Bottle, Bowl or Both!?

Bottle, Bowl or Both!?

One of the most asked questions when it comes to keeping our small pets hydrated is what is the best way to do it? Whether you have a rabbit, guinea pig or other small pet, there is a lot to consider when choosing the most ideal way to ensure water is available 24/7.

The options are simply a water bottle or bowl. They both have their advantages and also disadvantages. Below is a overview of those pro’s and con’s:

Bottles
Pros:

• Guaranteed water available 24/7 when used with our water bottle holders.
• When used with our water bottle holders, you can put them anywhere and in all sorts of positions.
• They are out of reach of the pet so it is harder for them to chew.
• The water is protected from dirt and debris such as hay and sawdust.
• The water in the bottle won’t evaporate like in a bowl.
• The water is always clean and fresh.
• Easy water changes with our water bottle holder.

Cons:

• When in use they can make a slightly annoying noise.
• They are harder to clean (but not with our bottle brush!).
• With lots of use, they can develop dripping.
• Not as easy to drink out of like a bowl.

Bowls
Pros:

• Natural drinking position.
• Easy to clean.
• Rabbits tend to drink more from bowls.

Cons:

• Water is exposed to dirt and debris.
• Water bowls can easily be knocked over if placed in a confined space.
• If the bowl is not ceramic and is plastic or another similar material, it can be chewed.
• Not ideal for smaller pet set-ups.
• Needs monitoring more than bottles to ensure clean water is available.

It is no easy decision to decide which method of providing water is best for your little one and usually small pet owners tend to pick one or the other instead of considering both.

At Buttercup Pet Products, we feel the best way to go is to have both available at all times. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods go hand in hand with one another meaning if both methods are used, the likelihood of your small pet not having water available is extremely low.

Another consideration is what your pet prefers. For example, our rabbit Button never used a bowl whereas her sister, Teacup, loved drinking from a bowl. This led us to provide both drinking methods so we had confidence they both had available what they preferred.

Whichever option you decided to go with Buttercup Pet Products has you covered! We currently have our water bottle holders available which are perfect for water bottle users and we are currently developing ceramic and stainless steel water/ food bowls. Watch this space!