Does The Type of Bowl Matter?
What You’re Feeding In… Matters More Than You Think
We spend a lot of time talking about what goes into the bowl…
…but almost no one talks about the bowl itself.
And yeah—it matters.
What I Use
I recommend puzzles and lick mats all the time for enrichment.
But real life?
Most days, my dogs eat out of glass bowls or a silicone mat.
Simple. Easy to clean. No weird coatings. No guessing.
And when I wash them (by hand), I keep it just as simple:
Thieves Dish Soap
Boosted with a little Thieves Household Cleaner
It’s effective, biodegradable, and I don’t have to overthink chemical exposure in my house. That alone is worth it.
Let’s Talk About the Gross Part
That slimy film in your dog’s water bowl after a day?
That’s not just “a little dirt.”
That’s bacteria building up… fast. aka biofilm.
And here’s what most people don’t realize:
About 67% of dog owners use metal bowls
Only about 1/3 wash them after each meal
Some people just rinse or wipe them out (which does basically nothing)
That’s how the bacteria party starts.
And yes… it can transfer from your dog to you and your family.
Moisture Makes It Worse
The wetter the food, the faster things grow.
Wet or fresh food = higher bacteria levels
Saliva left in the bowl = perfect breeding ground
Warm, humid environments = even worse
So if you’re feeding fresh (which I love)… your cleaning habits need to match.
Not All Bowls Are Created Equal
Here’s the quick breakdown most people never hear:
Plastic
Can leach chemicals
Linked to something called plastic dish dermatitis
Shows up as pink, irritated noses and lips
Ceramic
Looks nice… until it cracks
Those tiny cracks hold bacteria like crazy
Studies have found higher levels of harmful bacteria (E. coli, salmonella, even MRSA)
“Stainless Steel”
Not all of it is actually stainless steel
Cheap bowls are often aluminum or low-grade blends
Some have even been recalled for heavy metal contamination
If you use it, look for high-quality (304 steel)
Glass
My go-to
Non-porous
Easy to clean
No chemical leaching
Just works
What Actually Keeps Your Dog Safe
It’s not complicated—but it does require consistency:
Wash bowls after every meal (hot water + soap)
Don’t just rinse… actually clean them
Run them through the dishwasher (hot cycle) weekly
For a deeper clean:
Coat with hydrogen peroxide
Let sit for 5 minutes
Rinse well
The Bottom Line
You can feed the cleanest, most thoughtfully prepared diet…
…but if the bowl is dirty or made from questionable materials, you’re working against yourself.
Small detail. Big impact.
If you want to go deeper on this, the book The Forever Dog LIFE breaks down bowl materials and kitchen choices in more detail—worth the read if you’re dialing things in at home.
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