WELLNESS TIP: How often do you clean your pet's bowls?

Your pet’s dishes are far from clean, even when there’s nothing in them (unless they were just washed, of course!) Have you ever noticed a slimy residue on your dog or cat’s food and water bowls when you pick them up to wash or refill them? This slime has a technical name, it is called biofilm.

Have you washed my food and water dishes lately?

Your dog’s mouth and tongue contain bacteria that bind together like glue (biofilm) and stick to the surface of a bowl after they have licked it. As you may or may not know, bacteria can contain both good and bad properties. Unfortunately for your pets, the bad types can make your dog and cat sick.

When a dog or cat eats and drinks out of unclean bowls, the bacteria present in their mouth continues to build and will eventually contaminate their fresh food and water.

Bacteria can spread via contact with the dishes.

Dog’s and cat’s mouths all contain individual bacteria and when sharing dishes, not only does the bacteria deposit to the dishes, pets that are sharing dishes then become exposed to cross contamination as well. Biofilm is known to cause infections such as bladder, urinary tract and middle ear.

So what can you do? In my opinion, stainless steel bowls are the best option. Ceramic can also be used (as long as there are no cracks). Stay clear of plastic bowls, as plastic can harbor bacteria more readily, especially in scratched areas, even micro-scratches.

Pet dishes need to be washed often, every few days for dry food and daily if feeding wet or a raw diet.

You should be washing your dog’s and cat’s bowls in hot, soapy water regularly (at least every few days).

If you are feeding your pet a raw diet, dishes really need to be cleaned daily. You can also put the dishes in the dishwasher, the hot water helps sanitize!