Should I wash my dogs bowl after every meal

How Often Should I Wash My Dog's Food And Water Bowls?

AuthorChris Cole

You wouldn't eat off a dirty plate, even if it was used just once, right? So why are we so lax about making sure our pets eat from clean bowls at every meal? A2011 study conducted by NSF Internationalfound pet bowls to be the #4 germiest place in the home. Pathogens found in dog bowls include mold, yeast, e.coli, salmonella and SerratiaMarcescens (you may see this pink stuff form a ring around the water bowl.)

Why You Don't Want Dirty Dog Bowls In Your Home

Your dog's digestive system is actually well-equipped to handle pathogens. Bacteria like salmonella rarely survive the highly acidic environment of a dog's stomach, and the dog's short digestive system allows bacteria to pass through without adequate time to overpopulate. So, if you forget to wash your dog's bowl after a meal sometimes, it's unlikely that they will be affected.Regardless, your dog can still be affected by microbes found in their bowls. especially if they are in ill health or well into their senior years. Some dogs develop acne on their chin as a result of unclean bowls. Bacteria can contribute to infections throughout your dog's body, from ear infections to urinary infections, all conditions that can be easily avoided with regular washing.Dirty dog bowls aren't great for the rest of your household, either. If you have small children, they may touch the dog's bowls while they're playing on the floor, and then may put their fingers in their mouth. Adults with compromised immune systems are also at risk for disease from close contact with unclean bowls. Food particles can also attract pests, and can create pungent odours that you may not even notice - but guests will.

The Best Bowls To Keep Bacteria At Bay

Plastic bowls are the hardest to keep clean. They tend to accumulate tiny nicks and scratches, in which bacteria can build up. If you must use them, clean them frequently, and replace them every few months.Ceramic and stainless steel bowls are best because they are non-porous and easy to sanitize. They can last the rest of your dog's life if cared for properly. Ceramic bowls can crack if dropped, in which case, they should be replaced as soon as possible.It's best to purchase a few sets of bowls so you can use a spare pair while others are in the wash. That way, your hungry dog won't have to wait for you to clean their bowls before dinner is served.

How Often To Wash Your Dog's Bowls

How To Sanitize Your Dog's Bowls

It's important that you not only remove food particles and obvious debris from your dog's bowl, but also pathogens and build-up. To do this, you can't just clean the dog's bowls, you also need to sanitize them.Washing your dog's bowls with hot, soapy water, using the same dish detergent that you use on your own dishes, will work just fine. You can use a separate sponge for the dog's bowls if you'd prefer not to get kibble granules on your dinner plates.For especially stubborn debris, you can soak the bowls in a solution of water and bleach, just one tablespoon per gallon of water will do the trick. Make sure to completely rinse away the bleach solution and dry the bowls before using. You can also put most dog bowls in a household dishwasher.

How Often Should You Wash Your Dog's Bowl?

What happens if I dont wash my dogs bowl regularly?

Luckily, your dog has an incredibly strong digestive system, which is prepared to handle all types of germs and bacteria. So, if youve ever wondered why they arent poorly after eating their own poop or vomit thats probably why!

Forgetting to wash your dogs bowl now and again shouldnt cause any problems, however, the sooner you can get into a routine of washing your dogs bowl after every meal, the better.

Whats more, young children are at risk of picking up nasty germs from pet bowls if theyre left unclean all the more reason to give your dogs food bowl a good soak and scrub!

Does my dogs age affect how often their bowl should be washed?

Older and younger pups tend to have weaker immune systems, therefore theyre likely to be affected more by bad bacteria in their food bowls. If you have a young pup or senior doggie, be extra cautious and keep on top of cleaning their food bowls after every meal.

So, how often should I wash my dogs bowls?

Sometimes it can be difficult to stay on top of cleaning your dogs bowls, which is why its a great idea to get into a routine and stick to it. As a rule of thumb, follow these guidelines for how often you should wash your dog's bowls, as it can vary depending on what theyre used for:

Your Dogs Wet Food Bowl:

These bowls need to be cleaned with soap and water after each meal.

Your Dogs Dry Dog Bowl:

These food bowls can be washed at the end of each day.

Your Pups Water Bowl:

These bowls should be cleaned a minimum of once a day and replenished with fresh water.

Your Dogs Feeding Mat:

Regularly wipe this down throughout the day and clean it at least once a day to protect your floor or carpet from spillages.

Cater to your dogs mealtimes

You can never have enough dog food bowls, right? Theyre something your pup uses every single day, so its handy to have a few of them. To save time in between meals, its always a great idea to have spare so your pup isnt waiting for you to clean or dry them when its dinner time.

We know that dinnertime is one of your pups favourite times of the day, so to make it even more tail-waggingly exciting, check out Yappys pawsome range of personalised dog bowls! From heavy and durable ceramic bowls to stainless steel bowls, weve got a huge choice of fun and colourful designs to choose from.

Why not pair your dogs new bowl with a personalised feeding mat too? Available in a selection of vibrant designs, including photo-upload, theyre not just perfect for minimising mess at mealtimes, but they look fantastic on display in the home.

