How often should you clean your dog's toys? Owners weigh in on pet care practices
It can be difficult to resist treating our pets to new toys, especially when they seem to destroy them in a matter of seconds. However, many owners are unaware of how frequently they should be cleaning their pet's toys, or the potential consequences of neglecting this task altogether.
This topic recently sparked a discussion on Reddit, with one user asking: "Do you clean the toys regularly? If so, how do you clean a plush squeaky without damaging it? Do you retire toys if not broken?" One user replied: "Erm I don't. Most of them don't last long enough to need a wash to be honest."
Another user shared their approach, saying: "I wash them after a guest dog has left. For squeaky plushies, I put them in a large zipped pillow cover or large lingerie bag and run the washer on gentle cycle."
A different user admitted: "Eh never? Her toys are indoors only so they don't get very gross. The only time I washed them in the bathtub was due to an ant infestation."
Another Reddit user explained their method: "For fabric toys, I've always just thrown them in the wash as needed with a couple extra rinse cycles to make sure all of the detergent is out and then into the dryer on low heat," reports the Express.
They added: "How often depends on the toy and the dirtiness. One of his toys can get washed as much as once a week, others haven't been washed yet."
On the topic of non-fabric toys, one individual shared: "For rubber toys I'll throw them in the top rack in the dishwasher and hope for the best. I haven't had any melted toys yet, so knock on wood."
Preventive Vet cautions that "dog toys can be harbouring anything from fungus to mould to mildew to staph bacteria", suggesting a potential risk of contamination with faecal matter, which may contain harmful pathogens such as E.coli, Giardia, or even Parvovirus or Distemper if your dog carries their toys on walks.
The statement discloses: "Since dog toys are among the top 10 germiest items in the home per an NSF International (National Sanitation Foundation) study, it is a good idea to give them a good cleaning at least once a month. But in an ideal world, weekly cleaning is better."
Toys that withstand vigorous play and are covered in slobber, dirt, and other unknown substances should ideally be cleaned daily, particularly those that have been taken outside the confines of your home and garden.
However, for dogs that consume a raw diet and enjoy playing with their toys immediately after meals, owners are advised to clean these toys promptly after each play session.
The statement further clarifies: "Studies indicate that these diets can contain Salmonella and Listeria, which are harmful to people. If your dog loves to play with their toys right after a meal, they can be contaminated with these bacteria.
"If you handle these toys and touch your mouth, you are at risk of accidental ingestion. Use caution by always washing these toys immediately after your dog has eaten and then played with them."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
'Mutant' deer covered in fleshy bubbles spotted in the US
This year has not been too kind to animals in the US. Americans have spotted so-called 'Frankenstein' rabbits oozing sluglike tentacles from their faces and 'zombie' squirrels covered in sores in their back yards in recent months. Now, social media users in New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, among others, say they're seeing deer covered in fleshy bubbles. 'A white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania. But what is the growth? Is it a mole? A boil? An injury?' asked one Reddit user earlier this month. Clay Moden, a radio show host at WYRK in Buffalo, uploaded trail camera footage of a deer with 'some sort of growth on it' in early August. Don't go sprinting to your bunker out of fear we've got a Last of Us fungal plague on our hands, though. The deer are infected with deer cutaneous fibroma, a mostly benign infection that can't spread to other species, including humans. Better known as deer warts, this strain of fibroma is mainly found in young white-tailed deer and mule deer. It can cause up to two dozen hairless tumours to appear on the animal's body. The warts, sometimes as small as a pea to as large as a football, pop up on a deer's head, neck and forelegs. These lumps don't cause the deer any pain, but can hinder their ability to walk, eat or see. Deer generally overcome the disease on their own within a few months, as the growths slowly dry up and fall off. One user on X noted last Thursday: '…This deer in my yard. [The warts] got worse, then three months later, they were gone.' There's no known cure or treatment and it's recommended impacted deer be left alone. But if a deer is particularly struggling because of the warty lesions, you should call your local wildlife agency. Fibroma is transmitted through biting insects, such as mosquitoes, so deer are more likely to contract it in the summer and autumn, when the bugs are most active. Deer can also be sickened with fibroma by directly contacting a surface where the virus is wriggling on, or by rubbing against an infected deer. The creatures often trot along the same trails or nibble from the same feeding spots, making transmission possible. 'Fibromas are more commonly seen in male deer, suggesting that fighting may play a role in transmission of the virus,' according to the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife advises that hunters who harvest an infected deer skin the animal. The infection caused a scare in 2019, when viral Facebook posts blamed the bulbous deer on a brand of weedkiller, which is not the case. Many mammals have their own version of deer warts, called papillomas. Papillomaviruses are behind the recent cases of cottontail rabbits covered in black spikes, which are also spread by mosquitoes and ticks. This includes humans, too – human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection, can cause genital warts. Dr Omer Awan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine told MailOnline that we might be seeing more 'gross' pictures of animals in the future for two reasons. More Trending As humans continue to burn fossil fuels, spewing planet-warming pollution into the air, climate change will make the Earth warmer, helping blood-sucking critters like mosquitoes to thrive. But another reason for any increases in sightings might not seem as obvious. 