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Chapter 6: Food Bowls

Food Bowls and Storage

There are also a lot of pet supplies choices available for feeding your pets. Though not as many options exist as do for water because of food's need to stay sealed to maintain its freshness, a number of innovations exist and can help you save food and can even assist in creating better eating habits for your dog or cat. Here are a few options that are out there and what kind of benefits they offer.

Food Storage Container

Oftentimes dog food is available at a substantial discount if bought in larger bags or in bulk. But shelf life is an issue when it comes to dry food as exposure to air can cause it to go stale or even spoil. Food storage containers exist to counteract those negatives. Most food storage containers are meant for dry food only, and consist of a safe anti-microbial plastic bin with a screw on top. They are usually opaque to prevent spoilage from sunlight, and the screw top design is usually enough to make them ant and insect proof as well. This can help maintain the freshness of your food for the full life of a large sized bag.

Automatic Feeders

Similar to the gravity water dispensers mentioned before, there are food bowls that contain a reserve of dry food and will dispense kibbles into the dog's bowl after eating. These are not really useful for everyday feeding, unless you are only filling them with what your pet will eat that day. Food can spoil if left out and it is recommended to feed your dog fresh food multiple times per day rather than leaving food out in the open air. But these bowls are usually designed with a sealed compartment, making them very convenient for travel or outdoor feeding. Essentially, you can load up with a day or two's amount of food and dispense it conveniently to your pet as needed.

Travel Feeders

It's common to see other forms of travel feeders in pet stores across the nation as well. Many times, they will come in the form of synthetic fabrics, similar to reusable shopping bags, but sized to carry a day or two's supply of food. They are usually collapsible, designed to be tucked away conveniently when not in use. They usually are paired with a smaller bag that is used as a makeshift bowl, and many will have water proof companions for serving water on the go as well. These are very handy for long hikes, camping trips or for days of travel.