How to disinfect a dog after walking it home

On a sunny day, strolling around the streets and alleys with your dog, enjoying the fresh outdoor air, and watching your dog run happily and explore to its heart's content, is undoubtedly the most enjoyable time in pet raising life. However, when the dog walk is over and we return home with the dog, an important step that cannot be ignored quietly appears - disinfecting the dog. This measure is not only related to the health of the dog itself, but also closely linked to the hygiene and safety of the entire family. It is a detailed expression of our deep love for dogs.

Dogs' paws can be regarded as pioneers in contact with the external environment. During their walks, their paws will tread on various surfaces, from dusty streets to grasslands that may harbor bacteria, to corners contaminated with excrement from other animals, each step exposing their paws to countless potential risks. After returning home, the first thing to do is to carefully clean the dog's paws. Prepare a pot of water at a suitable temperature, gently grasp the dog's paws, immerse them in the water, gently scrub, and thoroughly clean the dust, dirt, and foreign objects between the paw crevices. Subsequently, use a clean and soft towel to patiently dry the paws, ensuring that there is no residual moisture. For dog breeds with longer fur, such as Bichon and Poodle, after drying, special attention should be paid to the dryness of the fur around the paws, as damp fur can easily breed bacteria and fungi. If you feel that the clean water is not enough, you can use the foot cleaning foam specially for pets. This kind of foam usually contains mild cleaning ingredients and bactericidal factors, which can effectively remove dirt and disinfect paws without irritating the dog's skin. Press an appropriate amount of foam on the dog's paw, gently rub it, and then rinse it with clean water.

Dogs' fur is like a natural "protective suit", but during walking, it can easily become a "foothold" for various bacteria, viruses, and parasites. After returning home, grooming your dog's hair is an essential step. A suitable comb can comb out debris such as grass clippings, leaves, dust, etc. mixed in the hair along its growth direction. When grooming, special attention should be paid to the areas of the dog's abdomen, inner legs, and behind the ears where the hair is thick and prone to dirt and grime accumulation. Combing not only cleanses the hair, but also promotes blood circulation in the dog's skin, making the dog feel comfortable and comfortable. If the dog's hair is dirty and messy, or if there is concern about being contaminated with more bacteria, giving the dog a bath is a more thorough way of cleaning and disinfecting. Using pet specific shower gel, its gentle formula is designed specifically for dogs' skin and hair, effectively cleaning hair while protecting the natural barrier of the skin. When taking a shower, pay attention to the appropriate water temperature, generally controlled at 38-40 degrees Celsius, close to the dog's body temperature, to avoid scalding or startling the dog. First wet the dog, then apply the bath gel, gently rub it into foam, massage for a while, and then rinse it thoroughly with water. After taking a shower, quickly wrap the dog in a towel, absorb excess moisture, and then use a hair dryer to blow dry the hair at an appropriate temperature and wind, being careful not to let the dog catch a cold.

The mouth and nose of dogs are important organs for perceiving the world, but they are also areas that are prone to bacterial contamination. Outdoor, out of curiosity, dogs may sniff various objects and even lick the ground, which can contaminate their mouth and nose with a large amount of bacteria and viruses. After returning home, gently wipe the dog's mouth and nose with a clean wet towel to remove surface dirt and some bacteria. It should be noted that wiping should be done gently to avoid touching the sensitive nasal and oral cavities of dogs. For some small dogs or breeds with short nasal cavities, such as Jingba and Bulldogs, extra care should be taken when wiping to avoid discomfort to the dog. If the dog has ever been exposed to unknown objects or other animals outdoors, in order to further protect health, you can use the special mouth cleaning spray for pets.

In addition to the dogs themselves, the equipment they use when going out, such as leashes, collars, chest harnesses, etc., also need to be disinfected. These devices come into close contact with dogs outdoors and are exposed to the external environment for a long time, making them highly susceptible to bacteria and viruses. The traction rope and collar can be soaked and cleaned with a mild detergent to remove surface dirt and odors. After cleaning, rinse with clean water and then let it air dry in the sun. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight have a powerful bactericidal effect and can effectively kill most bacteria. For equipment with special materials such as chest straps or difficult to clean, pet specific disinfectants can be sprayed for disinfection. Spray the disinfectant evenly on the surface of the equipment, wait for a few minutes for the disinfectant to fully exert its effect, and then wipe it clean with a clean towel. When disinfecting a dog's equipment, it is important to ensure that the disinfectant does not damage the equipment and to avoid any residual disinfectant that may irritate the dog's skin.

When we carefully disinfect every step of our dog after walking it home, from paws to fur, from mouth and nose to equipment, from ourselves to the living area, this seemingly tedious series of actions is actually full of our deep love for the dog. Watching dogs play in a clean and tidy home after careful disinfection, our hearts are filled with comfort and peace of mind. This care not only safeguards the health of dogs, but also fills every corner where we live with them with warmth and safety. Let us use this meticulous disinfection and care to accompany our dogs through healthy and happy days after every dog walk, because dogs give us unconditional loyalty and love, and what we give back to them is the meticulous care in every aspect of life.