How to Clean your Dogs Bowl

Believe it or not, the state of your dogs feeding dish plays a crucial role in their overall health.

Think about it how would you feel if your dinner plate went unwashed for days? It would become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, potentially making you ill. The same principle applies to your furry friend.

In this article, you will discover the reasons why you should clean your pets bowl regularly and provide you with essential tips on effective maintenance.

Why is cleaning your dogs bowl important?

The National Sanitation Foundation conducted a study that found that pet bowls were one of the top five dirtiest places in the home.

Bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli are commonly found in dog bowls. Plus, their watering bowls can accrue algae and mold if pet parents dont take the time to clean them routinely.

Dirty bowls can also attract unwanted pests like ants and flies. These pests can contaminate your pets food and water, making them unsafe to consume.

Additionally, your dogs oral hygiene might suffer as a result of drinking or eating from a dirty bowl, and it can even affect the skin around their mouth.

If these werent enough reasons to clean your dogs bowl, then may we add that a filthy bowl can actually spread bacteria such as MRSA, salmonella, and E. coli to the people who handle the food and water bowls too.

What bowl is best for my dog?

Plastic bowls

Plastic bowls are the most difficult to maintain. They are prone to small nicks and scratches, in which bacteria can build up. If you do opt for a plastic bowl, clean them frequently and change them every few months.

Stainless steel bowls

Stainless steel bowls, renowned for their durability, also offer superior hygiene. Their smooth surface is easy to sanitize, making them a more hygienic choice when compared to plastic.

Ceramic bowls

Ceramic pet bowls, on the other hand, provide an excellent alternative. Their substantial weight prevents your dog from nudging them around and they keep your dogs food and water cool on hot days. The protective glaze not only keeps them clean but also makes them dishwasher-safe, ensuring a consistently hygienic dining experience.

To avoid the daily chore of frequent cleaning, its a practical idea to have multiple bowls that you can rotate. This way, your furry friend wont need to wait for you to clean their bowl before serving dinner.

How do I clean my dogs bowl?

How to handwash your dogs bowl

You might rinse your pets bowl every now and again under warm water, or wipe it with a damp cloth but unfortunately, thats just not enough.

Fortunately, this isnt the most difficult chore of being a pet parent (picking up poop or cleaning up accidents are surely worse).

To effectively hand wash your dogs bowl, this should be done every day after their main meal (water bowls daily too) using your regular dish soap. Simply soak the bowl in warm, soapy water before using a sponge or brush to break any particles away.

You can then wipe the bowl with a clean, dry cloth and leave it to air dry for the remainder.

Disinfecting your dogs bowl

Just because your dogs bowl looks clean, doesnt mean that it is germ-free. Washing your dogs dishes daily might not be enough to keep harmful bacteria away.

It is a good idea to completely disinfect both food and water bowls on a weekly basis. You can do so by using cup of regular bleach with around a gallon of water, then steep the bowls for ten minutes before thoroughly rinsing with fresh water and drying.

Cleaning your dogs bowl in the dishwasher

If youre lucky enough to have a dishwasher, this can be an easy and effective way to kill the bacteria in your dogs bowl.

Of course, using a dishwasher-safe bowl is a must and if you wash your dogs bowl regularly, it is safe to wash them in the same load as your other dishes without concern of cross-contamination. However, washing your pets bowl among your favorite dinner plates may not sit right with you, and in this case, just run them through by themselves.

Make sure you use the highest heat setting, as some types of salmonella can withstand warm or tepid temperatures. For a double dose of disinfecting power, you can soak the dishes in a bleach and water solution for about ten minutes, then run them through the dishwasher on high heat.

Does the type of food affect how I clean my dogs bowl?

Most dog foods will require the same level of cleaning, however, a raw diet will require a deeper clean after each use. Raw foods pose more of a risk for bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli, so these pet food dishes must be properly disinfected after every usage.

Additional hygiene tips

By this point, you likely understand the reasons and methods for washing your dogs bowl. Here are some extra hygiene tips to consider for good measure.

A clean bowl wont keep harmful bacteria away if the way your dogs food is stored is unhygienic. Ensure you store their food in a safe dry place, and if you use storage containers, they will need to be cleaned regularly too.

Its also important to change your dogs water at least once a day as dogs actually contaminate their own drinking water when dipping their tongue into the dish.

You might want to invest in placemats if your pup is a messy eater. Placemats are great for keeping your pets bowls in place and maintaining their eating area, although they can also be a magnet for germs. Opt for a placemat that can be easily cleaned and ensure it is included in the regular cleaning regime.

FDA guidelines

Cleaning your pets bowl is deemed extremely important and the FDA also has some guidelines on the subject. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

• Wash pet food bowls and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
• Do not use your pets food bowl as a scooping utensil. Use a clean scoop, spoon, or cup instead. Use the scooping utensil only for scooping pet food.
• Throw out old or spoiled pet food in a safe way, for example, by placing it in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash can.