If you pick one at random, it might be inadequate or low-quality and you\u2019ll find yourself spending more money than you should on bowls for your dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cleanliness is also very important when it comes to food and water bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can imagine, they get attract bacteria really fast, and keeping them clean will only improve the lifespan of the bowls and it will keep your dogs healthier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why in this article, I\u2019m going to break everything down for you\u2014from types of bowls, how to choose the best dog food bowls, and also how to clean dog food bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-choose-and-clean-dog-food-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis complete guide will help you to make the right choices and you\u2019ll have one less thing to worry about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different Types of Dog Bowls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are quite a few more types of food and water bowls for dogs than you know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at them individually, so you can consider each of them before making a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elevated or Raised Bowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Elevated or raised bowls are just two bowls in a stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The material of the bowls – ceramic, plastic, stainless steel – and the stand – wood, plastic, metal – may vary, so make sure you choose the right one for you and your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They look like a food tray and they keep the bowls at a certain height, depending on the model you choose; and the model you choose will, of course, depend on the build of your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elevated bowls are perfect for dogs who suffer from joint problems<\/a> of any kind because they make bending down to eat and drink unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a senior dog who suffers from dysplasia or arthritis, elevated bowls are the best way to help them out and you\u2019d be alleviating a source of discomfort and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elevated bowls are also a great choice for large dogs and giant breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of different designs out there and they all come with two dishes; one for food and one for water, as it should be, and a feeding stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These stands go up to 14 inches, so make sure you choose the right height for your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a healthy dog, elevated bowls might not be the way to go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On healthy dogs, it can increase the chances of developing a condition called stomach dilatation or bloat; which is when the animal\u2019s stomach gets bloated and then twists around its axis; causing great discomfort and it can even be deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please discuss elevated bowls with your veterinarian to make sure that you\u2019re doing right by your dogs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n If you have a ravenous dog that can\u2019t help itself from gulping down its food all at once, slow feed bowls are just what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rapid eating can also cause the aforementioned bloat, and it can cause indigestion, excess gas, vomiting, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you see your dog trying to swallow all of its food at once every time its mealtime, it\u2019s wise to do something about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slow feed bowls make your dog work harder for their meal because they are designed with obstacles; this means that the food is not available all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some slow feed bowls have elevated bumps or turrets, others have ridges, and others take the shape of mazes; the point is that they all have some sort of structure that forces your dog to take a minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All slow feed bowls make it harder for dogs to eat, so they\u2019re forced to slow down and figure out how to get each piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowls<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n This type of bowl is perfect for the younger dogs around!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies and high-energy dogs are always running around and playing, so they\u2019re more likely to make a bit of a mess of things, especially when it\u2019s time to eat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They come running and next thing you know, all of the food and water is on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To avoid this annoyance, you should get a non-spill bowl. You can go for a ceramic bowl because they\u2019re very sturdy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The downside is that if they do get toppled over, they might break or chip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another choice would be a stainless steel bowl or a bowl with a rubber base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n This type of bowl is very inexpensive, dishwasher friendly and it comes in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, plastic bowls are not the best choice for most types of dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would say they\u2019re fit for small dogs that don\u2019t get much pleasure out of chewing on things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can imagine, plastic can be easily chewed on and your dog might end up swallowing pieces of it. So, before you make your buy, make sure that a plastic bowl is a right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Plastic Dog Bowl<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ceramic bowls are mostly known because they\u2019re stylish, heavy and most are dishwasher friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These bowls come in a wide array of designs, colors, and shapes, and you can choose one to go with your home and kitchen d\u00e9cor, which is a lot of fun for owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The downside is that they can break very easily if they\u2019re dropped, so you\u2019ll have to be very careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a very mischievous and playful dog, the beautiful ceramic bowl of your choice might get easily chipped and cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure a ceramic bowl is the right choice for your dog and also make sure to check it regularly for scratches and other blemishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n This type of bowl is the most durable kind there is, by far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019d be sacrificing design and color, but you\u2019ll get a sturdy bowl that can stand any sort of treatment from your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of them also come with a rubber base to prevent messes and they\u2019re dishwasher safe! However, it\u2019s important to take care of them properly; especially if you\u2019re keeping them outside because they can develop stains or rust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Stainless Steel Dog Bowls<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you spend a big part of your day away from home and your dogs are left alone, automatic bowls can be a good choice for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, you won\u2019t have to worry about constantly refilling the bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Automatic bowls are simply bowls that are attached to some sort of container or reservoir; one for food, and the other for water. Some automatic bowls are designed to keep refilling the bowls as they get emptied and for as long as the container or reservoir is full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other