Many people think a lot about what they feed their pets. It makes me happy when a client asks me for advice as to what is best to feed their dog or cat. But what many people don’t think about is what they are feeding their animals in. Is there a difference between one type of bowl and another? Absolutely! Here is some information for you to consider when you are buying food and water dishes for your pets.
What kind of materials are they made out of?
I always advise my clients to avoid using plastic bowls. Not only could your pet chew them up, but they are porous and can trap bacteria, which is not good for your pet. They are never truly, reliably clean, and if your animal scratches the bowl, it is another place that makes it easy for bacteria to grow. Stainless steel bowls are much better. They are still durable like plastic bowls but they don’t hold bacteria in the same way. With stainless bowls, you are limited in styles and options. Ceramic bowls are generally considered to be best as they have a protective glaze which makes them easy to keep clean.
What is the right size and height for your pet?
Bowls come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Deeper bowls are best for animals with longer snouts and narrow bowls can be helpful for dogs that tend to get their ears in their food or water, like my Cocker Spaniel Chloe. Feeders are often helpful, and something I recommend to most of my clients. It is healthier for an animal to eat at a comfortable level as opposed to having to bend quite a bit to get to their food, especially with larger breeds. Feeders can aid in better digestion.
How does your animal eat?
Some pets eat their food incredibly fast, which can cause them to throw up, or have other digestion issues. Some bowls, called brake-fast bowls, have bumps throughout the inside of the bowl to force the animal to take slower and smaller bites. Some dogs are very messy eaters. For them, bowls with a non-skid surface on the bottom can help keep the bowls from moving and spilling everywhere. Feeders are also great for keeping bowls in place. Spending a few extra dollars on a placemat is never a bad idea as well since it can help keep your pet bowls in place as well as avoid messy spills going directly on your floor.
If any of my clients have any questions about the bowls they currently use, need recommendations for new ones, or have any additional questions about this, or any other pet related topic please contact me anytime! My goal is as always, for my clients to be happy and healthy!
