It is one of the more unpleasant aspects of pet care but it is an important one! Whether it is potty training, litter box training or removing accidents from our carpets, pet urine and feces is an inevitable part of taking care of your furry friends! It is important to know a little more about animals bathroom habits and their excretions to make both of your lives easier.
Did you know cat urine has ammonia in it? This is why it is very difficult to remove the smell of cat urine from rugs, carpets, luggage or other fabrics. Do not allow cat urine to sit for long periods of time without cleaning it. This can cause harmful allergic reactions in humans such as red eyes, skin irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, coughing and sneezing.
Do not handle cat feces without gloves. Diseases can be transferred from cat feces to humans. The two most common diseases are e.coli and toxoplasmosis. Litter boxes with lids are helpful. Keep an eye out in your backyard for feces deposits to discard if you have an outdoor cat. Curious children and dogs looking for a snack will sometimes take from the kitty litter box or the grass outdoors. Clean it regularly and avoid placing the litter box on carpeted areas.
Unless they are sick, most potty trained pooches will avoid having accidents in the house. Setting up and sticking to a bathroom routine will prevent your dog from using the bathroom indoors. Installing a doggy door is your best bet to ensure this won’t ever become a issue. However, if your dog does his business in the front or backyard of your house, there is a possibility their urine is killing your grass. There are dog grass saver treats that can actually prevent their urine from destroying your lawn. Don’t let indoor accidents sit for too long, they are easier to take care of the problem when handled as soon as they are noticed.
Use a doggy bag to clean up your pets feces. Never allow dog feces to stay in the yard for longer than 7 days. Their feces can contain a variety of bacteria and parasites such as parvovirus, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, threadworms, campylobacteriosis, giardia, and coccidia. Some of these can be passed down from dog to human. Additionally, dog feces that sits in one area outdoors for too long can contaminate the water and the soil. Do not directly touch the feces with your hand, wear gloves or use the doggy bag like a glove when picking up feces. Be diligent about picking up after your dog.
Many people do not realize the dangers of pet urine and feces if not kept after. If your pets bathroom habits change or they have more accidents, consult a vet. It is not the most glamourous part of petcare but a very necessary one. It is a messy job but someone's gotta do it!
