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Daily Cleaning Tip: Feeding Pets

Posted: 09/30/11 09:42 AM ET | Updated: 09/30/11 03:00 PM ET

A cleaning tip a day by Stylelist Home's cleaning and organizing experts Stacey Platt and Sarah Hayon of DwellWell NYC.

Decant dog and cat food into airtight containers to preserve freshness. Choose a container large enough to accomodate the contents of the bag you usually buy. If you have more than one type of food, instead of stacking bins with lids, try stackable bins with side access so that you don't have to move one bin to get to another. Store in a cool, dry place near food bowls and keep a scoop inside.

For feeding, choose bowls with nonskid rims or use an elevated feeding station to keep bowls in place and up off the floor. Elevated bowls aid in digestion and prevent strain on your pet's back and neck. Place near a wall to prevent tipping.

Flickr photo by ditzywolf

Find more cleaning and organizing tips in What's A Disorganized Person To Do?

Cleaning Tip

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Stacey Platt

64 Fans

05:52 PM on 10/07/2011

Tyler Hutchinson, DVM so kindly pointed out to me that elevating food bowls can be dangerous for some dogs. The point of contention is that studies have shown an increase in the risk for gastric dilation and gastric dilation and volvulus (commonly called Bloat or Bloat and Torsion). The prevailing opinion among veterinarians is that elevated food bowls increase risk of bloat/torsion and should not be used with large breed dogs. Apologies for any contradictory information.

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cr8ve1

0 Fans

02:04 PM on 10/04/2011

I would like to know what veterinary resource the author used to back up the claim that "Elevated bowls aid in digestion and prevent strain on your pet's back and neck."

I spent many years working in veterinary hospitals, and this claim flies in the face of everything I've learned about feeding animals. If there is no verifiable source, then the author was very irresponsible in putting this claim out on the web.

Cats and dogs are designed to eat and drink FROM THE GROUND. Elevated bowls can lead to extremely painful, expensive-to-treat, and potentially FATAL conditions in many breeds of dogs.

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Heather Holland Bearz

6 Fans

09:46 AM on 10/03/2011

Please be cautious with LARGE BREED dogs with elevated bowls....Eating at a high level could possible cause BLOAT!

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mamac7001

9 Fans

10:57 PM on 10/02/2011

when weaning puppies i found a frisbree worked best, it was shallow enough and worked wonderfully

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ssnugsbug

64 Fans

07:44 PM on 10/02/2011

I think one figures it out as they go. No one told me how to store my foods. I just used my own brain to buy what made the most sense to me. There are many choices out there. All one needs to do is search and you shall find what you like best that works.

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dickn2000b

omnes autem stulti me

209 Fans

07:49 PM on 10/02/2011

Uuuhhh...OK!

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Susan1964

My micro-bio can kick your micro-bio's butt

48 Fans

08:57 PM on 10/02/2011

Common sense would dictate storing perishables in the refrigerator in airtight containers.

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FOXYROSE

568 Fans

05:56 PM on 10/02/2011

I keep the food for both my dog and two cats in their original bags, but I do put about a weeks worth into a plastic container - I think its the air that makes the food old. I also give them new, clean bowls everyday - especially the water bowl. If you run your finger along a water bowl, it feels yucky from the dogs tongue. The bowls get dirty and that could cause bacteria to grow.

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MrCool

55 Fans

05:13 PM on 10/02/2011

I store my dog's food in the great and inexpensive vacuum sealed bags designed and sold by Reynolds. That little hand-held, battery operated device, for a few dollars, has saved me hundreds over the past few years. The person who invented it must be a genious.

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ssnugsbug

64 Fans

07:45 PM on 10/02/2011

It is easier to just store in the bag and fold the top down to the kibble then clip shut.

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sartzelo

0 Fans

05:03 PM on 10/02/2011

when ever I prepare chicken or meat dishes for myself, i always give my dogs and cats some in its raw form. dogs and cats were meant to eat raw meat and chicken not the crap you buy as pet food which is the worst filthyest crap you can imagine. it is basically rotten roadkill mixed with cereal and food colorings.

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ssnugsbug

64 Fans

07:54 PM on 10/02/2011

That is not necessarily true. If one buys top quality foods there is absolutely no roadkill or bad things in it. It is filled with high grade meats and other items that will benefit the health of pets. With that being said, I am very pleased that you feed your dogs and cats raw meats as that is the best form any of our pets can have. But, a well thought out dry food can be an excellent form of nutrition. Not all food is low grade and there are many wonderful choices for pets on the market. Please all note that cats do not need grains.

