One heated water bowl can warm three winter months. Alright, we may have distorted the Japanese proverb a bit, but the truth remains. Heated dog bowls can make your dog’s life a lot easier especially if you experience Alaskan winters. Let’s be honest here: How many times have you checked the water temperature in a dog bowl?
If you are anything like me, you are shaking your head from side to side at this moment. The truth is we don’t pay attention to how cold the water gets in the winter. Because if we did, we wouldn’t be discussing the best heated dog bowls right now because you would already know them. With this sobering realization out of the way, let’s correct our mistake, shall we?
What are Heated Dog Bowls?
Dog bowls that have a heating element. You didn’t see that coming, did you? Alright, you did, but there is a more important question we need to ask: Why do we need heated dog bowls? Winters are hard on everything. Rivers, lakes, ponds, and water in normal dog bowls, everything freezes or becomes as cold as ice pops. And dogs might like to lick some ice pops, but it’s definitely not healthy for them to do so. Here is why drinking cold water is not good for your pooch:
- Dogs need to produce a lot of energy to stay warm in the winter. The colder the water they drink, the more energy they need to produce. And the more energy they need to produce, the thirstier they will get. And the cycle repeats.
- To produce energy efficiently, the digestive system of a dog needs to work at an optimal rate. The rate will not be optimal unless your dog drinks room temperature water.
Put two and two together and you can see why we need to keep water in a dog bowl at room temperature. Hence, heated bowls for dogs.
Common Characteristics of Heated Dog Bowls
Deciding to buy a heated dog bowl is like choosing a wedding cake; you want something that looks and tastes great, but seldom do you find such a combination. And at the end of the day, you settle for one that gets the job done. So, here are the common characteristics of heated dog bowls. Choose wisely, my friends.
Heating Mechanism
A set of coils that heat the base which in turn heats the water. This is all there is to the heating mechanism of a heated dog bowl.
Now, if you’re concerned that a bowl with a heating mechanism will rack up your energy bill, you are absolutely right. But there is a way around this problem; invest in a bowl that has a built-in thermostat.
Thermostats are quite common in heated bowls nowadays. These handy devices make sure that the coils turn on only when the temperature of the water drops below a certain point. Rejoice, as this will keep your costs down so you can rent the Die Hard movies once again — yippee kay yay!
Power Source
Battery or wires, the choice is yours. With batteries, you can place the bowl wherever you want. With wires, you can’t. Not exactly a revelation, but it is something to keep in mind.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: If we buy a wired one, won’t my dog chew through the wire? He will. But almost all manufacturers make the wires chew-proof. And if a manufacturer doesn’t, then that company sucks, and you shouldn’t be buying from it anyway. Oh, one more thing; the wired bowls are mostly cheaper.
External Bowl
Plastic vs stainless steel. Dull vs shiny. Click vs clang. If you go with shiny, clangy steel, you will get a bowl that transfers heat much better. And will last a while. But if you go with dull, clicky plastic, you will get a cheaper bowl. Yes, that is the only thing plastic bowls have going for them.
Finally, choose a size that is suitable for your dog. Not too large because your dog will try to scuba dive in it. And not too small because he is a dog, not a rabbit.
10 Best Heated Dog Bowls
You know the things you need to look for, and you know what to avoid. So, it will be a piece of cake to pick one up, right? Not so fast my friend. There are dozens, neigh, hundreds of options on the market. Do you have the time to look at each one of them?
We both know the answer to that. So, let us jump straight into the 10 best heated dog bowls.
1. K&H Thermal-Bowl (Stainless Steel)
Here is the K&H Thermal Bowl as fast as possible: Stainless Steel, measuring 24.75 x 14.25 x 14.8 inches, and weighing in at 3.64 Pounds.
For the power-conscious, the Thermal Bowl only draws 25 watts. And it has a thermostat to keep both the temperature and the power bills in check. Add to it the chew-proof nature of the cord, and you will be hard-pressed to find a better stainless steel bowl out there.
Don’t believe me? No worries, as the consumer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. One bloke even left his bowl on for three days without the fire dept. showing up at his door.
2. Farm Innovators Model P-60S
Here is the deal with the Farm Innovators Model P-60S: The bowl is hard plastic, measures 12 x 12 x 4.75 inches, and weighs in at 2 Pounds.
Being hard plastic, it is sturdy enough to take a beating from your dog, and never let out a sigh. Your dog can’t even chew its way to victory since the cord is chew-resistant.
Finally, it has an automatic thermostat to keep the temps in place. However, the 60 watts rating is a bit high. With positive reviews from the customers, especially for smaller breeds, the Farm Innovators Model P-60S will rock your socks off.
3. Beacon Pet Heated Pet Bowl
Coming in at 8.6 x 8.5 x 3.6 inches the Beacon Pet Bowl is a delightfully designed heated dog bowl. It looks modern, acts modern, and can survive beatings, unlike modern things.
At 1.55 Pounds, the bowl is lightweight. Part of the reason why the plastic is exterior. However, the interior bowl is stainless steel which means great heat transfer. You can even heat wet food without ruining it.
Finally, there is an automatic thermostat to produce heat for the bowl and savings for your wallet. And did we mention the consumers love it?
4. K&H PET PRODUCTS Thermo-Kitty Café
What’s better than hot water on cold nights? Hot water with hot food on cold nights. K&H knows this, and so we have 23.5 x 10.25 x 16.5 inches measuring Thermo-Kitty Café.
