If I remember correctly, the reason NOT to use plastic is that 1. they may develop scratches which can then breed bacteria, also possible if they get chewed, 2. chemicals may leach out of the plastic and into the food, and 3. there has been some discussion about the plastic causing the black nose of some dogs to turn colour or develop white spots. These spots disappeared if the owner stopped using the plastic bowl. In terms of ceramics, you want to make sure that you are using food grade ceramics, manufactured in either Canada or the USA because there is some concern about the lead content in the glaze or paint that might be used, and leached out of the ceramic into the dog food. Thus, I believe the "safest" bowl is the one made of stainless steel. It is a bit utilitarian, but it can be safely bleached to destroy bacteria and doesn't appear to have some of the dangerous chemicals that are present in plastic and some ceramics. It's so important for us to protect these little ones from chemical exposure, they like the canaries in the coal mines, often are the first warnings of dangers in our environment. |