Table 3 Feeding practices and food bowl hygiene measures employed by the surveyed population

Feed type

n = 351, 100%

n = 186, 100%

 Dry and wet commercial pet food

n = 183, 52.1%

n = 159, 85.4%

 Cooked home-prepared diet

n = 26, 7.4%

n = 5, 2.6%

 Raw commercial and home-prepared diet

n = 62, 17.7%

n = 10, 5.8%

 A mix of the above diet types

n = 80, 22.8%

n = 12, 6.2%

Daily feeding frequency

n = 351, 100%

n = 186, 100%

 1/day

n = 28, 8%

n = 4, 2.2%

 2/day

n = 248, 70.7%

n = 48, 25.8%

 3/day

n = 59, 16.8%

n = 36, 19.4%

 > 4/day

n = 2, 0.6%

n = 18, 9.7%

 Ad libitum

n = 14, 4%

n = 80, 43%

Food bowl material

n = 351, 100%

n = 186, 100%

 Metal

n = 236, 67.1%

n = 70, 37.6%

 Plastic

n = 68, 19.5%

n = 71, 38.1%

 Ceramic

n = 34, 9.6%

n = 19, 10.5%

 Other

n = 13, 3.8%

n = 26, 13.8%

Food bowl cleaning frequency

n = 351, 100%

n = 186, 100%

 After each meal

n = 125, 35.7%

n = 40, 21.5%

 Once a day

n = 59, 16.7%

n = 42, 22.7%

 2–3 times a week

n = 56, 15.9%

n = 36, 19.3%

 Once a week

n = 57, 16.4%

n = 31, 16.6%

 2–3 times a month

n = 23, 6.5%

n = 18, 9.4%

 Once a month

n = 14, 4%

n = 12, 6.6%

 Less than once a month

n = 12, 3.4%

n = 6, 3.3%

 Never

n = 5, 1.4%

n = 1, 0.6%

Cleaning methods

n = 351, 100%

n = 186, 100%

 Not cleaned

n = 4, 1.1%

n = 2, 1.1%

 Dry wiping

n = 60, 17.1%

n = 22, 11.7%

 Rinse by hand

n = 78, 22.1%

n = 34, 18.2%

 Wash with soap and sponge

n = 136, 38.6%

n = 86, 46.4%

 Dishwasher

n = 17, 5.0%

n = 16, 8.8%

 By hand then the dishwasher

n = 56, 16.1%

n = 26, 13.8%