The Large Dog Bowl

Some thought must be given to your dog’s food Dish:

• Material type that you want
• Your dogs’ size (for a puppy think about how big they will get)
• How long are your dogs ears
• How long is your dogs nose
• When will you be available to fill your dog food dish
• Will you be feeding your dog soft or hard food

You will need to think of these things before you buy a dog food dish. All of them are different. You will want to get the one that is right for you and your dog. I will go over them one at a time.

1. Material

Ceramic    -                         Heavy so it won’t move around easily, can be decorated, easy to clean

Expensive, easy to crack or break, (bacteria thrive in cracks)

Stainless Steel    -    Durable, no places for bacteria to hide, easy to clean, no skid bottoms
More expensive than a plastic dog food dish

Plastic    -        Comes in different colors, easy to clean
Your dog can scratch or chew plastic and bacteria may grow

2. Size

Small Dog     -                You should not get a large dog bowl for a small dog, thinking that you can fill it with food so you won’t have to feed them so often. Dogs need fresh food when it is feeding time. For soft food a dog dish is good.

Large Dog -    Of course a large dog will need a large dog bowl or dish. Looking into a raised dog bowl or a dog feeding station with a dish is a good idea. Big dogs have to bend to eat which causes digestive problems.

3. Ear Length

Long -        If your dogs’ ears are long they can get into the dog food dish, if food sticks to them and is not cleaned immediately ear mites can develop
Short -        It is OK to use any size dog food dish

4. Nose Length

Short -                      If your dog has a short nose or snout you would want a shallow dog food dish. This is better so your dog is not stretching to get his meal

Long -          A dog with a long snout will want a dog food dish or bowl with more depth so they can get the right amount of food without a refill.

5. Your Time –       When you have an unreliable schedule, meaning that you don’t know when you will be home to feed your dog, you might want to get an automatic pet food dispenser. These feeders can have the right amount of food put into the bowl at the times you set. There are also ones that you fill a large holder and the bowl gets filled as your dog eats.

6. Hard or Soft Food -   Hard food should be put in a bowl, and soft food put on a dog food dish.

Dogs are all different and need to be cared for in a way that is best for them. Check with your veterinarian to find out how much food your dog should get per day so they are not underfed or overfed. There are vets that even say to feed your large dog on a dish because they tend to gulp their food if there is too much in a bowl. In this case a large dog bowl is worse than a dog food dish.

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A Stainless steel dog bowl is the preferred choice of most dog owners. But is this really the best bowl for your dog? Let’s take a look at the different types of dog bowls.

The Pros and Cons of different types of bowls

Plastic dog bowl the pros – it is lightweight, dishwasher safe, comes in many colors, and is not expensive.

Plastic the cons – dogs like to chew and scratch it, it can harbor
bacteria, and it is not long lasting.

Ceramic dog bowl the pros – heavier (for large dogs they can’t move it around very easily), comes in different designs and colors, easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

Ceramic the cons – heavier (if you have arthritis), easily broken if
dropped, porous so it can hold bacteria, cracks can go unnoticed which can hide bacteria, more expensive than plastic.

Stainless steel dog bowl the pros – durable, dishwasher safe and easy to clean by hand, slid proof matting on the bottom prevents sliding, non porous so it won’t hold bacteria.

Stainless Steel the cons – more expensive than plastic

When comparing bowls it is easy to see that a stainless steel dog bowl is the best.

You can find a stainless steel dog bowl in any size for any dog. You can even get a very large dog bowl for your large breed dog. You will need two of them. One bowl for food and one bowl for water.

You do need to make sure that you keep your dog bowls clean. I notice that my dogs stainless steel bowl for water gets a film in it a few times a day, but they are easy to clean and fill back up again.

If this seems like a bit much for you there are automatic dog waterers that come with filters so you won’t have to worry about cleaning so often.

There are even automatic pet food dispensers so you don’t have to worry about them having food while you’re busy.

A stainless steel dog bowl is truly a great buy. They last a very long time and they are rust proof so you can even use them outside.

You can buy them with a non skid bottom if your dog, like mine,  scoots his food around the floor when he eats.

Some pet stores even sell these bowls in two toned colors, so you can even be fashionable when choosing your style of a stainless steel dog bowl.

It is a good idea to have you dog bowls off of the floor. How high off the floor depends on the size of your dog. For large dogs having to bend over

to eat and drink can cause digestive problems. You can get a beautiful dog feeding station in a variety of heights for your stainless steel dog bowl.

Just remember to keep your dog bowls clean. Even a stainless steel dog bowl that is used for water can become slimy.

