This is a specific conversation about Dog bowls and feeders — more important than you think — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
That smell from a plastic feeder is a real giveaway — plastic scratches over time and those micro-grooves trap bacteria and food oils, which is exactly what you're noticing. Switching to stainless is absolutely the right call, especially for a large breed like an Akita. Before I point you toward something specific: how tall is your current raised feeder, is your Akita a fast eater, and has your vet ever mentioned bloat risk as something to watch?
The current stand puts the bowl at about 20cm off the ground. He's not a crazy fast eater but definitely not slow either. No specific bloat warning from the vet but I know Akitas can be prone to it so I want to be careful.
inparticular.ai
Good that you're being proactive about bloat — Akitas are a deep-chested breed so it's worth keeping in mind. For their size, a raised height of roughly 20–30cm is generally comfortable; you're in a reasonable range already. One thing worth knowing: the current evidence on raised feeders and bloat is mixed, so I wouldn't go significantly higher thinking it helps — keep it at a sensible ergonomic height rather than very elevated. What's your Akita's approximate weight, and are you feeding wet, dry, or a mix?
He's about 40kg. Dry kibble, twice a day.
inparticular.ai
Perfect, that gives me everything I need. For a 40kg Akita eating dry kibble from a raised feeder, I'd go with the Kerbl stainless steel bowl with adjustable stand. It comes in a large bowl size — around 2.8 litres — which is plenty for an Akita's portion, the stand adjusts between roughly 19cm and 29cm so you can dial in exactly where your current setup sits, and crucially the bowl lifts out completely for dishwasher cleaning. Stainless won't scratch, won't harbour smell, and the bowl edge is rolled so there are no sharp lips. It's a straightforward, well-made product that does exactly what you need without any gimmicks.
That sounds good. Is stainless definitely better than ceramic for this kind of thing?
inparticular.ai
For a raised feeder specifically, yes — stainless is the better choice. Ceramic is fine for floor-level bowls where weight doesn't matter, but on a stand you want something that won't crack or chip if it's knocked, and ceramic can be heavy and fragile in that configuration. Stainless is also non-porous, so unlike plastic or glazed ceramic with any glaze imperfections, there's genuinely nowhere for bacteria to establish. For a large active dog eating twice daily, stainless with a dishwasher-safe removable bowl is the most practical long-term option.
Great, I'll go for the Kerbl one. Thanks.
inparticular.ai
Good choice — you'll notice the difference immediately, both in terms of no smell after a few days and how much easier it is to keep genuinely clean. Worth giving the new bowl a wash before first use just to remove any manufacturing residue, and your Akita should take to it without any fuss. Enjoy the upgrade.