Water dish/Water

[Mom2Mitzi]

I have been thinking about this question for some time and wondering if anyone has an answer for me? I have read that we shouldn't feed our babies out of plastic bowls. I use small glass goblets for Mitzi that used to be my great-grandmother's. I never let the kids use them when they were small, but nothing is too good for our Mitzi! I have also read that we should give our babies bottled water, which I do. But, the water comes in plastic bottles. Is this OK? What would be the difference of water in a plastic bottle vs them drinking out of a plastic bowl? I have no intention of feeding Mitzi out of plastic bowls, I just hope the water I am buying for her isn't hurting her???? Anyone have any comments on this? Thank you.

[I found nemo]

Nemo's food and water are in stainless steel bowls.
I also use bottle water, any kind as long as it's not TAP water (just my preference ) Although they say New York has one of the best tasting water
I don't think there is anything wrong with plastic bottles

[Maglily]

I know the person who takes water samples in my area (and one of her sampling stations was her own tap, in my neighborhood) so I know our tap water is good. In Canada there are no regulations on bottled water, (last I heard ). So there are no standards really, so how do we judge the quality of it?

I am not sold on bottled water but do buy it sometimes. And is there a shelf life ? those emails that go around about not leaving bottled water in hot cars, it breaks down the plastic, don't put a bottle in the freezer...etc. I also wonder how the water coolers are disinfected. So I am a bit confused on bottled water.

The US EPA might have good information on bottled water standards.

[camfan]

Tap water in plastic bowls here! LOL! And they are doing just great!

My human kids drink tap water out of plastic cups, and I do it myself for the past 40 years now, lol.

I'm not belittling your concern--these babies ARE much smaller than we are and DO need extra care. I just think that if it's ok for us, it's ok for them. I know our tap is healthy and I'm not so concerned about plastic leeching.

[sassy's mommy]

QUOTE (Mom2Mitzi @ May 30 2009, 12:32 AM)

I have been thinking about this question for some time and wondering if anyone has an answer for me? I have read that we shouldn't feed our babies out of plastic bowls. I use small glass goblets for Mitzi that used to be my great-grandmother's. I never let the kids use them when they were small, but nothing is too good for our Mitzi! I have also read that we should give our babies bottled water, which I do. But, the water comes in plastic bottles. Is this OK? What would be the difference of water in a plastic bottle vs them drinking out of a plastic bowl? I have no intention of feeding Mitzi out of plastic bowls, I just hope the water I am buying for her isn't hurting her???? Anyone have any comments on this? Thank you.[/B]

I think the issue with plastic doggie bowls is that plastic can harbor bacteria. I am not sure if it is ok if you put it through the dishwasher. I use glass for Sassy and I put it in the dishwasher after each meal. Actually Sassy has about 10 bowls that I use for water and food. I change them daily and always have clean ones available. As for the bottled water I think some people use it because of the minerals in their tap water. Where we live we have great water and Sassy drinks from the tap as we do. However, I do use bottled water for her when we travel. Hope this helps.

[Nikki's Mom]

For health safety, plastic should be BPA-free. If you look on the bottom of the plastic item, you will see a little triangular symbol with a number in it.

Here's a link about what those symbols mean:

http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/03/...c_water_bottles

Some random info about this subject.

Municipal tap water usually contains fluoride and chlorine, no matter how good or bad it tastes.

Rubbermaid is supposed to come out with safe plastic containers. I've used glass storage containers for years. A little inconvenient, but oh well.

Well water can be an unknown factor regarding purity unless it is tested. I became very ill a few years back from drinking what I thought was pure well water while living in a rural, pristine mountain area. Since then I've had to do a lot of research on water.

Brita and Pur filters do not remove fluoride. Reverse Osmosis filters remove fluoride. Fluoride in the water is not so great. I can't in good conscience give it to my Nikki.

Link about fluoride: http://www.holisticmed.com/fluoride/

Link about chlorine: http://www.4optimallife.com/Dangers-Of-Chl...our-Health.html

For our drinking water and shower water, we are fluoride and chlorine-free. We also use fluoride-free toothpaste. It's worth it. And if you color your hair, the color doesn't fade as fast if you have a shower filter. You can buy shower filters at Home Depot, among other places.

Two brands of bottled spring water that do not contain fluoride are:

Crystal Geyser Spring Water (Not Crystal Springs)

Whole Foods 365 Brand Spring water.

The links I provided here are some of many links on these subjects. There are many sites offering information on the internet about water purity, plastic products, fluoride, etc. Some are good, some are bad. Some just want to sell you something. I don't endorse those links posted above, I provided them for research purposes. Everyone has to make their own decisions on these matters.

