Most dog lovers don’t give much thought to what kind of bowl their dog needs. The basic pet bowls will work, right? Hmm, not exactly. There isn’t enough information out there about the differences between plastic bowls and stainless steel dog bowls.
What you put your dog’s food and water into matters. Using the wrong bowl could actually affect their health. And that’s why we decided to discuss this topic with you.
Stainless Steel Bowls for Dogs
Stainless steel dog bowls offer several advantages when it comes to biofilm resistance, durability, safety, cleaning, aesthetics, and stability.
Stainless Dog Bowls Have Lower Illness Risk
Being less porous than plastic, stainless steel is less conducive to harboring bacteria and developing biofilm. Biofilm, a slimy layer of bacteria, is less likely to form on smooth stainless steel bowls in contact with water.
More Durable
Stainless steel bowls are more durable and less likely to get scratched. Scratches in bowls can become breeding grounds for bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of biofilm formation.
Easy to Clean
Stainless steel bowls are easier to clean than plastic ones and can usually be washed in a dishwasher.
I’m not sure about you, but as a family of 10 (and our two doggies), anything that can be washed in the dishwasher is a HUGE bonus.
More Stability Preventing Bowls from Sliding
In terms of design, stainless steel bowls have a sleek appearance and are usually heavier, which provides more stability.
The added weight prevents the bowl from tipping easily. This makes it a suitable option for pet owners who desire something practical and aesthetically pleasing.
What’s Wrong with Plastic for Food and Water Bowls?
Plastic dog bowls, while popular and available in various colors and designs, have certain drawbacks concerning hygiene and health.
These bowls are more prone to scratches and are inherently more porous, creating an environment conducive to biofilm formation.
Biofilm, a layer of bacteria, can form in plastic bowls and make your dog sick. This increases the risk of bacterial consumption for your pet.
Cleaning Isn’t Easy Even If You Hand Wash
Cleaning these bowls is hard. Even with thorough washing, it’s tough to completely remove biofilm and bacteria from the scratched and uneven surfaces.
Some dogs may get allergies from using plastic bowls, which could be a health issue for them. This can lead to skin irritation around their nose and mouth, which can be uncomfortable and problematic.
There Are Still Advantages… But the Bad Outweighs the Good
Despite these issues, plastic bowls do have their advantages. They’re usually lighter than metal bowls, making them easy to handle, and they come in some really neat designs.
This variety is attractive to pet owners who want a bowl that matches their home decor or personal style.
Metal Dog Bowls Versus Ceramic Dog Bowls
Some pet parents may also wonder if ceramic is okay. The answer is yes and no. Ceramic bowls have different colors and designs, giving pet owners a personalized and decorative choice. It would be great if they were completely safe.
Although they aren’t likely to harbor bacteria when they’re brand new, even the smallest crack could give bacteria the room it needs to grow. So, if they crack or chip, you would have to throw them out.
You also need to watch out for lead, as many ceramic bowls have a lead glaze. Look for a sticker that says lead-free if you choose to grab ceramic.
Which Dog Dishes are the Best?
We highly recommend stainless steel dog bowls for any size, ranging from large dogs to small. They are least likely to harbor bacteria, and, ultimately, that’s what we’re looking for.
We want our dogs to be as healthy as possible, and this is one simple way to help. If you have a dog who is extra-large, stainless dog dishes even come as heavy-duty stainless steel dog bowls.
There are a few we recommend. We’ll talk about them more below.
Best Stainless Steel Dog Bowls
The best stainless dog bowls, in our professional opinion, are the Tuff Bowl and Basis dog bowls. You can check both of them out here:
The Tuff Bowl
The Tuff Bowl is a great BPA-free option if you’re looking for a stainless dog feeder. This dog bowl consists of super-tough, double-walled stainless steel that resists corrosion and rust. It holds up to 5 cups of food or water and is super easy to clean.
Simply put it in the dishwasher (top rack recommended), and it’s as good as new. The Tuff Bowl Black has a rubber base that prevents it from moving around while your dog is drinking or eating from it.
Metal Dog Dishes from Basis Dog Bowls
Basis dog bowls are made in the USA from type 304 stainless steel (yes, there are different types!).
Basis tests all bowls for heavy metals and even checks their bowls for elevated levels of radioactivity. And they’ve developed an easy way for your dog to eat—and easier for you to clean! We’re definitely fans of this stainless steel dog feeder.
Food-Grade Stainless Steel Dog Bowls
Ultimately, this is what we recommend. We can’t, in good faith, tell you that you should purchase anything other than stainless steel. Of course, you’re free to purchase any other bowl type, but we recommend at least checking these out.
For further reading, we recommend:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8986020/
https://phys.org/news/2018-09-life-threatening-bacteria-pets-bowls-experts.html
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-023-03823-w
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