Research from Canine Cottages , specialists in dog-friendly vacation rentals , reveals the dirty truth about our dogs' everyday belongings, including their leashes, toys and bowls, as well as some cleaning tips for the rainy season.
To determine how dirty our dog items are, eight different dog items were sampled. The relative light units (which indicate the number of bacteria living on surfaces. The higher the RLU, the dirtier the area) of each item were then analyzed to find out which of them all were the dirtiest.
It turns out that circuit boards, toys and bowls contain the most bacteria. The five dirtiest objects are:
- dog leash
- dog toy
- drinker
- food bowls
- beds for dogs
First on the list is dog leashes with an RLU of 21,456, which is probably no surprise considering they trap dirt and oils from the many dogs that are caught. Toys were the second dirtiest item, followed by water bowls, which is quite concerning since most dogs should be drinking about an ounce of fluid per pound of body weight per day; Therefore, your bowl needs to be cleaned regularly.
Comparing dog objects to their paws, a dog toy has 21 times more bacteria than a human teddy bear, while their bed is 6 times dirtier than a human bed!
As we head into the cooler fall months when we experience more cold and wet days, our dogs pick up more bacteria on their walks, especially when it's muddy. Therefore, it is important for dog owners to take extra measures to keep their dog's daily essentials clean to limit germs and protect their health.
According to Laura Lambert, owner of Dragonfly Products, homeowners should:
dog leash
• Hand wash items with a mild detergent, then air dry or hang over a heater.
• Place heavily soiled items in a pillowcase to avoid damaging the washing machine and hand wash with a mild detergent.dog toy
• Most stuffed animals for dogs can be washed in the washing machine. You can use a dog-safe detergent to clean and disinfect the toy, or you can opt for an all-natural method of baking soda and white vinegar during the wash cycle. Then hang them on the duct or radiator.
• Toys left in the garden pose a risk to lungworms, as snails and snails transmit this parasite. So watch out for snail and slug tracks on toys and balls! Rubber balls and toys can be soaked in white vinegar and baking soda for 30 minutes to clean.dog bowls
• Hand wash the bowls in hot water with liquid detergent or place in the dishwasher for a deep clean (make sure they are dishwasher safe).
• We also recommend cleaning wet raw food daily (raw-fed dogs should also clean their food daily) and dry food at least three times a week.
For dog beds /towels , Julie Butcher from Webbox says:
• You must ensure that you only use non-toxic and non-irritating cleaning products. If you wash by hand, fill the sink with warm water and a little mild detergent, and after washing, put the bed in a ventilated closet or outside to dry.
• When using a washing machine, select a temperature of 40°C or higher to ensure all bacteria are killed.
dirty claws
Of course, when the weather is wet, our dogs come home with dirty paws , so it's important that the owners don't forget to clean them. The last thing you want is for your dog to bring dirt into your home or, worse, spread dirt and bacteria from his paws onto his toys, which he will no doubt end up putting in his mouth at some point.
Canine Cottages experts say:
• If your paws are a little dusty, simply dampen a towel or rag and wipe them off.
• If mud or dirt gets stuck between the cushions or on the foot, place it in the tub to give it a thorough wash. Using dog-friendly products, gently and thoroughly scrub the soiled areas, then rinse off the shampoo and residue thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• No matter how you clean your paws, don't forget to clean your toes and claws as well.
Commenting on the study, a spokesman for Canine Cottages said: "With the rainy season approaching, dog owners will be out for lots of muddy walks with their furry friends - a little more cleaning up is in order!
"From dog towels to dog beds, we wanted to see how dirty or clean our most-used dog items are compared to the human equivalent, and provide helpful tips for dog owners to help them understand how to clean those items over time." We are approaching the rainy season.
To learn more about the study and find out how human objects compare to our pooches, go here .
This is a guest post by Canine Cottages. Would you like to write for us? Visit www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/essay-submission or email editor@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk
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