<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is pretty much no question on what the best material for a dog bowl is. While all the experts agree, it really doesn\u2019t take an expert to guess the correct answer to this one; it\u2019s steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steel is hands down the best, most suitable material to make a dog bowl from, and it outright destroys the competition in every aspect except for one; we\u2019ll get to that later<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor now, let\u2019s talk about the pros of a steel dog bowl:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSteel dog bowls are incredibly durable, and with very little upkeep, a steel bowl could last your dog\u2019s entire life<\/li>\n\n\n\n They won\u2019t break or shatter<\/li>\n\n\n\n Bowls made out of steel are easy to keep clean and don\u2019t allow bacteria to hold on to them very well<\/li>\n\n\n\n They can also go into the dishwasher<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHowever, not all steel was created equal, and not all bowls that advertise as steel are 100 percent steel. The best and most common grade of steel is 304 stainless-steel (or 18\/8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lesser grades of stainless steel may look just as good and be cheaper, but they don\u2019t do very well long term, which is one of the benefits of getting high-quality steel<\/strong>. 304 steel is the standard steel used in almost all metal cutlery. It\u2019s specifically treated and entirely safe for use as a dish or utensil, so it\u2019s perfectly safe for your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMake sure that when buying stainless-steel that the grade is present on the label. If not, don\u2019t buy it; most manufacturers using cheaper steels don\u2019t advertise the grade. All stainless-steel products should be dishwasher safe. If the bowl\u2019s label says that it isn\u2019t dishwasher safe, then it isn\u2019t for you. That is a clear sign that the bowl is of inadequate materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Downside of Steel Dog Bowls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nStainless steel is a high-quality product, with a minimal downside to it, but nothing is perfect, and that\u2019s true for a stainless steel dog bowl. The absolute biggest downside is that an excellent stainless steel food bowl will cost more than the other materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new stainless steel dog bowl could cost $15-40, depending on the brand and extra features it has. That is a considerable amount more than what you\u2019d pay for a plastic food bowl. While they can be a bit pricey, a good stainless steel bowl is built to last and worth the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another problem with steel is that some manufacturers will try to use cheaper steel in their products.<\/strong> You must ensure that what you are purchasing is dishwasher safe and, ideally, has the grade of steel shown on its label.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStay Away from Plastic Dog Bowls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nPlastics are the absolute worst material that you could use to feed your dog for several reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s why you\u2019ll want to stay away from plastic dog bowls:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nThere is some evidence to suggest that certain types of plastics contain compounds that mimic hormones in your pup. If your dog consumes these chemicals, it could give it a hormone imbalance that could lead to some pretty severe health problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Plastic bowls also tend to get scratched up over the years of use. They develop deep grooves that harbor harmful bacteria and are almost impossible to clean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Using plastic could result in your dog developing a rash on its muzzle due to the bacteria that accumulates in the porous plastic. If this happens and you see a veterinarian, they will most likely tell you to get a different food bowl.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIf your dog is the chewing type, then you should doubly stay away from any sort of plastic bowl.<\/strong> Plastic dog bowls are easy targets for chewers and quickly get scarred and scuffed up, creating those nasty places for bacteria to hide and breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot only that, but the shredded bits of plastic that come off of the bowl isn\u2019t great for your dog\u2019s digestion. In most cases, the bits will pass fine\u2014but there\u2019s a non-zero chance that those bits of plastic could cause an intestinal blockage leading to thousands of dollars in vet bills (or worse).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, plastic has the potential to cause problems for your dog, and there are several other options that are far superior to plastics. Not all of them are as expensive as steel, but they do come with their drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Materials Used to Make Dog Bowls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n While steel may be the best option and plastic the worst, there are two other materials we need to discuss: ceramic\/stoneware and glass. These two are not as bad as plastic, but they do still have their own issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n