Furry friends are the best support system to have around. They lift our daylong fatigue with their interactive and playful nature. Having well-groomed and healthy pets brings satisfaction and joy. However, pets hygiene can be one concern for pet parents. With about 68 percent of US households having a pet, you can imagine the rising power of pets.
But your furry friends need more than good food, freshwater, or daily workouts. Your pet needs a consistent tidying schedule to keep itself clean and tick-free. Skin health and dental care are significant areas in pet grooming that need attention. Here are some hygiene tips to help your pets stay healthy and lustrous.
Check Your Pets For Ticks And Fleas
Pets like to play in muddy pools and soiled tracks. This can put your four-legged friend to risk from bugs and mites. The mere sight of bloodthirsty insects crawling on your pets’ skin is unwelcome and can raise alarm bells on your pet’s health.
Check your pet for ticks, especially after they come back from outdoor walks. Look for red, irritated skin on your pet’s belly, neck, or hind legs. If you suspect a flea infestation, apply an anti-tick and flea massage oil on your pet’s skin. Follow it up by giving your pet a shampoo bath with warm water. Repeat it every ten days until the flea manifestation disappears.
Aside from topical anti-tick remedies in dog or cat grooming, clean your home interiors thoroughly to create an insect-free environment. Test your pets’ skin for fleas and ticks regularly by using grooming accessories like a flea comb. Spray your wooden furniture, tiles, and doorposts with neem oil and apple cider vinegar to eradicate hidden mites.
Clean Pet Dishes, Water Bowls, And Toys Frequently
Germs lurk around in every corner of the living space. Pet bowls are no exception. As pet parents, you need to provide your furry babies with clean bowls and dishes for their health and hygiene. Rinse and scrub your pets’ feeding bowl with warm, soapy water. Dry it thoroughly before refilling it with water or solid food.
Get into the habit of sanitizing pet bowls with bleach solution. For pets that consume wet food, wash and sanitize the bowl after every meal. Unclean bowls contain harmful bacteria that may contaminate your furry animal’s mouth. Consider buying stainless steel bowls as they are the safest for your pet to drink or eat from and most straightforward to clean too.
Pets, like children, have a fascination for toys. But the pet toys can get dirty quickly. Wash your pets’ playthings with soap and water, or put them in the washing machine for a quick wash. You can sanitize your pet toys regularly to keep the germs away.
Bathe Your Pets Regularly
Regular bathing of your pets is essential to keep their coat healthy and maintain good hygiene. Outdoor-loving dogs may need routine bathing than dogs who spend more time indoors. Avoid bathing your dogs too frequently as it can cause skin irritations.
You may use dog towelettes to keep your dog fresh consistently. It will also help remove dog poop, and pee remains. Remember to wash your hands with medicated soap after bathing your furry friend to avoid contact with microscopic germs. Reach out for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to reduce the number of germs you may become infected with.
Keep Your Backyard Clean
Pets are innocently cute and playful, but they can create a mess of your rooms and outdoor spaces. Some pet lovers may be careless in maintaining the hygiene standards of the backyard and use it for storing junk and dump. This is a harmful practice that can work against your pet’s health.
Clean up your backyard regularly, or it can become the breeding ground of dreaded ticks and mites. Mow the long grasses growing in your backyard to maintain a neat look. This may reduce the chances of your naughty pets getting hidden germs on their even coat.
Pay Attention To Your Pet’s Bedding
Besides being a magnet for fur, dirt, and grime, your pets’ bedding can harbor flea eggs, larvae, and other skin parasites. Clear bedding keeps your pet dander to a minimum, so vacuum your pet bed covers and blankets with a dye-free detergent daily or weekly. Keep the water temperature to 130 degrees or higher and dry the bedding on high heat for 20 minutes.
When buying appropriate bedding for your domestic animal, pay attention to the bed linen material. Find out the quality of your dog mattress and other bedding items and keep an extra pair of pet bedding essentials for the rainy day.
The Bottom Line
Aside from hygiene, give your pets basic grooming like nail trimming, teeth brushing, ear cleaning. Brush their coats regularly to reduce tangling and dead hair removal. Always wear gloves when handling pet poop or dog waste bags to avoid hand contact with their feces. Consider your dog size and breed before bathing it indoors or outside.
