A guide from WoofWellDogsEveryday Care

You Wash Their Food Bowl. What About Their Water Bowl?

The food bowl gets washed after dinner. The water bowl gets topped up for weeks. Here's a simple routine that fixes that.

WoofWell Editorial 3 min read

Washing a dog's water bowl at the kitchen sink

The food bowl gets washed after every meal. You wouldn't dream of leaving it dirty.

Now pick up the water bowl. Run your finger around the inside.

Feel that slimy layer? That's been there for days. And your dog drinks through it every time.

The bowl everyone forgets to wash

Water bowls look clean because the water is clear. But every drink leaves saliva and food behind, and a slimy film builds up on the sides.

The American Kennel Club warns that unwashed water bowls can harbour bacteria.

Topping up doesn't fix it. A plastic bowl makes it worse, because scratches give that film somewhere to cling.

Checking the inside of a water bowl for slime

A better way than daily scrubbing

You should still wash your dog's water bowl. But a fountain makes the job easier and the water fresher between washes.

The American Kennel Club explains that fountains keep water circulating through a filter. The WoofWell's filter pad catches fur and food as it flows.

Its brushed stainless steel bowl is smooth and easy to rinse. Once a week is enough, plus a new filter pad every 3 to 4 weeks.

The short version

Water bowls build up a slimy film within days.
Unwashed bowls can harbour bacteria.
Plastic scratches and holds dirt.
A filtered stainless steel fountain stays fresher between cleans.

WoofWell vs. a water bowl

	Bowl	WoofWell
The water	Sits still all day	Moves all day
Fur and crumbs	Float or sink in it	Caught by a filter pad
Your dog's interest	Easy to walk past	A stream they notice
Holds	A few hundred ml	2.2 litres
Material	Often scratchy plastic	Stainless steel
Water level	Noticed when empty	Lit window shows it

Wiping out the empty, unplugged WoofWell Pure Fountain on the counter

Quick answers before you decide

Will my dog actually use it? Most pets are curious about moving water straight away. Some take a few days. Put it somewhere quiet, keep the old bowl nearby for the first few days, and let your dog choose.

Is it noisy? No. The pump runs at about 30 dB. That's quieter than a whisper, so it won't keep anyone up at night.

Is it a pain to clean? Not at all. Rinse the steel bowl once a week and swap the filter pad every 3 to 4 weeks. There are no hidden corners for slime to hide in.

What does it plug into? It runs on a USB cable, so it works with any phone charger plug you already have.

Try it for yourself

Your dog's water deserves the same care as its food. Upgrade the bowl.

The WoofWell Pure Fountain is R1,199, and delivery is free. Add 4 filters for just R100 more (R1,299, about 3 months of fresh water). Got two pets, or two rooms they love? Buy two Fountain + 4 filters bundles and get R599 off.

Every order ships with Aramex within 5 to 8 business days, anywhere in South Africa. You also get 7 days to return it if it's not right for your home.

Get the WoofWell fountain