'People are starting to talk about it more, they're starting to document it more on social media,' Dr Awan said. 'Hence, there's been a lot more discussion about this.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Toxic vapor kills fifth person in New York City MORE: Map shows Hurricane Erin along US East Coast threatening to isolate barrier islands MORE: Food influencers narrowly escape death after car crashes into restaurant table mid-review
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Daily Record
ITV star shares update on mum's brain tumour amid heartbreaking health battle
Dr Amir Khan shared an update on his mum's brain tumour during Wednesday's Lorraine Lorraine star Dr Amir Khan has shared an update on his mum's brain tumour amid her heartbreaking health battle. Last month, Amir featured on a special Loose Women episode, titled Loose Doctors, where he delivered health advice and expertise to viewers, alongside Dr Nighat Arif, Dr Zoe Williams, and Dr Hilary Jones. In an emotional segment, the medical professionals shared personal health battles affecting themselves or their families, with Amir revealing the heartbreaking news that his mother is fighting an inoperable brain tumour. "She was diagnosed, I think, a year or so ago. I think I'm going to get a bit emotional, actually!" he said through tears, reports the Express. The GP has now provided a positive update on his mother's condition during Wednesday's (August 20) edition of Lorraine. Speaking live from Bradford, Amir briefed presenter Ranvir Singh on the latest medical developments, whilst also answering viewer questions. At the start of the segment, Ranvir commented: "I just want to touch on Mama Khan. Your lovely mum, who you have been sharing with us, who's been poorly, but you've got some good news." Amir disclosed: "Yeah, for those of you who don't know, Mama Khan has an inoperable brain tumour. She's had it for a number of months now. "It was pressing on one of her nerves, affecting her vision and her eyelid. So, she had five weeks of radiotherapy a few months ago and we were waiting for a scan. "We got the scan results on Monday. It's really good news, the tumour has shrunk by 2mm, which is great. It gives us more time and helps preserve her vision. So, we're really relieved by that." Ranvir added: "We're really happy for her and for you, too, because I know how worried [you've been]. Even as a doctor, you're just a son, aren't you? "You're worried about your mum, so we're really happy for her here too, and for the whole family."
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Common household item is dirtier than your toilet and could make you sick
Common household items could actually be making you ill as they harbour hundreds of thousands of potentially harmful bacteria - and may be dirtier than your toilet seat Common household items could be making you ill, harbouring hundreds of thousands of potentially harmful bacteria and possibly being dirtier than your loo seat. You might spend extra time bleaching and spraying parts of your kitchen or bathroom that you know are grubby, but there are a few things you might not even consider that have created the perfect environment for germs to flourish. We all know our phone screens and telly remotes can gather bacteria and viruses from our hands, but some objects we use to clean and try to stay hygienic might be doing the opposite. New research by experts at Clear It Waste and GP Dr Hana Patel discovered that one item you use every single day is a bacteria bomb. The humble kitchen sponge, a staple of washing up, might seem clean and bacteria-free, but it could be hiding thousands of bacteria - making it one of the filthiest items in your home, reports the Express. Sponges, by their very nature, are porous and allow water to pass in and out, but when those spaces hold water and combine with old food particles, it creates the perfect conditions for germs to multiply. Harmful bacteria such as and Salmonella can be especially prominent on kitchen sponges and can easily end up in our bodies, potentially giving you a nasty bug. To avoid picking up a dodgy stomach, it's recommended you swap your sponge every time it starts to look worn or roughly every one to two weeks. Your toothbrush holder or case could be a breeding ground for thousands of bacteria, according to experts. Despite being used to keep your toothbrush clean, these cases are adept at trapping moisture, creating perfect conditions for dampness. Even more nauseating is the fact that these cases can also trap airborne bacteria from things like faecal particles released when you flush the loo. Dr Hana Patel said: "Toothbrushes which are kept in air conditions have less bacteria than those which are kept closed, and the bacterial growth is 70% higher in wet and protected environments. "The wet environment in the bathroom, where toothbrushes are usually kept, may facilitate the bacterial growth and the cross-contamination, especially that which happens through the aerosols produced during the water passing in lavatories, with enteric types and pseudomonas from the toilets and sanitary drainage." Cleaning gurus suggest drying your toothbrush thoroughly before returning it to the holder. They also recommend regularly cleaning the case and storing it in a well-ventilated area to prevent moisture buildup, such as in a cupboard.