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kemarie21

42 Fans

11:02 PM on 10/02/2011

If you buy the meat from a store guess what? Your buying meat with tons of crap in it that needs to be cooked even for pets. I work for a vet and my sister is in vet school so trust me on this cook the food. Cook the chicken in water and then give them the chicken chunks and the chicken water. Even the water out of canned chicken is really good for them. Also a lot of dry dog food is really good for them. As long as you buy a good brand and talk with your vet about what your pet needs. One more thing mixing wet and dry dog food for older pets helps them by making it soft.

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Heather Holland Bearz

6 Fans

09:44 AM on 10/03/2011

If I may, The dogs stomach PH is 1. This is why dogs can eat RAW FOOD, it is the most simplest form of food they can eat and is totally digestible, which means that the waste is much smaller!! I have two Akitas and they are fed RAW and are absolutely fantastic inside and out! Plus, with a large-breed dog...There has never been a case of them dying of bloat from RAW FOOD.

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casper489

5 Fans

04:29 PM on 10/02/2011

I tried an elevated bowl, but my stubby, short legged Dachshund couldn't get his nose into it.

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ssnugsbug

64 Fans

07:56 PM on 10/02/2011

I'm not so sure elevated dog dishes are any better than those on the ground. I have large and small dogs and have never once elevated a dish. I do not have any digestive issues from my dogs being fed that way.

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hapytrkr

It's a comment board , get over it

128 Fans

07:37 AM on 10/03/2011

My Lab goes about 100 pounds she's big for a girl Lab. I have an elevated water and food dish for her. She walks up to it and if she likes it , she starts to eat and then sits down while eating. I guess it's wahever trips your trigger and works best for your dog.

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kemarie21

42 Fans

11:03 PM on 10/02/2011

Truthfully it doesn't make a difference unless the dog is older or if your vet thinks it would help. I work at a vet as a kennel care taker and our vet says there isn't really any point in it. We only use it for the very large dogs who are older.

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Laura Kabel

Trekkie

98 Fans

01:17 PM on 09/30/2011

Those puppies can't even stand up. Shouldn't they still be nursing?

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ssnugsbug

64 Fans

07:57 PM on 10/02/2011

The poor pups can't get their footing on slippery flooring. Dry foods are introduced to puppies while still nursing.

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Laura Kabel

Trekkie

98 Fans

01:16 PM on 09/30/2011

The eating part is not what worries me.

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neurogrl

11 Fans

01:01 PM on 09/30/2011

We tried the elevated bowls and the dogs would take a mouthful of food and drop it on the floor and then eat it.

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ChickEpoo

111 Fans

11:01 AM on 10/01/2011

LOL !!!!..."neurogrl"......

My late "Angel" ... a 5 lb. blk/silver phantom poodle.....would ALWAYS tip her little bowl OVER
with her nose and then eat off the floor.... SOOO... I got a small "elevated" stand/bowls....AND....
that didn't stop her one bit.....LOL !!!.....She just took her little paw and Draggggged.....it out by
the "pawful"...... LOL !!!.....She was SO determined NOT to eat directly from "a bowl".......

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Gizmo9

hmmmm...very interesting

108 Fans

03:45 PM on 10/01/2011

Oooooooo! That's a cute story.

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MrCool

55 Fans

05:15 PM on 10/02/2011

Great! Put that on YouTube.

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kemarie21

42 Fans

11:05 PM on 10/02/2011

Try having a dog who puts her dog food in the dirt then rolls on it and then finally eats it. My dog is 9 yrs old and has done this since she was 8 months old. We never could figure it out but as long as she eats it we are happy.

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Susan Osterhout Troiano

When getting into an argument, attack the issue, n

176 Fans

01:01 PM on 09/30/2011

These pups looking pretty neat and tidy compare to our children. Animals can be just as messy as our children. What else is new?

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER

ooooooooooooo

...proud fat doggie...

73 Fans

12:24 PM on 09/30/2011

...aaawwwwwwww

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SimpleDogSteps

0 Fans

11:37 AM on 09/30/2011

One other thing - avoid buying and storing more than your pups will eat over a two week period. Whilst airtight containers help, dry food will still go rancid once opened, especially during the warmer humid months on the east coast. Puppy tummies are especially sensitive to this. Save yourself some late night drama!

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