Most recent in a long list of non-life-threatening yet still bizarre maladies that have afflicted our three-year-old pit bull mix Samson is a bad case of acid reflux. He was struggling with an upset stomach and after a panicked trip to the emergency vet (to make sure he hadn't swallowed something that was blocking his digestion), he received the acid reflux diagnosis. The vet ordered Prilosec every night before bed for two weeks and we bought him a new bed that encourages him to sleep curled up instead of laying flat, and he's been feeling so much better.
If you have any kind of pet, you know how hard it can be to watch them go through something tough. It was difficult to know he was suffering before we figured out it was acid reflux and not know how to make him feel better. We're really grateful he's on the mend and back to his mischievous self. Anyway, in the midst of all that worrying and pampering, Kristie also decided to build a stand to hold his food and water bowls higher (which can help with digestion, not to mention posture). Here are her plans for the project in case you'd like to make one too...
You will need:
- Plywood: One piece cut 16" by 18" for the top; two pieces 13" high (or your dog's shoulder height) by 5" wide for the sides; one piece 16" by 1 1/2" for the front
- Screws
- Jigsaw
- Drill (with spade attachment)
- Sandpaper
- Dog bowls
- Pencil
- Paint and paintbrush (optional)
Draw two circles the same size the dog bowl is (under the lip) on the top piece of plywood. Using the spade attachment with your drill, make a hole in each circle big enough to fit the jigsaw in. Saw out the circles. Use sandaper to smooth and even the hole edges.
Screw the two side pieces to the top piece, and then the front piece to the side pieces to stabilize it. Add bright paint!
I thought it looked good without paint, but the turquoise color Kristie picked adds a much-needed dimension to our kitchen (which has fire engine red countertops). And while I don't think he could care less about the color, it seems like Samson really enjoys his new dining situation.
