Have you recently welcomed a new cat or dog into the family? Or do you feel like your current pet is just taking over your life and sanity a little too much?
You can make life for yourself and your pet so much sweeter by following these simple steps.
1
Keep Up With Your Carpet Care
Whether it is dirt from their paws, shedding fur or leaving urine in their wake, your carpet may be a little worse for wear thanks to your furry friend.
If you have pets that spend time indoors, you should have carpets professionally cleaned by a company like Electrodry* at least once a year to ensure adequate removal of pet dander and dust mites.
Synthetic carpet is ideal as stains cannot permeate through them as they would wool and other natural fibres.
Vacuum weekly and give any lounges your furbaby uses a once-over regularly as well. A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter vacuum is particularly helpful if you have someone with allergies or asthma at home.
Invest in a good quality carpet guard spray to prevent dirt from sticking to carpet fibres and ensure it is less prone to staining.
2
Have A Pet Mess Plan
Urine is your carpet's biggest problem. Here is what happens when your pet leaves urine on your carpet.
The liquid enters the carpet, soaks down and spreads. The size of the spot you can see is generally a lot smaller than the size of the affected area in the backing of the carpet, the underlay and the floor.
Utilise rugs and invest in a good enzymatic pet cleaner such as Electrodry's E-Pet, uses enzymes to break down the uric salts and odour-causing bacteria present in urine.
Toilet training is important!
Utilise a reward system for good behaviour.
Take puppies outside every couple of hours when they wake and after eating or drinking.
Establish a routine so they go to the toilet at the same time.
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* A moderate additional charge applies to disinfect the carpet backing and underlay through the injection of a specialised sanitising product and treat the stains (usually $30 per 15 minutes of treatment time). The work required to lift the carpet, replace the underlay and seal the sub-floor is quite extensive and attracts a charge of $300 to $500 per room.
3
Safety First
As a general rule, if you have a kitten or puppy coming into your home, you need to think like you did when you had or have a crawling baby or curious toddler.
Petbarn has an extensive list to follow but here are a few of the important ones.
Avoid houseplants as many can be toxic to pets. These are the most poisonous, but the advice is to avoid all plant species where you know your pet is going to be.
Move dangerous chemicals or foods to higher shelves or put locks on chemical cupboards.
Move wires or curtain cords up high or tape them to the wall so that curious puppies or kittens can’t chew or play with them.
Beware of choking hazards, like small kids’ toys.
4
Protect Your Hard Floors
Doormats made of straw or other slightly abrasive material at entranceways will stop some of the dirt your pet loves to bring inside.
Avoid feeding pets from the dinner table, keep nails clipped and think about rugs or runners in high traffic areas.
While scratches are a pest, urine is actually more damaging as it can wear down the finish. Ensure your pet is toilet trained and invest in either plastic or temporary carpet while they're learning.
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5
Proof Your Outdoors Too
Don't forget the backyard, especially if that is going to be where your pet will spend most of its time. Remove any potentially poisonous plants and put away any tools you may have lying around.
Having a strong fence is important. Check it for weak spots and any gaps and get them mended. Keep your lawn neat to avoid fleas and ticks and create a space for your pet (its bed, water and food bowls, dog or cat house, potty area and its things) so that it feels like home.
6
Maintain Your Friend
Keep your pet's nails trimmed to minimise the damage they can do to your carpet or hard floors and wipe paws clean with a microfiber hand mitt.
Ensure your long-haired pets are as neatly cut as possible and brush your dog regularly with a brush suited to the breed. If shedding is a problem, it may also help to pop a cover on your pet, particular after a brush or bath.
