(Tiranjini Pillai / Daily Titan)
Owning a pet can bring so much joy to a person’s life and may provide unique health benefits for their owners. Pets are a responsibility, but sometimes tend to be forgotten once the reality of the maintenance and supervision kicks in.
Many may be surprised that, although their pet’s food bowls provide their pets with nutrients needed for survival, it can also be a hotspot for germs.
According to a Plos One study of 400 dog owners’ dish washing habits, 22% wash their pet’s dishes once a week and 18% either wash their pet’s dishes every few months or not at all. Only 12% wash their pet’s dishes every day.
Not many people think about washing their pet’s food bowls on a daily basis. However, their food bowls are known to contain germs and bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. A pet’s water bowl can contain germs that have harbored algae and mold. According to the National Sanitation Foundation, pet bowls are ranked No. 4 for being the most germ-infested place in a home.
Even a simple wipe with a paper towel and water after each meal, is not enough to prevent bacteria. Dishwashers also do not do the trick; salmonella residuals reside in 67% of bowls, since the lack of heat fails to kill the bacteria.
Since pets eat with their mouths, their saliva mixes with their food leaving a recipe for bacteria and germs to form. Some people often think this is only true for raw or wet food, but dry food and kibble still run the risk of salmonella. Using bleach cleaning solutions is the best practice when it comes to fighting against bacteria.
Along with proper cleaning solutions and daily maintenance of the dishes owners put their pet’s food in, they must make sure to store the food correctly to protect the quality of the food and health of the pet.
Heat often spoils the pet food if not sealed properly. So, it’s best to store pet food in cool and dry places to avoid unknowingly serving pets rancid food. It’s also important to make sure it’s properly sealed to avoid ants, bugs, and other rodents from getting in.
If their food isn’t stored correctly, it may cause the food to become stale and stripped of nutritional value. This could also contribute to pets getting sick from their food.
Not enough people are aware that negligence toward proper food handling, dish maintenance, and overall knowledge of pet food can be detrimental to a pet’s health. When it comes to safely feeding pets, more information and knowledge should be easily accessible for pet owners to follow.
Since pet owners don’t even know about the risks food bowls can bring, it should be talked about when initially considering a pet. Pet companies should do a better job at raising awareness of the risks that come from poor handling and serving of pet food.
Current pet owners should educate themselves on best practices for food and dish cleanliness. Some responsibility falls on the pet companies for not raising awareness about these issues.
It’s time for pet owners to take a step up and accept the responsibility of taking care of a pet. Cleaning and disinfecting a pet’s dish may take extra time and effort, but that is part of the responsibility of having a pet and keeping them healthy.
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Originally Appeared Here