While an elevated feeder may present a tidy or novel look to your dog's feeding area, the benefits go farther beyond pure aesthetics. A raised feeder offers you, and particularly your dog, some real health benefits. For you, having a feeder raised off of the floor, may save you from bending and stooping as much while filling and cleaning food and water bowls.

Although tending to a raised feeder may save you some back strain, the ergonomic design of a feeder has significant health benefits for your dog. An appropriately-sized feeder allows your dog to maintain better posture and a more-comfortable stance while eating and drinking. This improved posture translates into less stress on your dog's back, shoulders and front leg joints. This is particularly important for large, senior or arthritic dogs.

In addition to less joint stress, the improved posture during feeding aids in your dog's digestion. By eating from an elevated bowl, it is less likely that your dog will swallow excessive air, which could lead to bloating and abdominal discomfort.