Let's Bowl!

Do you give a lot of thought about the bowl your pet uses? Probably not.  You go to the store, see a cute one, buy it, done. Easy Peezey. But wait!  There ARE some things you should think about when choosing a bowl. Who knew!? Well, now- YOU will know.

 First, the dish should last the entire lifetime of your pet. But how do you find this bowl?

Tips for selecting the best pet dish:

• Don't choose plastic...period. 
• Plastic can be easily scratched making it harder to thoroughly clean and allowing for harmful bacteria to build up in those scratches. GROSS!
• Plastic may also contain nasty chemicals like BPA (yep-the same stuff we've been hearing about for years now). Studies have shown it's harmful to humans and that's good enough to not risk it for your furbabies too!
• Ceramic  
•  If undamaged, ceramic can be easily cleaned and unlikely to harbor harmful bacteria.
• However, one drop on the floor and it's likely to chip or crack. Once this happens-adios my little ceramic friend. Once the outer coating on a ceramic bowl is damaged it's almost impossible to thoroughly clean.
• Don't eat the lead paint, kids!  Make sure to buy bowls that are marked "food safe", "contains a lead free glaze". Many studies have shown ceramic pet dishes do contain lead so you have been warned. 
• Stainless Steel
• Stainless steel is very durable, unlikely to chip, scratch or crack. Usually easy to clean and less likely to build up harmful bacteria. 
• Make sure the stainless steel bowl you buy says it's "dishwasher safe" and lists its thickness (gauge). This usually means the steel is of higher quality. Manufacturers that fail to do this means you are getting a lower quality bowl. 
• Try to buy bowls made in the USA. Other countries, like India and China, have tested positive for lead and radioactive materials in the bowls made there. 
• Raised Feeders
• Raised bowls are generally recommended for larger breed dogs, arthritic and geriatric dogs to take pressure off their neck, hips, back and joints, promoting better posture. 
• Feeling Bloated? Some studies do suggest that raised feeder may increase the risk of bloat in dogs that are already susceptible or has a history of bloat. 
• Slow Feeder Bowls
• Does your dog need to slow it down a bit?  Slow feeder bowls are good for those dogs that eat too fast. Eating so fast can cause many health concerns like vomiting, choking and even bloat, which can be deadly. Slow that Hipster Hound down by using some of the following methods:
• You can purchase many types of slow feeders. They typically have grooves and barriers within the bowl that keeps your dog from gulping down the food in one or two bites.  Just be sure you get a stable, well-made bowl so it won't move around while eating or fall apart while it's been chewed on. 
• No funds to buy one. Try adding a tennis ball or I've even seen a stainless steel measuring cup to the food bowl. This makes him eat around the object and slow down a bit. 

How's your bowling knowledge now?  

Thanks for stopping by The Hipster Hound's Blog!