What's Living On Your Dog's Bed

Imagine if you only washed occasionally, rolled around in the grass, and only changed your bed sheet every month or two or? What do you think your bed would look or like?
We all know that humans don’t usually act like this. But dogs do! Now think about what your dog may be sleeping on – dirt, hair, pollen, dead skin cells, feces, germs and slobber. And, what about odors?

On average, 1 in 20 dog owners (US and UK) do not wash their dog’s bed or dog bed cover. Maybe some dog owners simply throw the bed away when it gets too dirty. And a study by, Vamoosh, makers of hygienic, pet hair dissolving washing machine detergent, found that close to 66% of dog owners let their children snuggle into their dog’s bed… where bacteria, bugs, along with salmonella, ringworm, listeria, and MRSA could be present. Eew! Is it any wonder that we are big fans of washable dog bed covers?

A report from the University of Arizona found that dog beds contain hundreds of germs, MRSA and fecal material – making them on of the germiest places in the house. 😱

Washable Dog Bed Covers keep these health threats from infesting the bed:

1. External Parasites – These are fleas, ticks or mites that your dog could get from another animal and bring them into your home and then into your dog’s bed. Fleas and ticks can come into your home on your dog or your clothing or shoes. All these pests can carry and spread disease. 

2. Ringworms – Not an actual worm but a fungal infection. Ringworm spores can live on bedding for up to two years if left untreated. The fungal infection can spread to other animals or humans in your home. My dog had this. His skin was itchy and clumps of hair were falling out. Under his hair were crusty patches that required a Rx to clear it up.

3. Roundworms and Hookworms - Roundworms are parasites that live in the intestine of dogs. Infected dogs can shed roundworm eggs in their feces. Your dog might ingest the feces (my Lab loves to eat poop) and get sick. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Hookworms live in the small intestine and shed their eggs in the feces. Your dog could get hookworm from eating contaminated soil. If they roll in contaminated soil, larvae may burrow through the skin. Symptoms of hookworm include weight loss and diarrhea. If your dog has roundworm or hookworm, the dog’s bedding could harbor eggs.  

4. Salmonella and Listeria – The CDC found that 25% of commercial raw dog food tested positive for these nasty bacteria. Symptoms include high temperature, refusal to eat, weight-loss, diarrhea, vomiting and tiredness. A dog may carry the harmful bacteria in their intestines with no symptoms and expose your family to illness. To avoid this, the CDC recommends sanitizing  all surfaces, including bedding, on a regular basis.

To see how fast a dog bed gets dirty, we put a white dog bed cover on one of our dog's bed. Within three days, this is is what it looked like this. Wouldn’t you be hoping you could simply pull off this dog bed cover and pop it into the washing machine? You could have a perfectly clean dog bed cover back on the bed in less than an hour.

QUIZ: Test Your Dog Bed Hygiene IQ

1. How often should dog bedding be washed?

When you buy a bed for your dog, think about what it will take to wash it.

You can cut down on the frequency of washing the bed by keeping your dog clean and well-groomed - brush often. If your dog likes to roll around in dirt, you'll have to use your judgment. If your dog is a larger breed, washing the entire bed can be a daunting task.

A washable dog bed cover cuts down on washing the bed, and makes pet ownership easier.

This is a must, take it from us. Don’t wash the bed, wash the cover — it is so much easier. Any removable, washable dog bed cover will do the trick (but PawSheets are our favorite). When washing any dog bed or cover, be sure to use hot water and dry it on a high setting. These high heat settings are the only way to kill parasites, their eggs, and bacteria on a dog’s beddings. Between washings, a spray of DEODORATOR® works great to keep your dog bed clean and fresh.

Consider using grooming wipes between shampoos to clean your dog’s paws before entering your home – especially after visiting a dog park. (I use and recommend earthbath® grooming and facial wipes.) Don’t forget to give flea and tick medication year-round to avoid to parasites in your home.

PawSheets to the rescue!
Every dog loves a clean bed. The problem is that the beautiful new bed you bought last week is already too dirty to look at. And, we know a new bed every week is not going tobe in the budget. PawSheets Washable Dog Bed Covers are the ideal solution. These dog bed sheets are easy-on/easy off. They’re also attractive, affordable, washable, and made to last — change the PawSheet, not the bed. This saves you money and keeps that expensive bed out of the landfill!

Resources:

https://www.dogingtonpost.com/dogs-bed-top-10-germiest-places/

https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/scary-things-in-dog-bed

Answers to Quiz: Weekly, True