Skip to main content

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?

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is A Raw Food Diet Good For Dogs?

You want the best for your pet and are thinking about switching to a raw food diet. Some questions you may have are:  What is a raw food diet?  Do vets recommend a raw food diet?  Can a dog get sick from eating raw meat?  How much should I feed my dog on a raw diet? Let's look at each of these questions to help you decide if a raw food diet is right for your pet. What is a raw dog food diet?  A raw dog food diet typically consists of: Muscle meat Organ meats such as livers and kidneys Raw eggs and shells Cooked Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and celery Apples, berries or other fruit Some dairy, such as yogurt A raw food diet is a lot more than just meat.  To be balanced and provide the needed nutrients it should contain muscle meat, organs, bones, eggs and veggies. Variety is needed to get all the required vitamins and minerals.  Mistakes people make are not providing the proper balance.  Try for 60% meat and 40% combination of minced vegetables and fr
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Cat Myths You Need To Know

You may have heard many things about cats that were said to be true. Some of these you may have questioned because they seemed contrary to common sense. Well, below I explore 5 common myths and what you need to know. Cat myths have been around for a long time. Some of these myths are harmless but not all. The 5 myths discussed today deal with health and safety aspects of our beloved furry friends. Getting past these myths and to the truth will mean a happier and healthier pet for years to come. Cats always land on their feet Cats have a great ability to land on their feet. They have a keen sense of balance as many owners are well aware, but also are very aware of their body position. As a cat falls it can quickly twist it's legs into a landing position to cushion the impact. This ability is called the righting reflex. This isn't always the case though. Several different variables come into play such as the height of the fall. Studies have shown cats have survived f
Post a Comment
Read more