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The Petmate fresh flow means you pet can have fresh, cool clean water all the time. This automatic dog waterer filters the water your pet drinks, so no more worries about bacteria in standing water. It features a flow control lever and a clear water reservoir so you can check on the water level.

Water is vital to our pets. They cannot go without it for very long. As a matter of fact, your pet can go longer without food than without water.

The amount of water you dog needs is dependent on their weight.  A healthy 15 pound dog would need 3 cups of water a day. If you own a large breed dog, you will definitely need a large dog bowl. A large dog can weigh 100 pounds. That would be 20 cups of water a day. The Petmate fresh flow can deliver at least that much clean water.

So a good rule is:

FOR EVERY 5 LBS OF WIEGHT YOUR DOG WILL NEED 1 CUP OF WATER

When fresh clean water is available a dog will drink what he or she needs. The petmate fresh flow in its’ standard size can deliver 50 ounces of water. That’s about 8 cups of fresh water. Depending on the size of your pet this may be enough water for 2 or 3 days.

The petmate fresh flow also has a jumbo size that holds 6.75 quarts of water. That is almost 25 cups of water. That is your perfect large dog bowl.

The petmate fresh flow runs on electricity. The water is recycled through a filter before flowing down to the reservoir. This is done by a silent pump. All you will hear is the sound of gently running water that flows down a ramp. You will find that your cats will love to drink from the flowing water while your dog drinks from the bowl.

The petmate fresh flow has non skid rubber feet so that even your large dog won’t be sliding it around.

Being a large dog owner I know what a problem this can be. When using the average large dog bowl for water my dog tends to move it while drinking, this causes water to splash all over the floor and also reduces the amount of water in his bowl. Since water is so important to your pet making sure the bowl is always full is necessary.

Knowing that your pet will have fresh clean water throughout the day is one less thing you will have to worry about. The petmate fresh flow pet fountain gives you peace of mind.

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A dog water bowl may just be the most important item your dog has. A dog can go for days without food but can dehydrate in hours without water. When purchasing a water bowl for your dog consider how much water your dog will need in a day, or longer if you are going to be away.

A good rule is that your dog needs 1 cup of water for every five pounds of weight. For a small dog of 15 pounds that is 3 cups a day. When it comes to a large breed of dog they can easily weigh 100 pounds, that would mean 20 cups of water every day. That is a lot of water. Even a large dog bowl cannot hold that much water.

Choices for a dog water bowl are the same as they are for food bowls. Plastic, ceramic or stainless steel dog bowls. Stainless steel is the best all around because it is easy to clean, non breakable, and non-porous.

The most important thing for a dog water bowl is that you know how often will you be able to refill and clean it. If you have a large dog it is much easier to purchase an automatic dog waterer. There is a very good one out called the petmate fresh flow. The jumbo size of this waterer can hold almost 25 cups of water. The water is recycled through a filter by way of a pump. The water  flows down a chute into the bowl. Your dog will have fresh clean water in their dog water bowl all day.

Dogs need to have clean water. It is imperative to your dogs’ health that their dog water bowl be cleaned every day or more often if you notice a film in the water. Standing water can breed bacteria, and your dog can end up with parasites.

I have a large dog and he needs around 18 cups of water a day. I find that the bowl does  get a film in it after he drinks a few times. So it is washed quite often. Also my dog tends to splash water every where so I also purchased a plastic pet mat that goes under the dog water bowl. This works nicely because the ends of the mat are raised which keeps the water on the mat not the floor.

Remember a dog water bowl is the most important item you will buy for your dog, so choose wisely.
 

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A Dog Feeding Station will Make You And Your Dog Happy

      A dog feeding station can be just what you need if you are a busy dog owner. They can range from large dog bowls placed in raised holders, to automatic pet food dispensers that will dispense the amount of food you specify at the time you want.

      Feeding stations are not something to be purchased only for large breed dogs. Even small dogs can benefit from a dog feeding station. Eating and drinking from bowls placed at the right height aids with your dogs’ digestion.
     
When looking for a dog feeding station there are many things to take into account.

• Do you have a puppy?
• How big or small is your dog?
• Does your dog have long ears?
• Does your dog have a long or short nose?
• Do you know what type of eating style your breed of dog has?

This may seem like a lot to think about but you will be happy you did.

If you just got a puppy you need to know how big he or she will get. This will determine whether or not you should get an adjustable feeder.

If you have a grown dog you need to take their size into account. If your dog feeding station is too high your small dog will always have to struggle to eat.

If your feeding station is too low your large dog will have to crouch to eat and this could cause digestive problems.

If your dog has long ears they could get into the food and water. If not cleaned right away this could lead to ear mites. You would want to look at a dog feeding station that is more narrow so their ears will not hang into the bowls.

