01/30/2025
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WASH MY DOG’S BOWL? (Article by AKC)
When you’ve finished eating a bowl of cereal or instant noodles, you might scrub your dishes by hand or stick them in the dishwasher. For many reasons, and the possibility of getting sick, you probably wouldn’t put dirty dishes back in the cupboard or reuse your cereal-encrusted bowl the next morning. But can you say the same for your dog’s food and water bowl?
Maybe you refill their water dish a few times before washing it. Or perhaps you add a fresh scoop of kibble to the bowl your dog licked clean earlier in the day. Even if your dog’s bowl doesn’t look dirty, improper handling of pet food and poor hygiene practices can result in contamination, putting you and your dog at risk for infection.
Below we share advice from veterinarians on how often to wash your dog’s bowls, what types of dog bowls to use, and what to know about sharing food and water bowls if you have a multi-pet household.
When and Why Should You Wash Your Dog’s Bowl?
“Dogs aren’t the tidiest eaters,” says Dr. Kelly Hood, DVM, in-house veterinary expert at Pet Portraits. “They drool, slop food around, and their mouths are full of bacteria that when mixed with food particles and moisture, can create the perfect environment for harmful microorganisms to thrive.” Moreover, if you practice free-feeding, meaning leaving food out for dogs at all times, you’re less likely to wash their bowl throughout the day.
When bacteria adhere to wet surfaces like your dog’s bowl, they produce a slimy substance called biofilm, according to an article in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. The buildup of plaque on your teeth and soap scum in your drains are examples of biofilm, which is made up of a community of microorganisms including bacteria and yeast, as well as debris. The main reason to wash your dog’s bowl is to break up this bacterial biofilm that can lead to illness.
Ideally, you should wash your dog’s food and water bowls daily to avoid the accumulation of food residue and biofilm, which can be detrimental to the health of your pets and the rest of your family, says Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, TX. Her advice is to have two sets of bowls, so you can wash them in the dishwasher and always have a clean set. She also emphasizes the importance of providing your dog with fresh, clean drinking water.
Given the risk of infection from bacteria like salmonella and listeriosis, it’s best to wash your dog’s bowl after each meal with hot soapy water. “It might seem like a lot, but it’s just like how we wouldn’t use the same unwashed plate day after day,” Dr. Hood says.
Food residue on your dog’s bowl can attract insects and other pests. In addition, bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella may begin to grow and reproduce, creating a foul odor and leading to food poisoning. “These bacteria pose a serious risk to the health of pets and humans alike,” Dr. Whittenburg says.
The National Sanitation Foundation reported that pet bowls are the fourth-germiest place in the home after dish sponges, kitchen sinks, and toothbrush holders. Another study of 351 dog caregivers and 186 cat caregivers found higher bacterial counts in pet bowls containing wet food compared to dry food. There were also higher levels of bacterial contamination when people washed bowls by hand compared to using the dishwasher.
When purchasing a bowl, both experts recommend choosing stainless steel for your dog’s food and water bowl. This material is “basically indestructible, dishwasher-safe, and doesn’t hang onto odors and bacteria like plastic does due to its non-porous material,” Dr. Hood explains. In addition to being easier to clean, stainless steel bowls tend to “cause fewer allergic issues, especially in cats,” Dr. Whittenburg says.
For a more aesthetically pleasing look, you may wish to purchase a non-toxic and high-quality ceramic bowl as an alternative to stainless steel. However, ceramic bowls tend to be heavier and aren’t always dishwasher safe. Since they can be damaged if dropped, “keep an eye out for chips and cracks in these bowls, because bacteria can hide in the fissures,” Dr. Hood adds.
Is It Safe for Pets to Share Water or Food Bowls?
“Pets in a home may share bowls, but care must be taken to provide enough bowls, especially for water so that each pet has adequate access,” Dr. Whittenburg says. Although it’s possible to transmit illness between pets via food or water bowls, “in most houses, the risk is higher from the pets being in direct contact with each other,” she adds. Accordingly, all pets need to be healthy when sharing bowls.
In terms of food bowls, it’s preferable to use separate bowls since your pets may be on different diets or feeding schedules. Sharing food bowls poses a risk of spreading illness, but it’s also “a recipe for feeding time drama,” Dr. Hood says. “If one of your pets needs a special diet or medication in their food, shared bowls become a problem. Giving each pet their own bowl is safer and lets you keep tabs on who’s eating what and how much.”
Another reason for using separate bowls is when you’re introducing a new pet to the household. “This situation may require quarantining of the new pet in their own area for a length of time,” Dr. Whittenburg says. She recommends speaking to your veterinarian about quarantining new pets.
Part of being a responsible dog owner is making sure your dog has access to fresh drinking water along with serving them a nutritionally balanced and complete diet. Good food-handling practices can go a long way toward promoting the health of your pets and yourself. If you haven’t been keeping your dog’s bowls in tip-top shape, now is a good time to make it a habit.
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