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What is the best material for pet bowls?

Best Pet Bowl

You may be asking yourself: "What is the best pet food bowl?" for my dog or cat. There are many choices available that vary in size and material.


However:
The best overall choice of pet bowl is generally stainless steel as compared to other materials.


What are the other options?
Pet bowls come in molded plastic, ceramic, pottery, and more recently silicone.

Pros and Cons:
  • Stainless steel will not leach any chemicals into the pet's food or water.
  • Other materials do potentially leach unsafe chemicals. Be cautious of some molded plastic bowls which are manufactured with chemicals.
  • Plastic bowls can be chewed to pieces over time and ceramic and pottery bowls are heavy and can break if dropped.

Best Pet Bowl

What to look for in pet bowl:
Choose the proper size bowl. Get one large enough to hold the appropriate amount of food or water for your pet.
Choose a bowl with an anti-slip rubber pad around the base. This will hold the bowl in place while the pet eats or drinks.

How to keep pet's bowl clean:
Choose a bowl that is easy to clean. Stainless steel cleans easily and can go into the dishwasher if needed. Pet food bowls and scooping utensils should be cleaned every day with soap and hot water to prevent the growth of bacteria.

According to the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA:
 "Dogs and cats (just like people) have bacterial microbes in their mouths and these microbes can be transferred to dishes the pet eats and drinks from. Food left in the dishes can provide the microbes with a good environment for multiplying (moisture, oxygen and nutrients) and can produce illness in people who touch the dish, or the pet, that eats or drinks from the dish"


Should a dog's water bowl be elevated?
 At one time the answer was yes and then it was no.  This is because of a condition called 'bloat'. It was thought that an elevated bowl might prevent bloat but testing was not conclusive and in fact some thought it might increase the occurrence of bloat.
The general answer is it depends. If your dog makes a mess eating and it would be easier with a raised bowl, then it might be trying. Also consider, older dog's might have joint issues or a need for an elevated bowl to facilitate eating and drinking.  Always ask you veterinarian for their opinion on your dog.


Bonus:
Silicone Bowls
Silicone pet bowls are some of the newest type of product on the market. They have become a very popular option because of their flexibility and durability, which makes them great for travel bowls. They clean easily and usually safe to go in the dishwasher.  They should be washed regularly. Silicone is considered a stable compound and therefore safe to use with food and water.
A potential drawback is their flexibility.  A large bowl filled with food or water may be too much and spill out.  Make sure to check just how flexible a potential bowl is before purchase.


And Finally:

Did you know about Slow Feed Pet Bowls?  You know how dog's gulp down their food? That can cause digestive issues or bloating..
A slow feed bowl makes the dog work a little to get at all the food. If you think your dog could benefit from this type of bowl then check them out.


What's the takeaway?

A bowl's a bowl right? Well, no.  Stainless steel pet bowls are the all around best way to go. They are durable, easy to clean and don't leach harmful chemicals.
A good option is a silicone pet bowl. Consider buying one of these for portability, but might not be the best daily use pet bowl.


What do you think makes the best pet bowl? Let me know..


READ NEXT:  What Is The Best Pet Drinking Fountain?

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