Dogs aren't exactly as hygienic as people are, but then again, they can't do all of the things us humans can, such as washing out their dishes after they use them. Even though we wash our dishes after every use, many of us dog owners don't wash our dogs' food and water bowls every day.
But should we be washing them daily? Ideally, yes, according to veterinarians, even if the bowl doesn't look dirty. Not washing our dogs' bowls often enough can lead to them or us getting sick. No one wants that. Some picky dogs won't even eat from their bowl if it's too dirty!
Let's learn more about why you should wash your dog's bowls more frequently for their health and safety.
Why should you wash your dog's bowls daily?
You're not a bad pet owner if you don't wash your dog's bowls daily. Many of us don't, especially if we let our dogs free-feed throughout the day. It's not that we don't care about our dogs' health, it's just that we forget or don't have time with our busy schedules.
But most veterinarians recommend washing your dog's bowls every day, especially if you feed your dog wet food. According to the National Sanitation Foundation, dog bowls are the fourth-most germiest places in our homes.
As your dog eats or drinks, bacteria from their mouth, food, or water mixes with their saliva and creates a film on the bowls called biofilm. Bacteria multiply rapidly, and the biofilm can quickly cause a bacteria colony that can be dangerous for your dog's health.
Bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can contaminate your dog's food and cause them to become sick, especially if you feed your dog wet food or raw or homemade diets that don't have as many preservatives in them to help them last longer. But even dry dog food can cause bacterial contamination, which could lead to food poisoning.
It's not just your dog that can get sick, but you as well from handling their food and water bowls.
How should you wash your dog's bowls?
Ideally, you should wash your dog's bowls every day with hot, soapy water, or stick them in the dishwasher, especially the food bowls. Water bowls may not need to be washed quite as often, but still need to be rinsed out and the water replaced with fresh water every day.
If you don't have time to give the food bowl a thorough wash every day, rinsing it out is better than nothing at all, as long as you wash it fully as soon as possible.
Tips for keeping your dog's bowls clean
In our ever-busy lives, we often forget to do some of the daily tasks that need to be done. But there are some tips that can help you remember to wash your dog's bowls daily.
Have multiple sets of bowls
Having multiple sets of dog bowls can be a tremendous help for keeping the bowls clean. You can alternate the bowls and put another set out while the first set is in the dishwasher. That way, your dog always has clean bowls.
Stick to a feeding schedule
Some people feed their dogs at certain times, while others fill up their bowls in the morning and let them free-feed all day. But sticking to a feeding schedule, where you feed your dog at the same time each day, can help keep their bowls cleaner.
If you feed your dog at times when you would eat, they can eat while you do. When they're finished eating, you can discard any uneaten food so it doesn't sit in the bowl all day. The longer food sits in the bowl, especially wet food, the more likely it is to start having bacterial growth.
You can simply rinse or wipe out the bowl after the first feeding of the day. Then, after the last feeding, you can wash it thoroughly so it has time to dry overnight.
Remembering to wash your dog's bowls every day can be difficult, but it's important in order to help keep them and yourself healthy and happy. After all, you don't want to eat out of a dirty bowl, and your dog likely doesn't either!