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Original poster

Dogs bowl, what’s reasonable?

171 replies

dogsbowl · 05/02/2026 20:05

Terribly exciting topic, I know! The vet asked me how often I wash the dogs water bowl and I said it goes through the dishwasher on its own once a week. He said that was really not enough and it should be done every day. So do you?

OP posts:
RabbitsEatPancakes · 06/02/2026 09:55

Twice a day! Same as what we used to do for the racehorses- my trainer was very strict l, he had all sorts of theories about biofilms and stagnant water effects on their lungs.

Don't really believe his theories but do believe animals deserve the option of clean bowls. Rainwater outside is different to a small bowl that's sat there all week.

isthismylifenow · 06/02/2026 09:50

Girlintheframe · 06/02/2026 09:45

Cruel? Tad over reacting

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They will be shaking and crying next...😀

Girlintheframe · 06/02/2026 09:45

Favouritefruits · 06/02/2026 09:30

Once a week that’s disgusting and cruel! A dish should be washed after every meal. Poor dog!

Cruel? Tad over reacting

Girlintheframe · 06/02/2026 09:44

Way less than once a week! Water bowl gets swilled out every morning. Food is dry food with some water so maybe it’s different if using wet food which can get encrusted?
tbh the dog eats that much rubbish when out and about, drinking out of muddy puddles eating horse poop etc I’m not sure how much of a difference washing bowls makes.

Tulipsriver · 06/02/2026 09:40

Everyday but it's just habit really. He much prefers a muddy puddle.

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 09:34

Favouritefruits · 06/02/2026 09:30

Once a week that’s disgusting and cruel! A dish should be washed after every meal. Poor dog!

Really?!

isthismylifenow · 06/02/2026 09:32

Favouritefruits · 06/02/2026 09:30

Once a week that’s disgusting and cruel! A dish should be washed after every meal. Poor dog!

Why is that cruel?

Genuine question.

Favouritefruits · 06/02/2026 09:30

Once a week that’s disgusting and cruel! A dish should be washed after every meal. Poor dog!

Original poster
dogsbowl · 06/02/2026 09:29

The dishwasher goes on 70 if it’s cleaning dog bowls. I’m not sure what people reckon survives 70c and soap! You put dishes that have touched raw chicken and fish in there…

I don’t ours by hand only because the water around here is so hard it takes forever to scrub off the limescale. The bowls sit on a large silicon mat that I’ve recently discovered is easily cleaned by popping it in the washing machine with a dishwasher tab. I was forever spraying the mat with viakal trying to get the hard water marks off it.

OP posts:
isthismylifenow · 06/02/2026 09:29

He has a massive water bowl in the house (it is actually a stainless steel industrial mixing bowl), but we live in a hot country so the bigger the better.

It goes in the dishwasher around once a week and rinsed out when refilling.

He does however, drink out of the pool much more often. He puts his front feet in at the same time. Sometimes I reckon he doesn't even want a drink, but a little foot cool off, but the two go hand in hand now.

bumphousebump · 06/02/2026 09:23

Ours gets a clean bowl but asks to be let out to drink out of the pond or the bird bath... Hey ho.

Jc2001 · 06/02/2026 09:21

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 08:35

Dog's bowls go in our dishwasher. Why wouldn't they?

Not here, but only because they're too big and take up too much space so I just wash them myself which takes a couple of minutes. No problem with the principle of putting them in the dishwasher.

ASometimeThing · 06/02/2026 09:15

The water bowl goes in the dishwasher about 3x a week. The dogs prefer to drink water from the pond, puddles or the manhole cover. 🤷‍♀️

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 09:15

ClaredeBear · 06/02/2026 09:12

This is a really interesting thread for me as I have a visiting dog and I’ve changed the washing up process several times now. At first I put them in the dishwasher, with our dishes but after conversations with others I started washing them in the sink on their own. Can I ask, do you put them in the dishwasher with your everyday dishes? I’m sure I’d have a better handle on it if I had my own dog!

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Yes, in with all the other dishes. I put them in the lower basket so they get a good wash. My washes run at 60 degrees.

If you don't trust your dishwasher to clean your dog bowls, then how can you trust it to wash anything else?!

looselegs · 06/02/2026 09:14

Dishwasher, every night. Water refreshed 3 or 4 times a day.

ClaredeBear · 06/02/2026 09:12

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 08:35

Dog's bowls go in our dishwasher. Why wouldn't they?

This is a really interesting thread for me as I have a visiting dog and I’ve changed the washing up process several times now. At first I put them in the dishwasher, with our dishes but after conversations with others I started washing them in the sink on their own. Can I ask, do you put them in the dishwasher with your everyday dishes? I’m sure I’d have a better handle on it if I had my own dog!

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 08:35

Dog's bowls go in our dishwasher. Why wouldn't they?

ClaredeBear · 06/02/2026 08:32

99pwithaflake · 06/02/2026 08:25

In the sink with washing up liquid at the end of the wash and then the sponge thing goes in the bin after.

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Thanks. That’s useful to know. I keep a separate sponge under the sink for washing the dog bowl. I guess I’m wondering if anyone washes their dog bowl with the day to day dishes as I know someone who does this and I’m wondering if I’m too fussy! I used a spot of bleach at one point but stopped doing that.

99pwithaflake · 06/02/2026 08:25

ClaredeBear · 06/02/2026 08:04

I’m interested to find out HOW people wash their dog bowls. In the kitchen sink, dishwasher, elsewhere…and alone or with other dishes? Washing up liquid or disinfectant?

In the sink with washing up liquid at the end of the wash and then the sponge thing goes in the bin after.

DeepfriedPizza · 06/02/2026 08:08

Mine won't drink out of it when it is freshly washed. We keep one outside that fills with rainwater for her for her to drink out of when the indoor one is clean. She has to wait for the one inside to marinade before she drinks out of it.

Jc2001 · 06/02/2026 08:08

dogsbowl · 05/02/2026 23:29

A quick google of ‘biofilm and dog water bowl’ has confirmed the vet is right. One of our dogs has fairly awful breathe and the vet reckons it’s because I’m not cleaning the water bowl enough. I’ve been properly shamed as clearly once a week isn’t enough if you have a read of what breeds in biofilm. We have two sets of massive dog bowls that take up a whole dishwasher load and I wouldn’t put human dishes in there with them anyway (despite the logic fail!). I put in dishes with raw chicken alongside mugs so why not dog bowls? It’s not logical!

You can just wash them manually

ClaredeBear · 06/02/2026 08:04

I’m interested to find out HOW people wash their dog bowls. In the kitchen sink, dishwasher, elsewhere…and alone or with other dishes? Washing up liquid or disinfectant?

Fleurdalys · 06/02/2026 08:02

Daily for water bowl
Twice daily for food bowl

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 06/02/2026 07:34

Silverbirchleaf · 05/02/2026 20:08

I don’t wash my dog bowl out that frequently… , and he prefers a puddle.

Same my Ddog really dislikes fresh tap water and will head to the dirtiest puddle he can find. Probably wash it once a week but add fresh water daily.