Mealtime is a dog’s daily priority. And our pets rely on us to keep their world safe. That’s why we’re looking into stainless steel vs. ceramic dog bowls to determine which is better for dogs. In this article, we look at the different materials and learn which are safe or harmful.
Let’s get into it!
How Do You Determine Which Food and Water Bowls Are Right for Your Dog?
The first step to determining the right food and water bowls for your dog is knowing their consumption. Your vet can instruct you on how much food your dog needs daily based on its size, age, and any other health factors that may pertain to your pup. For example, a nine-pound toy breed may only need a half cup of food a day, whereas a 55-pound labrador retriever is going to require a lot more. So, the small dog can have a smaller food bowl.
Water consumption is also likely to vary depending on the dog’s size. And keeping your pup hydrated is crucial. Replenishing a water bowl, regardless of size, throughout the day is ideal for keeping it fresh and full. But if you’re gone for the day, we recommend a large water bowl to ensure your dog doesn’t run out.
No-spill water bowls are also something to consider. Larger dogs, especially, are known for moving their bowls around simply due to the size of their snout. If your pup is prone to tipping over bowls, a no-spill and non-slip bowl is the perfect solution.
The materials that food and water bowls are made of are another important factor in determining the right ones for your dog. After all, your pup is touching the bowl with its mouth and tongue multiple times a day, often very vigorously. So, you want to ensure anything in its mouth is non-toxic.
There are various options on the market, and stainless steel and ceramic bowls are the most popular. Let’s take a close look at each.
What Is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a corrosion and rust-resistant material. It contains at least 10.5 percent chromium, less than 1.2 percent carbon, iron, and other elements such as nickel, titanium, niobium, manganese, and molybdenum. Stainless steel is also easy to clean with soap and detergents because they don’t damage the surface, making it ideal for food bowls and water bottles. In addition, it can withhold nearly any temperature.
What Are the Benefits of Stainless Steel Dog Bowls?
The benefits of stainless steel dog bowls include non-toxicity, ease of cleaning, and they can keep water cool. Since they’re rust-resistant, a stainless steel bowl is at low risk of harming your dog with any toxic materials. And since it doesn’t scratch, it can’t hold any bacteria for your dog to ingest. It’s also easy to clean and can last several years.
What Are the Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Dog Bowls?
There really aren’t any disadvantages to stainless steel dog bowls. However, from a decor perspective, they are simply silver, steel-looking. So, there’s not a particularly charming factor, although they match nearly any home decor. But you could use something like a bamboo feeder stand to give your dog’s feeding station some style and practicality.
What Are Ceramic Bowls Made Of?
Ceramic bowls are made from clay. They’ve been a part of civilization for centuries. Clay is heated around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, removing the molecular water, to become pottery or earthenware. Ceramic bowls can also be painted. The materials of the paint vary depending on what’s used.
Are Ceramic Bowls Safe for Dogs?
Ceramic bowls are generally safe for dogs if properly constructed and glazed. If not correctly applied, there’s a rare risk of lead poisoning from glazes or decorative paints.
In addition, ceramic bowls can break easily. If your dog tips the bowl over or moves it around the room, the brittleness of the earthenware likely won’t last very long. So, you want to be cautious so that if the bowl breaks, your pet doesn’t accidentally ingest a piece or get injured by a sharp edge.
What Are the Benefits of Ceramic Dog Bowls?
The benefits of ceramic dog bowls include the ability to find them in various colors and patterns, and they’re also easy to clean. Since ceramics can be painted, you can get them with cute dog patterns or color schemes that match your home decor. The bowls are also easy to clean and don’t harbor bacteria, making them a healthy choice for your pet.
What Other Types of Dog Bowls Are Available?
There are several other types of dog bowls on the market. You’ll find plastic, glass, silicone, and aluminum among them. And there are travel bowls made out of canvas-type materials.
Choosing a bowl your dog will eat and drink out isn’t just about the look or price. We encourage you to think through the health implications.
If the bowl has unsafe materials, such as BPA or lead, the possible health problems become obvious. But there are also issues with easily scratched bowls, for example. Bacteria can build up in even the tiniest scratches and potentially create germs like E. coli and salmonella. Or if a glass or plastic bowl is chipped, your pet could consume the piece and start choking or have intestinal blockage.
So, while other types of dog bowls are available, we recommend leaning toward stainless steel bowls. Or ceramic as a second choice.
Did you know? Like humans, cats prefer chilly water for drinking.
Which Type of Dog Bowl Is Better: Ceramic vs Stainless Steel?
As we’ve pointed out, both ceramic and stainless steel dog bowls have pros and cons. But, overall, stainless steel is the safest choice.
Since stainless steel bowls are corrosion, rust, and scratch-resistant, they pose no health risk to pets or humans. The only real downside to the bowls is that they’re lightweight, making it possible for a dog to tip over or move. However, no-spill options with non-slip pads on the bottom of the bowl can take care of that problem.
Ceramic dog bowls, in contrast, are heavier and breakable. They also have potential health implications if they’re not appropriately glazed and therefore aren’t lead-free. And ceramic bowls are typically more expensive to replace than stainless steel.
Pro Tip: If your dog is sick for no apparent reason, it may have a food sensitivity issue. Consider testing for food intolerance.
4 Best Stainless Steel Dog Bowls
Now that we’ve come to a conclusion in our stainless steel vs. ceramic dog bowls debate let’s shop! Here are four of the best stainless steel dog bowls on the market.
1. Coldest Dog Bowl Stainless Steel Non Slip No Spill
Coldest’s stainless steel dog bowl is a non-slip, no-spill product. We love it because the inside is a triple wall insulated stainless steel, and the outside comes in various colors. And it has a bottom grip to prevent spilling. The food-grade safe bowl is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
2. PEGGY11 Deep Stainless Steel Anti-Slip Dog Bowls
Peggy11 Deep Stainless Steel Anti-Slip Dog Bowls come in various sizes, from holding two cups of food up to 16 cups. The bowls have silicone on the bottom that grips to the floor to protect the floor and prevent spills or movement. They’re also designed with a wider rim to fit on feeder stands.
3. Van Ness Pets Medium Lightweight Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
The Van Ness Pets lightweight options are basic stainless steel dog bowls. They’re excellent quality at a low cost. While they lack a slip-proof component, they have a wide rim to fit into feeder stands, preventing spilling.
4. IKITCHEN Dog Bowl for Food and Water, Stainless Steel
IKitchen stainless steel dog bowls are non-skid with a silicone bottom. The bowls are heavy-duty with double wall insulation. They come in 40 and 64 ounces, and the outside of the bowl comes in various colors.
How Often Should Stainless Steel Dog Bowls Be Washed?
It’s widely recommended to wash pet bowls after each use. However, we realize that’s not always practical for everyone. But keeping stainless steel dog bowls clean is important and easy. You can put them in the dishwasher along with your other dishes and utensils. So, if you can strive for daily washing the food bowl, that will help your dog. Consider it the same as your dinner plate. When is the last time you didn’t clean your dinner plate and ate off it two days in a row?
Keep Your Dog’s Meals Safe with the Right Bowl
Keeping your dog healthy starts with mealtime. And the right bowl makes all the difference. Food and water are a significant part of your pet’s well-being and survival. So, ensuring it’s safe for them is essential.
Do you use a stainless steel dog bowl? Share your pet’s food station setup in the comments below.
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