Prevent health issues for yourself and your pets with this guidance
If you are reading this, it is probably because you also have a faithful four-legged companion at home. These furry friends are part of the family, and their happiness and health are just as important as those of anyone else living in the house.
Perhaps it is why you let them sleep in your bed or occasionally spoil them with unhealthy food. But there are some signs of love that can do more harm than good to their health.
A clear (and little-known) example of this comes from food engineer Montse Meléndez, who explained to her Instagram followers exactly how – and how often – we should wash our beloved pets’ bowls.
This routine task should happen in every home where cats, dogs and other domesticated animals live alongside us. But overlooking one serious danger could make your entire house – human and pet – feel sick.
Below, we have outlined all the key steps to ensure that you and your pets are well protected from bacteria and potential infections.
Never use the same sink or sponge
The food engineer said: “Although you may not have thought about it, your pet’s food bowl can contain a considerable amount of bacteria that accumulates throughout the day. Therefore, washing it in the same place where we wash our own kitchen utensils can contaminate our sink and whatever we put in it.
“Ideally, you should find another space to clean your dog or cat’s bowl and use it solely for this purpose. The same applies to kitchen sponges, as using the same one can lead to cross-contamination and cause illness in you or your pet.”
How often should you wash your pet’s food and water bowl?
How often you wash their bowl will depend partly on their diet. For pets that require a soft diet and wet food, it is important to wash their bowl after each use. If they eat dry diet, washing can be done at most once a week.
However, the expert’s recommendation is, once again, to do it more often and prioritise daily cleaning, if possible. Just like the food bowl, it is also necessary to rinse your furry friend’s water bowl out daily to avoid ‘leaving food scraps or drool in it.
In other pet news, vets have reminded animal owners about some festive items that could be toxic to our beloved dogs – especially desserts. Veterinary nurse Carolanne Cicero explains eight items that should be kept well out of the way when pets are around.
