Dog Bowls & Dog Feeders: Choosing The Right One Just Got Easier!
Ranked #2,242 in Pets & Animals, #58,375 overall
Make Doggie Dining A Delightful Experience!
But don't buy just any bowl that strikes your fancy, you gotta bear in mind what will enhance your pet's eating experience first and foremost.
Fresh Food and Water Are Essentials
To A Happy, Healthy Dog
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A dog needs two bowls:
one strictly for water
and the other for food.
What Are Dog Bowls Made Of?
Basic Dog Bowl Materials
- Plastic Dog Bowls continue to be a choice of pet-parents because of its durability. In light of the "green movement," you may want to steer clear of "virgin" plastic dog bowls because they are made from non-renewable resources that are not biodegradable. However, dog bowls and dog feeders made from recycled plastic can be a good choice. Avoid "lightweight" plastic dog bowls that can be chewed and moved.
Ceramic Dog Bowls (including Porcelain or Stoneware) are oftentimes favored by pet-parents who like to microwave their pet's food. And then there's the added aesthetic appeal of glazed finishes and bold colors and designs. Lead in the glaze may be a problem in some ceramic bowls, so be sure to check with the potter or manufacturer to make sure that it is "lead-free." Avoid "lightweight" pottery bowls that can be broken.
Stainless steel dog bowls are the choice of most veterinarians because the bowl's non-porous construction reduces the risk of lingering harmful bacteria and eliminates the possibilities of allergic reactions that plastic and dyes can cause in some dogs. Stainless steel is very durable and can not be chewed or broken. Additionally, since much of the stainless steel in use today is recycled, it is likely that stainless steel bowls contain recycled content (even though this may not neccessarily appear on the label).
**Update: It is important to be mindful when considering any one of the above-mentioned materials. Example: plastic dog bowls should be certified food-safe, be free of BPA, Phthalates among other potentially harmful chemical elements . . . ceramics should be free of lead and stainless should be of high-quality.
Point of View From A Holistic Vet
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"plastic bowls can be toxic (petrochemical derivatives and colourings) and stainless steel bowls are often made from low-grade steel, which can give off nickel (among other things), a potent skin allergen. In holistic veterinary practice, we advise ceramics ..."
~ Chris Day
What's The Right SIZE Dog Bowl?
Dog Food Bowls and Dog Water Bowls
What Size . . . Dog Food Bowl?
- The dog food bowl capacity should be large enough to accomodate a full one-meal portion of your pet's fare. If you are a first-time pet parent, you can check with your Vet to get advice on the right amount (and type) of food you should be serving based on the age and size of your new dog.
What Size . . . Dog Water Bowl?
- The dog water bowl can be at least twice the size of the food bowl to hold enough water to keep your pet hydrated for most of the day. Dogs need plenty of fresh water, so having a large water bowl both encourages water consumption and cuts down on the amount of times you need to refill it.
Got Floppy Ears?
(The dog . . . not you, Silly!)
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Bowls for dogs with long floppy ears should be deep and large enough for their noses but narrower at the rim to prevent pet ears dragging in the food.
Raised Dog Feeders (aka Elevated Dog Feeders)
Elevated Dog Bowls Can Make Dining a Little Easier
- Digestion: Dogs tend to gulp their food when they're forced to bend over too far to reach the food which can cause them to swallow more air leading to digestive problems and frequent intestinal gas.
Comfort: provides relief especially to dogs suffering from back or neck problems. Dogs don't have raise their heads as high in order to swallow. Elevated feeders are especially good for the aging pet.
Hygiene: Less food and water on the floor. They are also are easier to sweep around and clean under which is especially usefully for messy eaters.
How do you find the ideal height? Simply measure dog in standing position, form the floor to top of shoulder, then subtract about 6 inches.
