The Best Dog Bowls
We pay a lot of attention to what we feed our dogs, but how much thought is put into how we feed them? Improper feeding can affect your dog’s health- for some dogs, quite seriously.
The Evaluated pack includes dogs of different shapes and sizes and dietary needs- we’ve experimented and tried out a lot of bowls to meet their needs. And while every dog is different, some principles are the same. You know your dog best.
Here’s what to take into consideration:
- Plastic bowls are for the most part going to break down the fastest. They are more porous and can cause chin acne on some dogs. However, they are more inexpensive and may be a better option for a dog who likes to throw his bowl. You’ll just need to replace it more often.
- Metal bowls may be noisier and can startle some dogs, but they are sturdier and less likely to harbor bacteria. Cheap metal ones may have sharp edges or rust, so know you get what you pay for here. We recommend the "boomer" style double stainless steel bowl vs. the stamped thin stainless bowl you'll find at the big box pet shops.
- Glazed ceramic bowls are more fragile but offer the similar advantage of metal with a less porous finish and the heavier ones can actually get banged/moved around less.
- Taller dogs may benefit from having a raised dog bowl to avoid strain and digestive discomfort. Keep in mind that this is not going to work for all dogs and having bowls too high can contribute to bloat. Our vet recommends a tilted or slanted dog bowl instead of a higher stand.
- Does your dog eat like he hasn’t eaten in years? Try a slow-feed dog bowl to encourage him to slow down and not gulp his food. Gulping can also cause bloat. We had a dog who experienced this and it nearly killed him, so we feel strongly about avoiding bloat and a slow-feed bowl could literally save your dog’s life.
Your dog’s bowl should easily hold enough food for each meal to avoid a mess. If your dog pushes his bowl around the room, get a silicone mat or choose a bowl with a non-skid base. If you have a bowl you really like but he slops his food right out of it, consider getting a bigger bowl to put the favorite one in. As long as he doesn’t have to strain to reach his food, this can reduce clean-up for you.
Below are some of our favorites that our own furbabies use.
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Best All-Purpose Dog Bowls:
Meet the "boomer" style dog bowl. These are sturdy double-walled steel bowls that are insulated. They are PERFECT for water, keeping it fresh and cool longer, and just as good for food. Most of these come in either 32-oz or 64-oz sizes. They are made with a sturdy rubber backing that keeps the bowl from sliding around too much.
Pro tip: our cats love them too and will actually ignore their own bowls to come to drink out of these.
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We were obsessed over the Yeti boomer bowls when they first came out but not with the fifty-dollar price tag. Since their emergence on the market, there are many copycat bowls, and many of them are more than adequate and half the YETI price.
However, not all bowls measure up to Yeti quality. Below is an Iron Flask bowl we loved the color choices on but the rubber bottom is coming off after 3 months of use and it is hand wash only while the Yeti bowl can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand. The Black Rhino also has a thick rubber ring on the base like the Yeti does.
Best Slow-Feed Dog Bowls:
For a dog who wolfs down his food, the slow feeder bowl is a convenient way to at least slow down the rate of consumption. We’ve tried just about every trick in the book to keep some of our pups from gulping down their food. In the Evaluated pack, we have dogs on kibble diets, fresh food diets, and mixed diets.
There are a lot of pointless but well-intentioned slow-feed bowls, inserts, mats, and more. These are our tried and true favorites.
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