March 10, 2010

A Dog Water Bowl Is Extremely Important To Your Dogs Health

by Alice Washerstein

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.

An important thing to know is how much water does your dog need. An average a dog needs 1 cup of water for every 5 pounds of weight. A large dog may weigh 100 pounds, that would mean they need 20 cups of water in their dog water bowl a day. I don’t think a large dog bowl can hold that much water. On the other hand a small dog who weighs 15 pounds only needs 3 cups of water a day.

The selections for dog water bowls are stainless steel, plastic, or ceramic. Stainless steel dog bowls are the ones most chosen. They do not break very easily, they are not porous so no bacteria can build up in cracks or unseen areas, and they are easy to clean.

Now you need to think of the time you will be home to refill and clean your dog water bowl. If you have a large dog you will need to be there to clean and refill there bowl a few times a day. If this does not work for you there are automatic dog waterers that you can buy. One very good automatic one is the petmate fresh flow. This comes in two sizes. The jumbo one holds roughly 25 cups of water, which is great for a large dog. The regular size holds enough water for a small dog to drink out of for a few days.

After you fill the petmate fresh flow it pumps the water through a filter continously so it stays clean and fresh all day. The water comes down a chute and into a bowl for your dog to drink. Remember it is vital that your dog water bowl is clean and filled for the size of your dog. Standing water can cause parasites in your dog.

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.

Pick a dog water bowl that is good for you and your dog.

About the Author:

Alice Washerstein is a dog lover! Alice creates web sites about dog concerns. Learn more about the dog water bowl and the Dog Feeding Station.