>>> Examples of Raised Dog Feeders
Pet Goods Dynasty Double Diner Raised Feeding Station with 3 Quart Bowls
An elegant, easy way to feed your pet. It features a large drawer for storage of food, treats or toys. Includes two 3qt. stainless steel bowls that nestle securely in this 121/2"W x 111/2"H x 231/2"L feeding station.0 points
Pet Studio Dog Feeding Station Wrought Iron Raised 2 Quart Diner
Pet Studio Dog Feeding Station Wrought Iron Raised Diner - 2 Quart Bowls Elegant scrolled design will look great in any décor. Elevated serving platform allows pets to eat at a more comfortable level to reduce strain on back and neck, maintain better posture, and improve digestion. Made of durable black powder-coated iron for long-lasting good looks. Includes two easy-to-clean, removable stainless-steel 2 Quart bowls.0 points
Castlemere Glamour Pet 4-Inch Wire Feeder with Two 6-Inch Princess Bowls
Castlemere Creations uses FDA approved glazes on all their stoneware. All are dishwasher safe & microwave safe.0 points
Automatic Dog Feeders
The Big Deal About Automatic Dog Feeders
Automatic Dog Feeders (Battery or Gravity)
- You will find automatic dog feeders for dog food and feeders for water. Also note that some feeders are for dry food only and some can handle wet food. Automatic dog feeders offer controlled portions in a frequency that you choose. Most are battery operated (these are generally not recommended for puppies). And some automatic dog feeders operate by gravity. These types can easily hold several days of dry dog food and works well for pets who can be trusted with unrestricted access to their food. Yeah, right.
Electronic Dog Feeders
- Electronic dog feeders can be programmed to serve single meals at designated times which prevents over-eating. Some models can store 2 days of dry food and water . . . some for several days. When it comes to an elctronic device for your dog's water, consider an electronic waterer that continuously cycles through a filter, minimizing bacterial growth and delivering fresh cool water.
>>> Examples of Automatic Dog Feeders
PetSafe 5-Meal Electronic Pet Feeder
5 one-cup portion sections. Electronic timer. Can use wet or dry food. Dishwasher-safe food tray. With the PetSafe 5-meal electronic pet feeder you never have to worry about your dog or cat running out of food or overeating. It automatically feeds your pets up to 5 times a day. The electronic timer lets you set the times each new meal is presented in one-hour increments.0 points
Petmate LeBistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder, Bleached Linen, 5 Pounds
Some studies have shown that feeding your pet smaller meals over the course of the day can prevent pet obesity and lead to better health. Unfortunately, most working people can't get home to feed their pet at lunch and many will forget to put out breakfast in a rush to get out the door in the morning. You can change that by ensuring your pet is receiving regular amounts of food on a steady feeding schedule with the Lebistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder. It is a programmable, automatic pe...0 points
Stainless Steel Automatic Pet Feeder - Pillar White
Quality built in the USA to provide a lifetime of reliable, portion-controlled nutrition, the Perfect Petfeeder® gives you precise control of your pets dry food diet. Easily program from one and six daily meals in amounts as little as a half-dozen kibble to several cups, so you can safely maintain their ideal weight without the stress, begging, and early morning wake-up calls to be fed. Every unit comes equipped with both one and two-bowl components, and features power outage protection, low foo...0 points
A Bug-Free Dog Bowl?
How Do You Keep Bugs Out?
Petmate Fool-A-Bug Stainless Pet Bowl, Giant
Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)
Revolutionary design disrupts crawling insects navigation system to keep bugs out. Non-skid rubber feet prevent bowl from sliding on smooth surfaces. Long lasting and durable stainless steel bowl is easy to clean.
Have You Learned A Thing Or Two About Dog Bowls & Dog Feeders?
Or, Just Let Me Know You Stopped By . . .
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ChrisDay
Dec 10, 2010 @ 12:49 pm | delete
- Not wanting to appear to disagree but plastic bowls can be toxic (petrochemical derivatives and colourings) and stainless steel bowls are often made from low-grade steel, which can give off nickel (among other things), a potent skin allergen. In holiistic veterinary practice, we advise ceramics of some sort. I'd be pleased to hear positive or negative feedback to this comment. One epileptic dog at least was 'cured' by replacing the plastic bowl with a glazed ceramic one.
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nDee
Dec 11, 2010 @ 1:21 pm | delete
- I so appreciate your comment and value your opinion. The information I included was meant as a general overview and was based on research available at the time of writing. Most certainly, there are inferior pet bowl products in every material (plastic, ceramic and stainless). Chemical & BPA-free plastics, lead-free ceramics and high-grade steel may still be viable options for concerned pet-parents. Bottomline, we need to shop carefully and I am updating this page to reflect this point. I am also including an excerpt of your comment so that your advice is not buried in this comments section but will remain prominently displayed.
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