A consensus on feeding from an elevated bowl is still out. From what I can find without spending too much time digging is that the 2 studies done produced conflicting results and with only 2 studies a conclusion really can’t be made. Elevated feeding is what was recommended when we adopted our first Dane, Selar, so that is what we did. Selar would have had trouble eating off the floor with her hip arthritis and once K’Ehleyr became a tripawd she would have had trouble as well.
Bottomline, I’m not advocating for or against the health benefits, if they exist, of elevated bowl feeding. However, to me it makes sense, their body remains straight and in a comfortable position. We have fed all 4 of our Danes this way and have not had any problems.
Being both crafty and cheap, probably more cheap than crafty, I built stands for both the water and food. The added advantage of them is that they can be easily broken down and transported when we travel.
Parts needed:
- PVC schedule 40, need to cut into 12 pieces
- PVC cutters make things much easier, invest in them and your hands will be much happier
- corner joints, 3-way (8)
- adapter for corner joints (8)
Note:
If you can find 3-way corner joints without threads then you don’t need the adapters. I couldn’t find them but I’ve seen other DIY projects which do use them.
How to make it:
Figure out the size you need by measuring the bowl you will be using. Even if you are using a tapered bowl I suggest fitting it so that it hangs off the lip of the bowl. It is harder to knock over even when your dog likes to push his food around to eat from the bottom first. (Martok!) I’m not sure if he thinks there is a prize at the bottom or what.
Assemble the joints with the adapter. I could not find 3-way joints which didn’t have one side threaded which is why the adapter is needed.
Cut 4 pieces for the height the bowl will be. Take into account the joints top and bottom.
Cut 8 pieces for the top and bottom sections, again take into account the joints. This size is more critical since you don’t want the bowl to fall through. However, it is easy enough to disassemble the parts to trim them if needed.
I didn’t glue anything so that it can be broken down when we travel. If you don’t plan to travel with it then PCV glue could be applied.
I also tried painting one with extra wall paint with the intention of painting the others but never did. The paint ends up scratching and looking worse after a while. I’m sure there is more appropriate paint that would last longer but in the end it is still just PVC.
Other options:
- Straight legs with crutch tips on the end instead of the square base I used, but it may not be as stable
- For a more industrial look use metal pipe (more pricey)
Not a DIY person but still want an elevated bowl? Great Dane Care has a blog post comparing the best elevated bowls.
Does your Dane use an elevated bowl? Share your thoughts in the comments.
