Do you know if your pet's food fowls are safe? There are many types for pet bowls nowadays, such as plastic, glass, stainless ceramic, slow-feeding, and etc.
However, since there are so many choices, how should we determine which one is right for your pet, and which type is safer?
We have done some research on the different types of pet food bowls. Check out this guide, you may know how to get the right type for your pet dog or cat.
I. Plastic Pet Bowls – the most popular and riskiest bowls
The commonly used pet bowls are plastic bowls, which are also the most popular ones since they can come in many shapes, sizes and colors, and the prices are good.
However, these types of bowls may be the most dangerous bowls for pet feeding. There are basically 4 reasons.
- Some puppies sometimes use their bowls as a chewing toy. They may destroy the bowl and swallow the fragments, which may cause intestinal blockage or internal bleeding. You may find that it only takes a few minutes for them to destroy a bowl.
- Plastic bowls are easily scratched and cracked. Unhealthy bacteria may grow faster in these bowls. If your pet is being tortured by bacteria, plastic bowls are not suitable for them.
- You may have already heard BPA, which is a chemical found in baby products, bottles and so on. According to the EWG, “BPA exposure has been shown to damage the endocrine system and cause a variety of diseases, including cancer...”
- Besides BPA, some PVC pet bowls contain another chemical called phthalates, which are dangerous. Phthalate was listed as a "reasonably expected human carcinogen." Any of these chemicals can be immersed in water and pet food from plastic containers.
Fortunately, there are several food-safe plastics, such as those identified by recycling codes. You can check out selection for >> Plastic Pet Bowls.
II. Ceramic Pet Bowls – safer but also risky
If you have ever done some homework, you may find out that ceramic pet bowls are a better choice. These bowls are usually handmade and stylish, and easy to clean.
However, you should also check carefully, and clean them regularly. You should make sure the glaze of the bowl does not contain harmful chemicals and lead-free. If there are cracks and debris on the bowls, you should wash them more often, because these areas are prone to harmful bacteria.
If your dog or cat likes to play with the bowls, you should make sure they don’t break the bowls, or they may get hurt.
We also have a wide collection of Ceramic Pet Bowls for you.
Ceramic Drinking Fountains are also a good choice for your fur friends.
III. Stoneware Pet Bowls - safer but also risky
Stoneware Pet Bowls are quite like Ceramic ones. There are also some moderate levels of dangerous lead in bowl products. According to a study at HealthyStuff.org, out of the 400 pet products tested, 1/4 of the items had detectable levels of lead.
Before buying these bowls, you should check carefully and choose the ones that are lead-free, and make sure you clean the bowls regularly.
IV. Silicone Pet Bowls- non-toxic, easy to fold, suitable for travel
Silicone bowls are one of the newest alternatives on the market. Silicone bowls are inert, synthetic compounds consisting of polymers that include silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and occasionally other elements.
So we can see this material is non-toxic and non-sticky. It can also be foldable, ideal for fitting into a bag or even a pocket. If you need to travel a lot with your pet, silicone bowls are a good choice. However, they might not be as stylish as other pet bowls and can’t be used as a permanent pet bowl due to its shape and rigidity (or lack of rigidity).
V. Stainless Steel Pet Bowls- safe, strong, but noisy
Stainless Steel Pet Bowls are also a popular choice. The stainless steel pet bowl is non-porous, which prevents the growth of bacteria, does not leach out, non-leaching and rust-resistant.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of these bowls is that if the dog's collar or ID tag touches them, they may make noise. So you can consider buying a non-slip mat or a bowl with a rubber base.
Here is our Stainless Steel Pet Bowls selection for you.
Hope this can help you protect you and your pet. If you enjoyed it and would like to see more news, do not hesitate to visit Happy & Polly website on https://happyandpolly.com.
