I finally did it. I swapped out my dogs’ traditional bowl for a water fountain, which keeps the water moving 24/7. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while, as fountain-style bowls offer many benefits. Let’s take a closer look!
Fresh Water is Key
Before we dive into bowls, let’s take a minute to chat about the importance of water. Encouraging your dog to lap up fresh water throughout the day is essential for your furkid’s overall health. Not only is your pup made up of about 80% water, but staying hydrated helps keep their tissues, organs, and systems functioning properly.
- Promotes healthy circulation for the transport of nutrients and oxygen into the cells
- Assists in digestion, absorption, and waste removal
- Aids in flushing toxins from the body
- Helps to regulate body temperature
- Helps to moisturize body tissues and lubricate joints
Benefits of Water Fountain Dog Bowls
Cleaner
Get this: In one study, the National Sanitation Foundation ranked dog bowls as the fourth most germ-contaminated object in the house (right behind kitchen sponges, sinks, and toothbrush holders). While we pet parents need to do a better job of cleaning any and all pet bowls, fountain bowls may help.
Fountain dog bowls stand out from traditional bowls because they use a submersible pump to keep the water circulating. When water continually moves, it prevents bacteria build-up. This ultimately helps to keep the water fresher for longer.
Additionally, with fountain bowls, the water passes through a filter to clean out any dirt or impurities. While there are plenty of brands on the market, after a lot of research, I decided to go with a PetSafe fountain. Their bowls feature two types of filters:
- A foam filter protects the pump by catching dirt and hair from the water.
- An activated carbon filter to remove any bad tastes and odors.
I’ll share more about my particular fountain bowl below.
Improves Taste
In your house, how long does a single bowl of water sit out on the floor? A couple of hours? One full day? Two full days? Even diligent parents – with the best intentions – get busy at times and can forget to dump/freshen the doggy water. As water sits, though, not only does it become a breeding ground for bacteria, but it also loses its fresh taste. Fountain-style bowls keep water moving, and the free-falling streams reportedly add more oxygen to the water. Together, this helps to keep your pup’s water tasting great!
Keeps Water Cooler
A pet water fountain can help keep the water a few degrees cooler than a traditional bowl, which is more refreshing for your furry family member. While this was a benefit I read about prior to getting a fountain bowl, I was still impressed when I placed my finger under the flowing stream and felt a slight chill.
Many Dogs Prefer Moving Water
To our furry family members, there’s something quite intriguing about moving water. That’s why many dogs get excited and try to drink from sprinklers or dripping hoses. One theory: It’s a primal instinct, as our dogs’ wild ancestors relied on moving water sources for safer hydration. Of course, there is another theory: It just tastes better! Whatever the reason, your canine kid may simply enjoy drinking from a fountain-style bowl.
I will say: It took my two dogs a little time to get used to ours. In fact, I invited my mother’s dog, Pippa, over to “teach” my dogs what to do. Pippa loves running water. Without hesitation, she will stick her tongue into a flowing fountain and lick away. Once my dogs watched her lap up the water in pure bliss, they strutted over to the bowl and confidently did the same. Now they love it!
Less Refilling for You
In general, the average healthy pooch needs approximately 1 ounce of water per 1 pound of body weight daily. So, a 10 lb dog would need about 10 ounces of water per day, and a 100 lb dog would need approximately 3 quarts of water each day! Of course, there are lifestyle factors that come into play here. Your pooch will need a varying amount on extremely hot days, if he’s exercising a lot, or if he’s ill.
Depending on how much your dog drinks, you may save yourself a lot of refills by switching to a fountain bowl. That’s because water fountains generally hold more water than a regular bowl. Plus, since the water stays fresher for longer, it’s easy to fill it up once and go about your day.
Maintenance
Maintenance is pretty simple. It’s recommended to clean your fountain weekly and change the filter monthly.
PetSafe Fountains: My Thoughts
Earlier in this article, I mentioned that I purchased a PetSafe fountain. Since I’m not a fan of plastic bowls, I immediately narrowed my search down to either the stainless steel or ceramic options. Both are dishwasher safe, making that weekly clean an easy one.
With two small dogs, I ultimately chose their ceramic Drinkwell Pagoda fountain. It holds up to 70 ounces of water, has two free-falling streams, and offers two drinking levels (a lower dish – where the water falls into – and an elevated section, which is great for senior/arthritic pets who struggle to lean down). The ceramic Drinkwell Pagoda fountain comes in four colors: white, taupe, red, and blue. Plus, it’s aesthetically pleasing.
If you’re caring for a large dog (or several medium-size dogs), I would recommend the PetSafe Drinkwell 360, which is a stainless steel pet fountain that holds up to 128 ounces (16 cups) of water. This fountain allows you to choose from 1-5 water streams.
First Impression:
It took me a few hours to get used to the slight sound of running water, but I actually think it’s calming. On Day 1, I also realized spills can happen. Since my dogs typically prefer to lick from the fountain itself (versus drink out of the bowl area), their tongue occasionally flings a little water onto my floor. One easy solution is to place a mat under the fountain.
With that said, overall, I’m incredibly happy with my selection and would highly recommend a fountain bowl!
Do you have a water fountain dog bowl? If so, I would love to hear about your experience! Leave a comment below.
