How comforting it is to think that our homes are paradises on Earth, that there is nothing safer in this world than it. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking always leaves us to take our homes for granted. Instead of maintaining it as we should, we neglect the needs of our homes. We take comfort in the knowledge that we sweep the floors and don’t let the dishes pile up in the kitchen sinking. Did we even stop to think that maintaining a home is more than just doing our daily household chores?
Your home, like every corner of this world, is also home to a lot of species—insects, pests, organisms, parasites, and many more. These are necessary to fill the gaps in biology, but they aren’t exactly good for your furry friends. So, if you notice them getting sick, consider deep cleaning your home, checking what probable poisonous plants you have in the garden, and scrubbing every inch of where your dogs usually stay since there might be mold and mildew there.
Pets Do Not Come Alone
Pets do brighten up any home. Dogs, especially, are not called man’s best friend for nothing. They brighten up the spaces they occupy. Often, they are the first ones to greet you in the morning and ensures that the house is safe in the evening. But they don’t come alone. That fur you love to bury your face into is also home to ticks, pet dander, parasites, and pathogens. Sometimes, these are only harmful to you and not to them. Other times, such as with ticks, what they carry are more harmful to them than to humans.
Control These Organisms
The best way to make sure your home is safe for your family and dogs is to call a pest control company. They will use chemicals that will eliminate all kinds of insects, parasites, ticks, and allergens from your home. They will make sure also that no mold or mildew is growing a colony in your basement or attic. This is an important step for maintaining your home especially if your house is more than 10 years old.
At the same time, you might want to have your house deep-cleaned by professionals every six months or so. They have high-powered vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers/humidifiers, UV rays, and air purifying machines to eliminate toxins and other allergens from your home. You may consider getting an air purifier machine in the future, too.
Choose the Right Plants
Do you love to garden? Have you checked if the plants you grow are poisonous to your dogs? They could be. Plants such as Sago Palm, Tulips, Lily of the Valley, Oleander, and Philodendrons can make your dogs sick. If you notice them vomiting and unusually quiet, that’s because they are not feeling well. Check if you have any of these plants in the garden. Your dogs might have sniffed at them or even chewed them.
It’s the same thing with your grass. Always make sure that you are not using poisonous chemicals to grow your grass. Your dogs might sniff at them or chew on them. That will make them sick.
Get Rid of Ticks
One of the most common and biggest threats to your dogs is the presence of ticks. These tiny creatures can be found in the garden, and they prey on your dogs. They ride on their fur and then stay on their skin, sucking in blood and leaving marks on your dogs’ bodies. While most ticks cannot survive indoors, the brown dog tick can. It even breeds in the home. To prevent them from hitchhiking on your dogs’ furs, trim the grass and maintain the lawn well. After their walk, check if they have ticks on their skin. Also, bring them to the veterinarian for their anti-tick shot.
Eliminate Lead from Your Home
Lead is present in homes that are at least 50 to 60 years old right now. You can call a home inspector to check if your home used lead paint. If there is lead, then your dogs’ decreased appetite and abdominal pain can be associated with that. Quickly remove the paint and replace it with a water-based one. Lead is not only bad for your dogs’ health, but yours and your family as well.
There are a lot of things in your home that can cause trouble for your dogs and other pets. It’s important to know about these things as the health and life of your dogs depend on this information. Once you know what could be ailing your dogs, address them properly and immediately.