Dog bowls have changed over the years. You can still find the basic metal or ceramic units of the past, but many more options exist. The typical bowl rests upon the ground, or perhaps on a mat, while elevated dog feeders bring the bowl up to your dog’s natural height. No matter what bowl you do choose you want it to reflect your personality and accommodate your dog’s needs. Here are some ideas, in no particular order.
Plastic bowls come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Inexpensive and practical, they can be thrown in the dishwasher when dirty. Unfortunately they can also be chewed up by your pet when they get bored. Scratches and nicks can harbor bacteria, but since they tend to be cheap, they are easily replaced as needed.
Ceramic dog bowls are available in a seemingly endless selection of shapes, colors, sizes and patterns. It is with ceramic dog bowls that you really get to display your style. From simple bowls inscribed with your pet’s name to incredibly intricate stylized varieties, ceramic lends itself to creativity. With a glazed surface the bowl is easy to stick in the dishwasher making cleaning a breeze, however, like any other ceramic product; dog bowls chip and crack when struck. Bacteria can hide in small cracks and pieces of a broken bowl are hazardous.
Metal bowls are generally made from stainless steel. Easily washable and very durable metal bowls may have a skid proof rubber base to keep them in place as your pet eats. With a wide base and tall sides these bowls are as basic as they come. Available in a large variety of sizes they are safe, long lasting and inexpensive.
Elevated bowls help adjust the height at which your dog eats. Dogs should eat with their heads no lower than 6 inches below their normal position. This prevents your dog from swallowing large quantities of air when eating. That air causes stomach bloat in some animals. Elevated systems come with one or more bowls and at varying heights to accommodate different animals.
Automatic bowls are connected to a container that keeps a constant supply of food or water on hand for your pet. As long as you don’t have an animal that will eat as long as there is food available, these bowls can be very useful if you have to be out of the house for a long period of time and you have a pet door that lets your dog go out to the yard when needed. They are not feasible for animals that eat constantly if the supply is constant.
In addition to the standard bowl used in feeding your pet at home, there are a number of specialty bowls. For those who travel a lot biodegradable, disposable bowls are available. You use them several times and then toss them when they start to look shabby. Other bowls are made of collapsible plastic or nylon and are waterproof. Some of the nylon models come in two sections allowing you to store food in one side and then pour water in the other side when needed. When your dog finishes you just wipe out the bowls and put them away.
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