Skip to content
Free UK delivery over £39 · Tracked & fast · Happy pets, happy homes
Giddy PetsGiddy Pets

Stainless steel dog bowls

Stainless steel is the material most owners end up switching to sooner or later, because it doesn't scratch, hold smells or harbour bacteria the way plastic can over time. This aisle covers steel bowls in a range of sizes, from single small dishes to weighted, non-slip options for a dog that pushes their bowl around the kitchen floor.

Why steel over plastic

Plastic bowls scratch with normal use, and those tiny scratches give bacteria somewhere to build up that's much harder to clean out than a smooth steel surface. Steel is also non-porous, so it doesn't retain odours or flavours between different foods the way plastic can over months of use.

Steel bowls are dishwasher safe in almost every case, which matters if you're washing a bowl daily — something worth doing regardless of material, since even a smooth bowl needs regular washing to stay genuinely clean.

Sizing and stability

Match the bowl size to your dog rather than buying the biggest one available — a bowl too large for a small dog makes food harder to reach at the bottom, and a bowl too small for a large breed needs refilling constantly during a meal.

A weighted base or a rubber ring around the bottom stops a lightweight steel bowl skating across the floor, which matters most for enthusiastic eaters and dogs who nose their bowl around while finishing the last mouthful.

A note on chin acne and sensitivity

Some dogs, particularly short-haired breeds, are prone to chin irritation that can be aggravated by rough or porous bowl surfaces; steel is smoother than most plastics, which is one reason it's often recommended for dogs with this kind of sensitivity.

If your dog has ongoing skin irritation around the chin or muzzle regardless of bowl material, it's worth mentioning to your vet rather than assuming a bowl change alone will resolve it.

In this section

Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.

Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad

Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad

From£7.99

Dog Calming Ear Muffs For Fireworks & Thunder

Dog Calming Ear Muffs For Fireworks & Thunder

£11.99

MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector
Fast UK delivery

MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector

From£30.99

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
Fast UK delivery

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs

From£16.49

Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Fast UK delivery

Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat

From£34.99

Ice-Silk Cooling Dog Bed with Bolster Edge

Ice-Silk Cooling Dog Bed with Bolster Edge

From£12.99

Dog Front-Limb Mobility Wheelchair

Dog Front-Limb Mobility Wheelchair

From£176.99

Plush Foam Pet Stairs

Plush Foam Pet Stairs

From£21.99

Real-Time GPS Pet Tracker

Real-Time GPS Pet Tracker

£29.99

Hooded Dinosaur Dog Raincoat

Hooded Dinosaur Dog Raincoat

From£29.99

Disposable Female Dog Nappies

Disposable Female Dog Nappies

£8.99

Dog Sports Jacket For Medium & Large Breeds

Dog Sports Jacket For Medium & Large Breeds

From£24.99

Browse all of Dogs

Common questions

Are stainless steel bowls better than plastic for dogs?
Generally yes — steel doesn't scratch the way plastic does, so it doesn't give bacteria the same places to build up, and it doesn't retain odours between different foods. It's also usually dishwasher safe and more durable over years of daily use.
What size steel bowl does my dog need?
Match the bowl to your dog's size rather than choosing the largest option — a bowl too big makes food hard to reach for a small dog, while one too small needs refilling repeatedly for a larger breed during a single meal.
Why does my dog push their steel bowl around the floor?
Lightweight steel bowls can slide as an enthusiastic eater noses them across a smooth floor, especially near the end of a meal. A weighted base or a bowl with a rubber ring underneath largely solves this.
Can a steel bowl cause chin acne?
It's more the opposite — steel's smooth, non-porous surface is often recommended for dogs prone to chin irritation, since it doesn't harbour the bacteria a scratched plastic bowl can. If chin irritation continues regardless of bowl material, mention it to your vet.

Related

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.