There is always something hopeful about the beginning of a new year.  Many of us make resolutions, hoping to better our lives and the lives of those we love. If you have been trying to think of a positive resolution that is simple but meaningful, I have a suggestion for you, and it is one I intend to work on myself: I am raising my hygiene standards for the health of my pets and my family.

As someone who has fed my pets a raw diet for over 50 years, I am a notorious clean freak about food safety handling.  I have a separate drawer in my kitchen for my pet utensils to avoid any type of cross-contamination.  I went to a thrift store and bought pet forks and spoons that have bright red handles so they never get mixed up with my family’s silverware, and the same with their scoops and measuring tools.  I clean their dishes with the same mild, environmentally friendly dish soap I use for my own dishes, but use a dishcloth and drying towels that are specifically for the pets. Their beds, blankets, pillows, and towels are washed separately from the family laundry and in pet-friendly soap. And because I have fed so many dogs through the years, I have a freezer for the dog’s food and a freezer for the family’s food. Admittedly, keeping frozen human and frozen pet food separate from each other isn’t necessary, but it doesn’t hurt either.

Now, why should we go to all this extra effort? Easy answer: for our own health and the health of our pets. Bacteria and parasites such as Salmonella, E. coli, MRSA, and Giardia thrive in moist, unclean conditions such as are often found in slimy water bowls, grubby food dishes, saliva-coated toys, and dirty litter boxes. Even unwashed bedding can harbor unfriendly bacteria, yeast, and molds as well as fleas, ticks, and mites. All of these critters can wreak havoc on your cat’s or dog’s health, causing itching, hot spots, general skin irritation, and create teeth and gum problems as well as gastrointestinal diseases. Obviously, we want to avoid these issues, so here is a quick list of some steps we can easily take to keep our pets healthier and happier in the new year:

1. Pet food bowls should be washed in hot soapy water, thoroughly rinsed, and towel dried or air dried after every meal. Every other week a diluted vinegar or baking soda scrub would be helpful.
2. Water bowls should be changed daily and washed with diluted vinegar once a week to remove the biofilm that can accumulate.
3. Pet beds should be vacuumed weekly and washed bi-monthly.
4. Toys can be a nasty source of coliform bacteria and should be washed with diluted vinegar or baking soda, depending on how often they are used but weekly is suggested.
5. Litter boxes need to be scooped daily and cleaned as often as possible, depending on how many cats are using the box. Un- sanitary litter boxes are often the home of Toxoplasmi gondii (a parasite causing Toxoplasmosis in both humans and cats) and such nasty creatures as hook worms and round worms.
6. Keeping the home generally clean of dust will help eliminate dust mites, which are often the cause of allergies in our dogs and contribute to respiratory allergies in our cats.

When it comes to keeping things cleaner for the sake of our pets, I think the Golden Rule applies: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. I want to eat from clean dishes and drink fresh water from a clean glass. My bed needs to have clean sheets, my bathroom has to be clean, and the things I handle every day should not be sticky or dirty. Your dog or cat may not be able to express these wishes to you, but he or she certainly would if they could.  Bark or meow if you know I’m right, because you know I’m right!