H E A LT H
&
W E L L N E S S
STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel is indeed a knight in shining armour.
The non porous material disables the possibility of
minute bacteria from settling on the surface.
Moreover, metals cannot be easily scratched. These
bowls are easily to clean and are dishwasher friendly
too. If your pet becomes extremely hyper while
eating, you can easily buy a model with a rubber
bottom, to resist push, or a specifically anti tipping
designed model instead.
Compared to ceramic, it is a more affordable and
durable option.
The downfall of using a stainless steel is a point which
we all can relate: at times it gives the food or water an
unpleasant metallic taste.
PLASTIC
The most widespread and easily available in the
market, plastic bowls come in every shape, size and
colour. The light weightiness, interesting designs and
cheap cost are its main attraction. Even though plas-
tic is known for its convenience, it causes more incon-
veniences in the long term.
It is susceptible to scratches and the porous nature enables bacteria to easily settle
into the bowl. The scratches leave small openings for the tiny food bits to conceal and
harbour bacteria. Using a plastic water bowl is an unfavourable idea as some plastic
materials easily release toxins when exposed to fluids. It has been reported that dogs
experience colour change in their nose leather (diagnosed as dermatitis) due to regu-
lar contact with plastic.
Plastic bowls are prone to spillage and being knocked over thanks to its feather like
weight. In the absence of supervision, your pet might treat the bowl as a chew toy
and if chewed, the plastic remnants can cause internal bleeding and intestinal infec-
tion. And if that was not enough, plastic is widely known for releasing BPA, a chemical
found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins which give rise to various diseases
such as cancer or even sudden death.
If you still insist on using a plastic bowl, the ideal solution would be to select a BPA free
bowl. However, there have been several instances where such bowls are loaded with
lead instead. Exposure to even a medium level of lead is hazardous.
To ensure a long life of our pet, it would be advisable to invest in either stainless steel
bowls or the newly launched biodegradable ones.