Tilted Dog Bowls: The Science Behind Their Design
Whether you're a new pet owner or have had pets before, do those colored bowls with different heights at the mall still confuse you, even if you chose the right material for pet bowls?
Today, we'll talk about one of these fancy bowls: slanted dog bowls.
Why is the bowl slanted?
Are tilted bowls good for certain pets?
After reading this post, I hope you can find the answers to the questions above.
It's interesting to think about where the dog bowl that tilts came from. Based on how things were going then, the pet owner made the first tilting dog bowl to make eating easier.
Why Were Tilted Dog Bowls Created?
Don't worry, we will discuss these reasons from two scientific perspectives.
Tilted dog bowls conform to pets' biological structure
Cats, for example, are known to have a unique mouth structure and a flexible body position. They have to eat meat, so their jaws are made for hunting and cutting meat. When cats eat from a flat bowl on the floor, they have to tilt their heads down to get to the food, which can be hard on their neck and back muscles.
A study in 2019 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that when cats ate from tilted bowls, their bodies were more relaxed, and their heads were in a normal position. This was not the case when they ate from flat bowls on the floor.
What about Dogs? Would they also get benefits from such a weird design?
Yep, definitely. Most dogs have a longer snout than cats and are known as "facultative carnivores," which means they have adapted to a more omnivorous diet. However, some dogs with longer noses may have difficulty reaching food from a shallow bowl with a flat bottom. The carefully designed angle makes it easier for long-nosed dogs to reach the bowl. Also, an angled bowl with a wild opening is very friendly for flat-faced dogs.
From this result, it is clear that the tilting design is based on how cats and dogs are built.
Tilted dog bowls conform to pet medicine perspective
Also, from a pet medicine perspective, tilted dog bowls can be beneficial for pet health in certain situations:
- 1. Relieve joint pressure: The inclined bowl is typically designed with a heightened shape to keep the pet's spine and joints in a state of natural relaxation. Excellent for pets that have arthritis or limited mobility.
- 2. Promotes controlled swallowing behavior: The angled pet dish encourages pets to bite smaller and chew food more thoroughly, which promotes controlled swallowing behavior and may lessen the risk of digestive concerns, including indigestion, regurgitation, or choking.
- 3. Friendly to short noses: Slanted dog bowls may benefit flat-faced or brachycephalic breeds of cats and dogs by providing a more comfortable feeding position that decreases stress on facial muscles and the respiratory system.
Now that we know why these bowls are designed to be slanted, you still need proof of the necessity for your furry friends to use such bowls. Don't worry, you'll get informed.
Tilted Dog Bowls Appropriate for Certain Pets
Based on how pets are built and treated, we know that the tilted bowl is good for pets that:
Other Factors to Consider
There are, of course, some other things to think about when you want to choose a tilted dog bowl, such as:
Conclusion
In summary, tilted dog bowls work with how cats and dogs are built and how they eat. They help you eat better, take pressure off your muscles and joints, and keep you from choking. But some pets might be unable to use them because of their age, breed, behavior, or cleanliness. Talk to your vet and pay attention to your pet's habits and needs to figure out the best way to feed it. The best way to feed your pet is to put their health and happiness first.
