Spotless Pets

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1  Dogs

Chapter 2  Cats

Chapter 3  Birds

Chapter 4  Fish

Chapter 5  Horses

Chapter 6  Other Pets

Chapter 7  A–Z Stain Removal

Chapter 8  Household Formulas

Appendix 1  Quick Guide to Removing Stains from Fabric

Appendix 2  Ideal Dog Weights

Index

About the Authors

Also by Shannon Lush and Jennifer Fleming

Copyright

INTRODUCTION

Whether they are wild or domestic, large or small, Shannon has always loved animals and enjoyed interacting with these diverse life forms. Jennifer was lucky enough to grow up with a range of pets – from guinea pigs and chickens to cat and dogs that were all part of the family.

We love our pets. A whopping 63 per cent of Australian households own a pet and more than 83 per cent of Australians have had a pet at some time in their lives. It’s almost a rite of passage for children to pester their parents for a pet.

In addition to companionship, pets offer health benefits, including lowered blood pressure. The simple act of patting your beloved pet reduces stress. You’ve probably heard amazing stories of pets that have saved their owners’ lives. Many patients stuck in hospitals receive ‘pet therapy’, in which they are happily visited by a furry friend. Other unexpected benefits of owning a pet include lower infection rates because pets help strengthen children’s immune systems. If you have a dog, you exercise more thanks to daily walks. In fact, most animals like to play, which increases activity levels. There’s also more conversation in homes that have pets.

According to the Pet Report 2015,¹ which surveyed thousands of pet owners in the UK, a majority of owners believe pets have a positive impact on a child’s development: 58 per cent said a pet makes children more responsible and 28 per cent claimed pets improved children’s behaviour.

But as much as we love our pets, they are also a source of mess and stains. The most obvious and common stains are poo, pee, dirt, fur and blood. Because pets like to return to the same spot to do their business, if you don’t remove every last bit of it, the area becomes a magnet for further mishaps and attractive to other animals, not to mention a source of unpleasant smells.

The good news is that pet stains can be treated with items you probably already have in your cleaning cupboard, including white vinegar, bicarb (bicarbonate of soda), a cake of bathroom soap and dishwashing liquid. Other handy items include glycerine, ultraviolet light (to detect invisible urine stains), old pantyhose, an old toothbrush and a spray pack.

When removing stains, be methodical. Don’t panic and use the first product you can get your hands on. Work out the components of the stain – protein, carbohydrate, fat, chemical or biological dyes, resins or glues. Proteins are animal or seed based (including poo), carbohydrates are darker at the centre and feel stiff, fats are greasy between your fingers, and resins and glues won’t dissolve in water. If you’re not sure, clean with cold water first, then use hot water, then solvents. If the stain contains several components, remove proteins first with cold water, then remove fats, then any chemical or biological dyes and then any resins or glues.

Prevention is always better than cure: use mats, rugs and covers. Regardless of the stain, the sooner you deal with it, the easier it is to remove. And then reward yourself with a treat.

CHAPTER 1

DOGS

There’s a reason why dogs are known as man’s best friend. Whether they’re working dogs or pet dogs, they are ideal companion animals and some are even treated as furry ‘children’. If you own a dog, you’re more likely to be active, which is good for health and wellbeing. Research has shown that children growing up in dog-owning families experience lower rates of asthma and allergies. Dogs can lift your mood and reduce loneliness, depression and stress. They are watchdogs for your home and offer protection when you’re out walking. What’s not to love?

WHICH DOG IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail? It’s a classic song but terrible advice when deciding on a dog. Don’t simply pick the most fashionable dog but the one that best matches your lifestyle. Work out the time and energy you can spend on it. If you work long hours or have limited mobility, choose a less sociable breed or factor in the cost of hiring a dog walker. If you live in an apartment, choose a low-energy breed. If you live in the bush or tick-prone areas, opt for a shorter-haired breed. Dogs bred to be non-shedding will need to be groomed more often. Consider the breed’s ability to handle heat or cold, although more often in Australia it’s about heat. The lighter the dog’s skin, the more susceptible it will be to sun damage. Avoid buying from ‘puppy farms’ and consider pet rescue options. Arrange with your vet to desex, microchip and vaccinate your four-legged friend.

FEEDING

Once you’ve decided on a dog, talk to your vet about what it can eat, including the type of bones, because this varies according to the breed. It’s likely your dog will eat a combination of tinned, dry and fresh food. If you buy commercial dog food, check that it complies with the Australian Standard: Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food AS 5812–2011. In addition to food, your dog needs plenty of drinking water, and this should be changed and refreshed every day.

