Would you say that your house is clean? A report by NSF International found that there are far more bacteria and germs in our house than we realize, even if it looks tidy. They analyzed the kitchens of 20 American families and found that 25% of them had salmonella on the work surfaces, 25% of them had eColi, 10% had listeria and there was yeast and mold in 100% of the fridges. This can be extremely harmful, not just for you, but also for your dog. Although dogs can sometimes be messy (anyone with a Labrador can confirm this), on the whole they are incredibly clean animals. It is your responsibility to keep your house clean for your dog so that they stay healthy.
Kitchen floors
Although many pet owners would feed their dog tidbits and treats off the floor, it is a definite no-no and there is no such thing as the mythical five-second rule. If food has been dropped, don’t eat it — and certainly don’t give it to your dog. A study done by Rutgers University found that the average floor comes into contact with the bacteria Enterobacter Aerogenes every single day — this can cause serious food poisoning. EColi and Salmonella were also extremely common and easily spread, just by walking around. Make sure that you clean your kitchen floors regularly with a natural disinfectant and fully dry them afterwards. Try and avoid harsh chemicals as these can be harmful to your dog’s skin and paws.
Keeping carpets clean
Do you know what is dirtier than your toilet? Your carpet. In fact studies have found that it is 4,000 times dirtier! On average there are 200,000 strains of bacteria and germs in your carpets and rugs along with plenty of allergens, such as dust mites. These can affect both you and your dog. You will also commonly find Micrococcus in your carpet – this can cause serious skin infections in dogs. The only way to manage this is to vacuum as often as possible and to get your carpet professionally cleaned regularly. Steam cleaning is a good and effective way to remove dirt and germs and it doesn’t contain any abrasive chemicals that can get on your dog’s fur and skin.
Your dog’s bed
If you are one of the 44% of Americans that has a dog, then you will know that many of them have a distinctive smell. Dog’s regularly bring in dirt and germs from their walkies and unless you give them a bath and clean their paws every time they have been out, this will end up in their bed. Research done by Dr. Kelly Reynolds of the University of Arizona found that dog beds are in the top 10 of the dirtiest places in the house. Your dog’s sleeping spot will commonly harbor fecal matter, MRSA and hundreds of germs. Yet 1 in 20 owners have never washed their dog’s bed. To protect your furry friend, pop their bed in the washing machine once a week – they will be healthier and happier.
If you have a dog, it is important that you keep your house clean. Germs and bacteria are not only harmful to you, but also to your canine companion.
Article by: Jane Anderson, a freelance writer, editor and dog owner.
Photo by Mo Freeman on Unsplash