[luvmyfurbaby]

Also plastic bowl can give dogs allergies. Snoopy always had allergies and itching all around his mouth and I couldn't figure it out. I mentioned it to the vet and she asked me if any of his dishes were plastic. His water bowl was. As soon as I changed it his allergies went away at least in that area.

[puppy lover]

QUOTE (Nikki's Mom @ May 30 2009, 12:02 PM)

For health safety, plastic should be BPA-free. If you look on the bottom of the plastic item, you will see a little triangular symbol with a number in it.

Here's a link about what those symbols mean:

http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/03/...c_water_bottles

Some random info about this subject.

Municipal tap water usually contains fluoride and chlorine, no matter how good or bad it tastes.

Rubbermaid is supposed to come out with safe plastic containers. I've used glass storage containers for years. A little inconvenient, but oh well.

Well water can be an unknown factor regarding purity unless it is tested. I became very ill a few years back from drinking what I thought was pure well water while living in a rural, pristine mountain area. Since then I've had to do a lot of research on water.

Brita and Pur filters do not remove fluoride. Reverse Osmosis filters remove fluoride. Fluoride in the water is not so great. I can't in good conscience give it to my Nikki.

Link about fluoride: http://www.holisticmed.com/fluoride/

Link about chlorine: http://www.4optimallife.com/Dangers-Of-Chl...our-Health.html

For our drinking water and shower water, we are fluoride and chlorine-free. We also use fluoride-free toothpaste. It's worth it. And if you color your hair, the color doesn't fade as fast if you have a shower filter. You can buy shower filters at Home Depot, among other places.

Two brands of bottled spring water that do not contain fluoride are:

Crystal Geyser Spring Water (Not Crystal Springs)

Whole Foods 365 Brand Spring water.

The links I provided here are some of many links on these subjects. There are many sites offering information on the internet about water purity, plastic products, fluoride, etc. Some are good, some are bad. Some just want to sell you something. I don't endorse those links posted above, I provided them for research purposes. Everyone has to make their own decisions on these matters.[/B]

Good info Susan ! Mitzi's Mom, if you do not want to use a reverse osmosis water filter you can have 5 gallon Poland Spring delivered. They have it in the hard plastic (not sure if BPA free though) and glass bottles. Before I had a reverse osmosis filter I used to alternate between the 5 gallon distilled and spring. The problem with the flouride and chlorine for our babies (and us) is that it can take many years for us to get sick from it but can cause problems with a small dog much sooner, like thyroid. There's also a link between flouride and cancer, genetic damage and neurological problems. I do not use flouride in my toothpaste either. (It's been shown it does not even help with reducing cavities in children or adults )

[dwerten]

spring water is best and yes you are correct glass bottles are the best but that is the top of the line stuff lol - volvic water is best bottled water in plastic. The glass jar water i believe is VOSS water - some people have natural spring water near them that come in glass jars and those are great too. A nutritionist we consult with said take a white plastic bowl and put the water in there from the bottle you are using and leave it - let it evaporate and if it discolors the bowl then do not use the water so you can run that test. I have not done so and use Fiji or the whole foods spring 365 or volvic. I use to use distilled but stopped doing so. I change out 3-4 times a day as well and use stainless steel or glass bowls. Hope this helps

[dwerten]

also allergy dogs can be allergic to the plastic but have read some can have allergies to stainless steel as well due to products used to make them


QUOTE (Sassy's mommy @ May 30 2009, 10:06 AM)

QUOTE (Mom2Mitzi @ May 30 2009, 12:32 AM)

I have been thinking about this question for some time and wondering if anyone has an answer for me? I have read that we shouldn't feed our babies out of plastic bowls. I use small glass goblets for Mitzi that used to be my great-grandmother's. I never let the kids use them when they were small, but nothing is too good for our Mitzi! I have also read that we should give our babies bottled water, which I do. But, the water comes in plastic bottles. Is this OK? What would be the difference of water in a plastic bottle vs them drinking out of a plastic bowl? I have no intention of feeding Mitzi out of plastic bowls, I just hope the water I am buying for her isn't hurting her???? Anyone have any comments on this? Thank you.[/B]

I think the issue with plastic doggie bowls is that plastic can harbor bacteria. I am not sure if it is ok if you put it through the dishwasher. I use glass for Sassy and I put it in the dishwasher after each meal. Actually Sassy has about 10 bowls that I use for water and food. I change them daily and always have clean ones available. As for the bottled water I think some people use it because of the minerals in their tap water. Where we live we have great water and Sassy drinks from the tap as we do. However, I do use bottled water for her when we travel. Hope this helps.
[/B][/QUOTE]