When it comes to your pup’s feeding bowl, one option can often seem just as good as another. Most dishes look somewhat similar, and the size and shape can seem fairly standard from one feeding bowl to the next. However, as your choice of dish directly influences your dog’s feeding experience on a daily basis, choosing the most appropriate feeding bowl for your pet can have a large and lasting impact on their diet, overall gut health, and general mealtime excitement.
So, how do you decide on the right receptacle for your ravenous Rover? By thinking through these three questions, you’ll be well on your way to picking out the perfect feeding dish for your hungry pooch:
Which materials are best for feeding bowls?
When shopping for a dog bowl, most of your options will be made of plastic, ceramic, or stainless steel.
Plastic bowls are very inexpensive. Unfortunately, plastic feeding dishes are also susceptible to being chewed or damaged, to harboring harmful bacteria in their porous walls, and to causing minor rashes and skin irritations in certain pets. Stainless steel bowls, however, are extremely durable and dishwasher-safe, making them the ideal option for most dog moms and dads. Stainless steel bowls typically don’t boast any color options or stylized designs, but they avoid nearly all the pitfalls of other feeding dishes.
On the other hand, while ceramic feeding dishes are easier to chip or break, meaning they can harbor harmful bacteria, they generally offer many more stylized options. So, if you choose a ceramic dish for its pretty looks, just be sure that it won’t be easily chipped or comprised by daily feedings.
Does your pet have any special needs, such as a long snout or digestive issues?
While the design of most feeding dishes is very straightforward, there are a few additional features or styles that could prove beneficial for your pet. For example, some pet parents report that elevated dog bowls provide relief to their dogs suffering from indigestion or other digestive issues, and they also provide easier access for aging pups with stiff necks and older joints. Additionally, slow-feed dishes are designed to slow and shrink down your dog’s bites, preventing bloat and stomach distress from eating and swallowing too quickly.
What’s more, the size and shape of your dog can influence which feeding bowl will best suit their snout! While dogs with short- or medium-length noses do well with the design of standard-size bowls, dogs with longer noses typically prefer deeper bowls with more room for their heads. Similarly, dogs with long or wide ears do best with steep-sided bowls, which will keep their ears and food dry while eating.
Are you looking for any special features in your feeding bowl?
There are a few extra features you might be looking for when you’re browsing for the best dog bowl. For example, you might need your feeding dish to remain mobile, which would bring you to the polyester, nylon, and silicon models of collapsible dog bowls and feed bags. From there, you can search for even more portable options made of extra durable material to keep the bowls tough after extended use.
Like with many pet decisions, the question of which feeding bowl is best for your dog is a bit more complicated than it seems. But, with a little knowledge, you can make an informed decision for your doggo! Looking for more awesome information from the pet experts? Head over to the Primal blog.