If your dog has a long nose you will want a deep bowl, but a dog with a short snout needs a shallow bowl.

Now when it comes to eating style, that means is your dog a messy and playful eater and drinker or a well mannered eater.

If you have a messy or playful eater you might want to consider something heavy for your dog feeding station. And maybe separate holders. Playful drinkers can be messy and you don’t want water to get into your dogs’ dry food.

Now that you have thought about what your dog needs, how about what you need or want.

Ceramic bowls are nice but if you have arthritis they can seem pretty heavy.

Plastic seems easy but when it gets chewed or scratched it can ha
rbor bacteria.

Stainless steel bowls are perfect for dogs and owner alike. They are easy to clean, they won’t break if you drop them, and they are not heavy at all.

Now that you have more information you can select the perfect dog feeding station for you and your dog.

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An Automatic Dog Waterer Can Save Your Dog From Dehydrating

Getting an automatic dog waterer may not seem like a necessity to you, but if you are not around to give your dog clean water during the day it is crucial to him.

A dog can go longer without food than he can without water. A dog can lose 10% of his total body water content in hours and dehydrate, causing serious illness. On the other hand they can lose all of their body fat and survive. Unlike other animals who can go without water for days or longer, your dog can not.

There are certain things you need to know about how much clean water your dog needs. Putting out a large dog bowl filled to the rim with water is not enough. After your dog drinks a couple of times a nasty slime covers the water, this causes bacteria to build. Having an automatic dog waterer will get rid of these problems. Your dog will always have access to fresh water.

What you need to know when thinking about buying an automatic dog waterer.

    1. How much does your dog weigh?

    2. Is your tap water free of heavy metals?

    3. Will your dog be getting exercise during the day?

    4. Will the automatic dog waterer hold enough water for your dog?

    5. Will it be hot in your dogs’ area?

These few things are so important when your will be selecting the automatic dog waterer for your dog.

    1. Dogs need consume 1 cup of water per 15 pounds of weight per day.

    2. If you won’t drink your water, don’t let your dog drink it either.

    3. Dogs who are getting exercise will need more water.

    4. Automatic dog waterers come in sizes for big and small dogs.

    5. If it’s hot where your dog is they will need more water.

You see, water that is just left in a bowl for your dog can develop bacteria. Either from being stagnant or when your dog drinks a few times a slime will build up. This can lead to parasites in your dog. If the water looks dirty and slimy and you wouldn’t drink it, don’t let your dog drink it.

The electric automatic dog waterers like the petmate fresh flow come in different sizes, have charcoal filters and a pump to recycle the water all day.  You will not have to worry about your dog having clean water or running out of water.

Because I know I won’t be home to check my dogs’ water bowl all the time, I use an automatic dog waterer. If your dog is like mine he splashes water out of his bowl while drinking, this can leave an empty bowl. Knowing that a dog being without water for a short period of time can cause dehydration  I find the automatic dog waterer to be a necessity for my dogs’ health.

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A raised dog bowl can play a significant role in your large dogs’ health.  A large dog bowl filled with food and water is not enough to keep your big dog happy and healthy. You need to think about how tall your dog is and how far down they have to bend to reach their food and water.

A sizeable dog can have joint and muscle problems as they grow older. Along with arthritis it can be very painful for your dog to have to bend down to eat their meals from the floor. With their neck bent it can also cause digestive problems. Having a raised dog bowl allows them to eat at a comfortable level and reduce their pain.

Senior dogs probably have arthritis already. Think about how it must feel to have stand and bend your head down to get your food and water. This has to be a tremendous pain for your dog. A raised dog bowl can help them to enjoy their senior years with a little less pain.

Your dog is part of your family. Don’t see them struggle in their senior years. A raised dog feeder will alleviate their pain.

Raised dog bowls comes in any imaginable style to suit your taste. Don’t think that it is a big bulky items that will take up too much space in your home.

They are made from wrought iron, wood, plastic, stainless steel. Some can hold 3 quart bowls. Now that is a very large dog bowl.

You will be able to find a raised dog bowl feeder to suit your dog. You can get just about any height imaginable. Even one for a Great Dane.

You can buy a raised dog bowl feeder that comes with two bowls. Or if you like to keep your dogs food a little farther away from their water, you can buy two raised dog feeder stands in matching material and style.

Raised dog bowl feeders do not cost a lot of money. We all love our dogs and want what is best for them.  If it will help your dog live a healthier happy life than it is certainly worth it to buy a raised dog bowl.

Being the owner of a large breed dog certainly means more than just getting a large dog bowl and keeping it filled with food and water. When you know how much a raised dog bowl can help how can you not get one.

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