automatic bowls are programmable, which means you can set a time for it to refill. Non-programmable bowls are better for water than for food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to keep water available at all times, but the food is a very different deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Free-feeding is not something you want to encourage, especially not if your dog is insatiable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n If you spend a lot of time on the road with your dog, travel bowls are a no-brainer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will allow you to bring food and water every time you take a trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, even if you\u2019re not the adventurous kind that takes hiking trips every weekend, you should still consider having a travel bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That way you can bring food and water every time you go to the park, on vacation, or any other kind of activity that takes you away from home for long periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These bowls are commonly made of materials such as polyester or a similar fabric, and plastic or nylon liners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some that are made of more solid materials, so you can take your pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amazing thing about travel bowls is that they can be folded or collapsed when they\u2019re empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That means they take very little space and they\u2019re easy to carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another type of portable bowl that can come handy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collapsible silicone bowls are silicon bowls that collapse into a flat design and they open up like an accordion, so they offer some adjustability to different heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re very convenient; you can take them anywhere you go and they can hold food and water, they are dishwasher friendly and they can last for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The downside is that it\u2019s made of silicon, and you know what that means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It means your dog can mistake it for a toy and chew on it until it\u2019s destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is something to consider if your dog is especially playful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check Current Price<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n You should do this every day. When you feed your dog wet food, or a combination of wet and dry, or raw food, then you should wash their bowls after each meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you only feed your dog dry food, you can clean the bowls only once a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the water bowl is used by several dogs at a time, you should clean the bowl several times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that food and water bowls for dog<\/em> accumulate all sorts of things: saliva, dust, debris, even food, so if you leave it dirty for too long you risk your dog getting sick and it just looks really bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the most common way to clean anything!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re someone who likes to make sure that everything\u2019s clean, you\u2019ll probably want to hand wash your dog\u2019s bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing you\u2019ll need to do is choose the right detergent; it\u2019s recommended to use a mild, non-toxic dishwashing detergent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure of this, check the labels and if it says that the product will be soft on your hands, you\u2019re on the right path.Best Elevated Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Elevated](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elevated-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Elevated](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/plastic-elevated-double-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSlow Feeder Bowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slow](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/slow-feeder-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"SkidStop](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/skid-stop-slow-feed-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNon-spill<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These bowls are designed to stay in place, whether it\u2019s because the material is very heavy or because they come with a rubber base.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBest Non-spill Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Stainless](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/stainless-steel-no-spill-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Elevated](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/neater-feeder-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPlastic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It can also scratch easily, and these scratches basically become houses for unwanted bacteria. In some cases, plastic can also cause allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Woof](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/woof-it-down-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCeramic Dog Bowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Ceramic Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Ceramic](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/decorative-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ceramic-dog-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStainless Steel Bowl<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re very practical, inexpensive, and they can stand the test of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Stainless](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/stainless-steel-dog-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAutomatic Dog Bowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How the food and water are distributed really depends on the kind of automatic bowl you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This feature allows you to be more in control of your dog\u2019s eating habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBest Automatic Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Simply](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/automatic-dog-food-dispenser.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Petmate](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pet-feeder-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTravel Bowl<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Travel Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Collapsible](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fabric-travel-dog-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSilicone Dog Bowl<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Silicone Dog Bowls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Collapsible](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/silicone-dog-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow to Clean Your Dog Food and Water Bowls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Often Should You Clean Them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Small](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-dog-laying-by-bowl.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHand Wash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If it\u2019s mild enough for your skin, it\u2019s mild enough to get your dog\u2019s bowls clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Raised](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/raised-dog-bowl-with-fresh-pet-food.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Pup](\"https:\/\/puplore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pup-eating-out-of-stainless-steel-dog-bowls.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n