posture and
digestion. If your dog has pain related to stiff joints or arthritis
this may be something you will want to consider.

Although being
a responsible pet owner is always our goal there may be times in which
we simply cannot be available for our pets as often as he/we would
like. For those times it might be wise to invest in an automatic or
self-feeding system. These are simply bowls that have a large reservoir
containing a substantial amount of food. As the dog eats more food will
fall into the bowl. Similar bowls are available for water. These can be
ideal if you will be away from your pet for an extended period of time.

As
time passes we are sure to learn of other ways we can accommodate the
needs of our pets. For now most are happy with the love and care
provided by a responsible owner - perks include things like dog bowls
that are right for the individual dog.





Mike Brown The best resource online for everyth


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