Elevated Feeders...Good or Bad?

Question
Hello,

I have a 5 month old chocolate labrador. I have been thinking about purchasing a raised feeder for him. I came on the internet to find out more information about it, and I am getting mixed results. Even talking to other dog owners I am hearing different things. On one hand I hear that the elevated feeders are good for the dog because it reduces the stress on its joints, back, and legs and also it helps with digestion and decreases bloat. However, sights that discourage using elevated feeders say that by using one it actually increases your dogs chances for bloating? Also,I was told that it is very unnatural to feed a dog from an elevated feeder because in the wild a dog would bend over to eat?

I have yet to contact my vet, as it is the weekend and they are closed. Again, I have 5 month old labrador, and he has not reached his full size. He is about 43lbs right now. I'm not sure if size or breed effects this or not.

Thank you so much for your time.

~ Lisa Hall

Answer
Hi Lisa;
Elevated feedsers do not cause bloating or anything else, if it is elevated to the dog's height, not too high that he has to strain to reach it.
My huisband elevated our dogs' dishes because 2 of them have Arthritis,and since elevating the feeders, they have less pain.
Bending to eat is not necessarily how to HAVE to eat, and when they eat berries etc, and they do eat such things, the reach for them.
Unlike most people believe, dofgs are not strictly carnivores. They also eat vegetation.
My dogs love carrots and potatoes, green peans, sweet peas, and a lot of other veggies. I am not sure if the sex has anything to do with it, but all my female dogs have liked fruits, and I have only had 2 males that would eat fruit.
You don't feed the then vegetables in the cabbage family or more than one boiled egg at a time. The cabbage family will give them gas, and if they eat a few boiled eggs, they get gas.
It does put less strain on the joints to slightly elevate their food.
This elevated platform was made when we had a dog with Arthritis that we lost about 4 years ago to old age, and the dogs we have now have used it since, and the newer dogs that we have taken use it.
The platform still lets them eat with their head down, but they just don't have to reach down, and they can eat standing at a normal stance.
He raised the platform about 4 inches, and cut holes for the dishes to fit partly in, so they can't push the dishes aroung. Our Sheltie would play with the disahes and scoot them all over the room.
Charlotte