Your dog’s diet determines how you’ll need to clean its poo and pee, since what goes in at one end affects what comes out at the other. While the bulk of dog food is made up of protein, there can be additives, such as caramel colouring, which leaves a brown stain that only appears a couple of days after the accident. Because caramel contains sugar, it requires an extra stage of cleaning: lightly brush with 2 drops of glycerine on an old toothbrush. Leave for 90 minutes. Dip a cake of bathroom soap in cold water and scribble it on the stain as though using a crayon. Fold a damp cloth flat and polish out the stain.

Different breeds of dog process foods differently, especially cold-weather breeds. Check with your vet. According to the RSPCA, dogs shouldn’t eat any of the following:

avocado, garlic, green unripe tomatoes, mushrooms, onions

grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants

fruit stones including mango seeds, apricot stones, avocado stones, fruit seeds and corncobs

nuts including macadamia nuts (pastes such as peanut butter are fine)

fish, cooked bones, small pieces of raw bone, fatty trimmings

bread dough

coffee or caffeine products

chocolate

Xylitol (a sugar substitute found in many foods including sugar-free chewing gum, lollies, baked goods and toothpaste)

The owners of one dog, Pluto, discovered this the hard way when he ate a macadamia nut that became caught in his bowel. The surgery cost $5000.

Food bowls

Think of your dog’s food and water bowls in the same way as you would your dinner plate. Clean them after each use or you’ll end up with a nasty, sticky, high-protein surface that’s harder to clean and attracts pests. Rinse them in the sink, wash with a little dishwashing liquid and hot water, then rinse with fresh, clean water to remove soap residue. Alternatively, wipe with a small amount of salt and water, then rinse with clean water. (The salt acts as a mild abrasive.) Allow the bowls to dry after cleaning or they will quickly go mouldy.

Dogs often spill their water and food bowls and they can become contaminated with bacteria – especially during warm weather. To minimise spills, use wide-based bowls or suction-based bowls, which are more difficult to tip over. Place a plastic or rubber mat underneath bowls to make cleaning easier.

If there’s both a dog and a cat in your home, keep their food bowls separate and feed them at different times. While dogs can eat most cat food, cats can’t eat dog food and need higher levels of protein and fat. Cat food often contains a high proportion of fish, which can upset a dog’s stomach in large volumes. Both animals have different chewing abilities: dogs’ jaws move laterally and vertically, but cats’ jaws only move vertically. Cats are less able to process carbohydrates because their long intestine is shorter in length. Dog saliva breaks down a multitude of bacteria. That’s why a dog bite can easily become infected.

Keeping your dog cool

Dogs with heavy coats, such as a St Bernard or Siberian Husky, are not suited to the Australian climate and can suffer sunburn and heat exhaustion. There are jackets designed so you can slide fridge gels inside to keep the dog cool. Clip their hair in summer and ensure there’s plenty of water for them to drink so they’ll stay cool. Because dogs don’t sweat, the only way they can cool down is through panting. When going for a walk, take a bowl with you so you can fill it with fresh water for your pooch. In cities, puddles are often not safe for your dog to drink from.

Cleaning around feeding areas

When cleaning around dog feeding areas, only use products that are safe for pets. Avoid using bleach. It’s full of harmful chemicals including dioxins and can break down surfaces, making them porous and susceptible to bacteria. Opt for non-toxic cleaning items like bicarb and white vinegar instead. Fragrance can make dogs feel sick and cause irritation. Mark around where your dog licks with chalk and don’t use insecticides and surface sprays inside the chalk line. Choose sprays that are safe for dogs.

If there are flies near the food, it could indicate you are overfeeding your dog or that the food is old. As soon as your dog finishes eating, the bowl should be cleaned. If you’re busy and can’t monitor your dog’s food intake, use a food dispenser.

Old food can attract maggots – or fly larvae – which smell like rotten meat and can spread throughout the house. To get rid of them, vacuum and wash every surface. You’ll need to clean behind and under every piece of furniture. They are active in the dark, so look for them at night with a torch and your vacuum cleaner at the ready, and clean as fast as you can. When you’re finished, replace the vacuum cleaner bag. If you have a bagless vacuum cleaner, wash the dust container thoroughly.

Poo on carpet

Q: ‘We have an elderly dog,’ reports Annie. ‘It walked poo up and down the hallway on cream wool Berber carpet. What do you suggest?’