I was just online shopping, looking at dog stuff, and saw some elevated dog dishes so the dog can eat/drink with "perfect posture." I thought I read somewhere that large dogs should NOT eat out of these, as they can swallow excess air and increase the risk of bloat. The advertisement, of course, makes it sound like large dogs would benefit from eating from these (less neck strain, whatever).

I'm not considering buying these, but I've always wondered - which is right? I'm thinking they are dangerous...

First I heard they were good and then I read (somewhere) they were bad.

LOL at "perfect posture". My dog's "posture" is lying down on the lawn with a big ol' turkey neck hanging out of his mouth.

According to a Prudue study elevated food/water dishes increase the risk of bloat.

I read somewhere that they reduced the risk of bloat because it forced the dog to eat slower and inhale less air.

I guess there is contradicting info out there about it. Mine likes to take his food out of the bowl to his matt and what he doesn't carry away is eaten too fast to make a difference.

I have the elevated bowls in the kitchen - both full of water. Easier to clean up, and the ants have a harder time getting into them. From what i've heard, depending on the site, they either reduce or increase the risk of bloat, and either reduce or increase the risk of arthritis, and either reduce or increase the risk of joint problems. Problem is, it is based on opinions... and you know what they say about that.
Bottom line, they can do all of the above - it depends on how fast your dog eats, where a past injury/weakness is, etc etc. Get as much info as you can, read up on it, and make your informed decision then.
If you feed in the crate, then bloat really isn't an issue. If it's lower than shoulder height, it is pretty easy for the dog to drink, if you restrict water intake on a "water gulper" it's no different than an on the ground water bowl. My parents geriatric Rot wasnt able to eat comfortably because she couldn't reach the ground well. AN elevated bowl made it possible for her to eat without obvious pain. There is probably a little bit of truth in every opinion on these - you just have to make the best decision for YOUR dog.

 Quote: Michelle Berdusco

According to a Prudue study elevated food/water dishes increase the risk of bloat.

This is what I have heard and read, more so this increasing chances than not. I have talked with 5 vets (my personal vet and others I have met that support raw and minimal to no vaccs) and all agree that elevated bowls are not the greatest.

My Bloodhound lays down to eat AND it takes him FOREVER.

Of course I worry about bloat with the other dogs as well, but it is more so with him.

Good to know. We have a 12" box with a bowl size hole in it for the GreatDane/Greyhound 29" at the shoulder. http://alaskadognews.com/LurcherSlideshows.aspx
Are you saying we should let her eat and drink from the ground, wth the retreivers. The Daisy the Queen might not like that. I was going to put in elevated food and water bowls in kennel we are building.

I have no problem with elevating dishes under two circumstances. The first one is for very tall dogs and then I would only elevate just to the point where they can stand comfortably, but with their head straight down. The second one is the the arthritic dog where it is painful for him to bend down to a dish. In this case, I would elevate only to the point where that particular dog can comfortably reach his dish. If either of these types of dog would prefer to eat their meal from the ground while lying down, then go with what is comfortable for that dog.