Forget the fact that Thermo-Kitty sounds like a comic book character and focus on the two-bowls; one for food and one for water. The bowls work great and keep the meal warm. And to make sure the food stays warm, the Thermo-Kitty packs in an automatic thermostat which operates at 30 watts.
Overall, consumers love it. And if you have a small to mid-sized breed, you’ll love it too.
5. K&H Thermal-Bowl Heated (Plastic)
Ah, a variant of a product we have already looked at. The K&H Thermal-Bowl is the same as the one above but with plastic in place of stainless steel. It also measures just a tad bit smaller at 23.5 x 15 x 12.7 inches.
The addition of plastic makes this bowl quite lighter and cheaper than the stainless steel model. And you know what’s the best part? Everything else stays the same. Same chew-proof cord. Same automatic thermostat.
And finally, the same customer satisfaction with one caveat; Your dog will be able to move the bowl.
6. Farm Innovators Model P-60
Measuring 12 x 12 x 4.75 inches the Farm Innovators Model P-60 is the very definition of the term basic.
It has an uninspired, hard plastic design that can survive your dog’s rage. It also has an automatic thermostat.
Couple in 2 Pounds of heft and 60 watts of powers and you have a dog bowl that will be perfect for winter. And many customers who purchased it, agree with me on this.
7. Namsan Heated Pet Bowl
The Namsan Heated Pet Bowl measures 11 x 5 x 11 inches and weighs 2.3 Pounds. The 2.3lbs wight is perfect as it is not too little to be a toy nor too much to be a brick.
Next, the Namsan Pet Bowl is hard plastic. While not a new idea, the plastic is every bit as strong as you’d want. And it is fully waterproof which means you can use it outdoors without any issues.
Finally, there is a thermostat that keeps the water at a constant temperature. And there is an indicator light to tell you when the bowl is ON. All in all, there is a consensus among the customers that it is one of the best heated dog bowls for the winter.
8. Farm Innovators Heated Bucket
The Heated Bucket is one of those crazy ideas that actually work. As the name suggests, the plastic bucket is, well, a bucket. It measures around 11 x 11 x 10 inches and weighs 2.5 Pounds. It is a bucket that holds 2 gallons of water.
The only thing that is separating the Heated Bucket from other buckets, is that it has a thermostat and a heating element.
In short, it is a big bucket that can heat the water and customers love it for exactly that.
9. Farm Innovators Model D-19
Perhaps my favorite heated dog bowl on this list. And before you start questioning my choice, know that it is red, square, and big.
At 12 x 12 x 4.75 inches, the Model D-19 is unapologetically big. Other niceties include 60 watts of power, a thermostat, and a 1.25 gallons capacity.
All in all, if you want something that looks wacky and works just fine, choose this like many customers have chosen this before you.
10. Petfactors Heated Pet Bowl
Let’s end this list on a high note. The Petfactors Heated Pet Bowl is perhaps the coolest looking pet bowls you will come across. And it functions well.
Measuring 9.85 x 9.85 x 3.95 inches and weighing in at 2.05 Pounds, the Heated Pet Bowl is made from plastic. It is both roomy and lightweight.
Finally, according to customers ‘the heating element coupled with the thermostat gets the job done while looking cool’.
Heated Dog Bowls – FAQ
Sometimes all you need to do is lay down some facts.
Pardon my sense of humor, here are some frequently asked questions.
If you live in places where the temperature drops below the freezing point, then yes, you do.
First, extremely cold water is not good for your dog’s health. It disrupts digestion and causes blood vessel constriction which can lead to a hypothermic shock in some rare cases.
Next, do you want to keep replacing the water after a few hours, all day, every day? Of course, you don’t. So, you need a heated dog bowl to keep room temperature water available to your dog throughout the day.
Heated dog bowls don’t use a lot of energy. Most heated bowls use somewhere between 30 and 60 watts of power.
As always, power consumption relies on the size of the bowl. For instance, smaller bowls tend to use about 30 watts of power while bigger ones go all the way up to 60 watts.
If you use the bowl for food, then after every meal. If you use it for water, then after a couple of days. Washing after every meal ensures that you wash away any bacteria and residual food away. A hygienic dog is better for all of us.
Water, on the other hand, doesn’t pose as severe a threat. So, you can go two days without washing the bowl.
Dilute ½ cup of bleach with a gallon of water, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Afterward, wash the bowl with clean water, and wipe it clean with a dry cloth.
A note to remember here folks: Don’t let your primal instincts of washing like a machine take over, or you might end up with damaged wiring.
If your dog can fit its butt in it then yes, which is very unlikely. That said, unless you have a peanut-sized breed, most dogs won’t be able to fit comfortably in a heated bowl. So, it is better to invest in a heated bed instead.
If you live in an area where winters are harsh, you need a heated dog bowl to keep your puppy feeling warm and fuzzy. As detailed above, drinking cold water is not good for a dog’s health. From digestive issues to hypothermic shock, you can avoid a range of health concerns if you switch to a heated dog bowl.
Our pick for the best heated dog bowl is the K&H Thermal-Bowl (Stainless Steel). It is steel, works great, and looks good while doing it. To sum it all up, if you are sitting on the fence about choosing a dog bowl, this is it. Go through the guide and the list above, and pick something that resonates with you.
One comment on “10 Best Heated Dog Bowls – for Water & Food in the Winter!”
Hi,
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