Additional strategies for feeding your dog

A recent Ladies Home Journal,article, entitled "The Best Way to Feed Your Dog," discussed the when and the what to feed your dog. Additonally, the article mentioned dog allergies, sneaking your pet food, bad breathe homemade diets. After reading this article, I was very disappointed that the author failed to mentioned how to read a dog food label and what are the best food dog food bowls.

To learn about pet food, check out the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration website. There is section about reading dog food labels here.

To find the best bowl for yo and your pet, consider the below listed factors.

Plastic dog bowls are relatively inexpensive, generally dishwasher-safe and unbreakable. They also come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Although convenient, plastic bowls can be chewed and/or scratched by your dog, leaving hiding places for bacteria. Moreover, some dogs can develop an allergic reaction which looks like dirt spot or smear on the chin or face from the plastic.

Ceramic bowls can be mass produced or found in an artisan shop or website. Today, they are most created to enhance your kitchen decor. As a cautionary note, check ceramic bowls on a regular basis for chipping and cracking. Whereas bacteria can easily become lodged in the grooves and contaminate a pet’s meal, a chipped or cracked feeding bowl can also be a cutting hazard to a dog’s face.

Stainless steel dog bowls are durable, dishwasher-safe and be purchased for as little ast $1.99 at kitchen supply stores.

Specifically, for a puppy, choose an appropriate bowl for her size. For an adult or senior dog, use larger, raised bowls so she does not have to bend and stretch her neck. And for a dog with a flat face, such as a Boston Terrier, Lhaso Apso, Pekingese, Pug, or Shih Tzuh, choose a shallow bowl, so that if she is eating wet food, she does not put her whole head in the bowl and stain her fur. For a dog with long ears, like a Springer Spaniel or Beagle, use a deep, narrow bowl to prevent dirty and food-stained ears.

Moreover, all bowls should have skid-proof bottoms or should be heavy enough that dogs cannot move them while eating or drinking.