Senior Dog Comfort & Care

Many senior dogs have physical limitations due to surgery, pulling a muscle, or arthritis, which affects their ability to eat and drink from bowls sitting on the ground. For dogs that can stand while they eat, it is often helpful to give them their food and water in raised bowls.

Ideally, have the bowls level with your dog’s shoulder joint so their spine remains neutral, and they don’t have to raise or lower their neck*. This helps decrease the strain on their neck, shoulders, and hips, which makes eating more comfortable. When dogs are in pain, they can be reluctant to eat and drink, which can have a negative impact on their overall health. For dogs who can’t stand while eating, slanted or propped-up bowls are a good solution. Make sure that their bowls are non-skid so they don’t have to chase after them or stop eating or drinking because it is out of reach.

* To get a general measurement, while the dog is standing square, measure from the floor to the top of their shoulders and then deduct 6 to 7 inches for the max height of the bowl for medium and large dogs. Subtract only 3 inches for small dogs.