Plastic Bowls-I was absent that day! UPDATE!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Call me slow, but I guess missed class the day we discussed not using plastic bowls for our kids. Anyway-I'm on it now! So I went to Petco AND Petsmart today, to discover of course, they only had one stainless steel bowl big enough between the two stores. WTD? But at least they had one! So, now she WILL have one until they get more in stock. She has always had a stainless water dish. LOL, I had special ordered these cool plastic bowls that scooped down in the front that kept her chin clean-anyway-throwing them out now.

BUT-HERE IS MY QUESTION...If the food shouldn't be in the plastic bowl because the bad chemical can be absorbed into the food- what about the plastic container her dry kibble is stored in? Or what about her rubberized toys she plays with including KONGS and squeaky toys and Nylabones, etc? Do they not have the bad chemicals in them?

 

UPDATE-So I bought two KONG stainless steel bowls yesterday at Petsmart-one large one to feed in and one small one for the bathroom water bowl. This morning there was already rust in the water bowl!!! WTD? So they are going back today! How do you know if you are buying stainless that won't rust overnight? I thought KONG would be a good brand. Geesh, rust can kill a dog!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thanks Sandy, Karen and Bonnie. I will look into this type for her definetly. I put her stainless steel regular bowl down this morning and I swear she inhaled everything in two bits! So will switch back to stainless but need a slow feeder for sure.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

No way, pink, we love pink at our house!  Now I have 3 options to choose from.  Now if I ever get to leave Lucy and leave the house again I'll have to check all these out!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I leave my bag in the bin all the time.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I always look at the ceramic bowls but just stick to our boring stainless steel ones that sit in a wrought iron stand. They are so easy to  wash.  Riley has a funny habit of always leaving a little food in his bowl and a little water in his water dish.  He likes us to put fresh water in it even if it's sometimes half full.  We aren't sure if it is because he wants it fresh or cold?

[F, Calla & Luca]

To answer the first question I would think that liquids are much more likely to leach chemicals from any container than dry kibble. Apparently Progresso still has BPA in the lining of it's cans for our food. This is discussed in an article from Consumer Reports in 2009!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/december-2009/f...

I doubt many of the "rubber" toys are really rubber. And I wrote about letting animals drink from regular hoses a while back. It's enough to drive us crazy!

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Sandy, I posed the stainless steel question to my husband, who is a metallurgical engineer specializing in steel. He asked, is there a chance a chlorinated cleaner was used on or near the bowl?

He says that any stainless steel can corrode, given the right combination of circumstances. Chlorine can hasten that process.

Stainless steel acquires its anti-corrosive properties from chromium, and the more expensive grades from a combination of chromium and nickel. Without a chemical analysis, it is virtually impossible to know what you have unless it is labeled by the manufacturer. Stainless steel containing high quantities of nickel will not be magnetic--but that is not a perfect test. For example, aluminum is not magnetic, either, and it's not what you want for a dog bowl.

Another example, we have several sets of the same grade and pattern of Oneida stainless flatware, purchased at different times. Some pieces are magnetic and others are not, but none have rusted.

So, bottom line, he says, buy a brand you trust. Which you did. It's a crazy world out there for people trying to make good consumer decisions!

All I can suggest is that you return the Kong bowls and try another brand, labeled Made in the USA, that is not magnetic. Or, get some new Fiesta ware bowls! I have several in the cabinet--I'm seriously considering pulling them out for Cosmo!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have seen pinpoint ares of rust in stainless steel things. The chlorinated information was fascinating. Thanks. I do bleach my sink sometimes, after I've unwrapped a turkey in it for instance. Maybe I need to rethink that! But as to bowls, I don't think a tiny bit of rust is harmful. Chromium is toxic though. Any thoughts from your husband on that. Is it tightly bound? Won't affect us, the doodles?

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Good question, F!

DH says that it is the hexavalent form of chromium (aka chromium 6) that is known to have toxic and carcinogenic effects. Chromium 6 is _not_ the form of chromium used to make stainless steel.

So no worries on the chromium!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks, good to have a metallurgical engineer handy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Isn't "the hexavalent form of chromium (aka chromium 6)" the stuff that was in the water in Hinkley CA in the Erin Brockovich story?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow, I've never seen any rust on any of my stainless steel bowls or other objects! And I keep one in the yard! I would return those, something isn't right about that!

[Christine & Camus]

After reading Elizabeth's response about metals I remembered seeing designer aluminum dog bowls and other bowls that were ceramic coated in nickel.  Would never purchase them, too pricey, but I am wonder how safe these bowls would be. Aluminum dishes are finished in an aged nickel.

 

Nickel-plated porcelain.