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Are you looking for a stainless steel dog dish? Dog dishes are another thing pet parents are concerned about because the material can pose a safety hazard for dogs. Although they can be noisy, stainless steel dog dishes are affordable, dishwasher safe, durable, and come in several sizes; not all stainless steel dog dishes are safe for our dogs.
Warnings About Dog Dishes
Several types of dog dishes on the market are unsafe. Ceramic dishes may contain lead in the glaze, plastic containers may leach toxins into the food, and stainless steel dog dishes can rust and expose our dogs to toxins. Additional warnings include:
- plastic dog dishes may succumb to a bored dog that likes to chew things; replacing dog dishes regularly is expensive.
- if you have a dog with skin issues around the mouth, consider swapping out that plastic dog dish with stainless steel.
- if you feed a raw food diet, a stainless steel dog dish is easier to clean; I always worry that some plastic dishes hold on to bacteria even after being cleaned.
Stainless Steel Dishes for Dogs
Although stainless steel dog dishes appear to be the most recommended, not all stainless steel dishes are created equal. There are different grades of stainless steel that pet parents should be aware of:
- 18/8 stainless steel
- 18/10 stainless steel
- 300 series
- 200 series
18/8 and 18/10 stainless steel are the most common. The first number (18) represents the percentage of chromium in the dish, while the second (8 and 10) represents the percentage of nickel. Both chromium and nickel work to prevent corrosion (rust), and the higher the percentage of nickel, the more rust-resistant the dish is.
If you're shopping for stainless steel dog dishes and don't see these numbers, look for the “300 series.”
There are also 200 series stainless steel dishes, which are less expensive and lower in quality. These dishes are marketed as food-safe. However, they won't last as long as the 300 series stainless steel dog dishes because the 200 series aren't as resistant to corrosion.
Cleaning Stainless Steel Dog Dishes
Stainless steel dog dishes are easy to clean and dishwasher safe. When handwashing your stainless steel dishes, avoid using abrasive materials that scratch the surface and expose the dish to corrosion.
The easiest ways to clean your dog's dishes are:
- dishwasher – confirm that the dish is dishwasher safe
- soak in white vinegar and warm water
- soak in dish soap and warm water
We must wash our dog's food dishes after every meal or at least daily. I feed my dogs from flat dog dishes – I put the ceramic plates in the dishwasher every evening, and I wash their stainless steel dishes daily by hand. To keep bacteria at bay, I add a capful of colloidal silver to their water whenever I refill their dishes.
Best Stainless Steel Dog Dishes for Raw Feeders
When shopping for stainless steel dog dishes, you can find information about what materials they're made of and where they are made in the description or the “answered questions” area. If it's still not clear, I recommend contacting the brand.
Some pet parents agree that the best stainless steel dog dishes are made by Basis Pet Products. These bowls are 100% made and sourced in America. They are free of lead, mercury, and cadium. They're screen for radioactivity. They're food-grade, non-toxic, and BPA and phthalate-free.
Basis pet bowls are an investment for those of us with big dogs, with costs ranging from $22 to $35. However, if you search for similar bowls online, you'll find that they fall in the same price range. The following are 4-cup dog dishes that are BPA-free and lead-free:
- OurPets DuraPet Premium Non-Skid Stainless Steel Dog Bowl – $8.99
- PetRageous Designs Cayman Classic Non-Skid Stainless Steel Dog Bowl – $9.99
- Leashboss Non-Slip Rubber Base Stainless Steel Dog Bowl – $24.98
If it's within your budget, the Basis pet dishes are the best investment because they come with a long life.
Flat Stainless Steel Dog Dishes for Raw Feeders
I feed my dogs from flat dishes because it prevents my dogs from behind overwhelemd by the smells of their meals, I can spread the food out and allow my dogs to choose what they'll eat, and it's a more engaging meal for my dogs. Read more about feeding from flat dishes.
I tried the MINE Pet Platters with my dogs and although the concept is fantastic, the platters weren't a good fit for my dogs. So I purchased stainless steel plates with divided sections from Amazon and they worked out well.
The following are flat dishes that meet the recommended 18/10 stainless steel grade mentioned above:
- ZOOFOX Set of 4 Stainless Steel Divided Dinner Plates (Recommended)
- King International Set of 4 Stainless Steel Plates
- IndiaBigShop Set of 6 Stainless Steel Round Dining Plates
