Did You Know That Your Dog's Bowl Can Make You Both Very Sick?

If you have any sense of hygiene at all, you wash your plates after using them once, and you wouldn’t use a dirty plate again without cleaning it first.

Why, then, do so many dog parents choose to leave their dogs’ doggy bowls unwashed? Then again, maybe you do wash your dog’s plates. But how can you keep them clean the right way?

Bacteria can grow and multiply quickly in an unwashed dog bowl, make their way into an unsuspecting dog’s mouth. Similarly, germs that were on your dog’s mouth get onto their bowls.

The types of bacteria vary depending on oral hygiene and food type, but it’s never really a good thing. Not only can these problems get your dog sick, but it can get you sick as well – and any other humans in your family, especially vulnerable babies and toddlers.

How often should you clean a dog bowl? It depends on the food type. Dry kibble bowls can be cleaned once daily. Wet food – and raw food – bowls should be cleaned after each and every meal. Water bowls should also be cleaned daily. It’s also a good idea to serve food by placing bowls on a food mat. And you should throw out bowls that are chipped or cracked.

Now, next question: should you use sponges? Well, kitchen sponges often collect tons of bacteria and should be changed on a bi-weekly basis. They should also get their own washes every few days in a microwave or dishwasher. If you do this, then they’re safe to use n doggy bowls – but use a separate sponge for human plates!

Using a dishwasher is also a great option for quick, easy doggy bowl cleaning. Germs get killed, the bowl gets fully cleaned, and your dog is happier and healthier for it. Give it a try and keep your dog safe from germs!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay