We love our pets and they love us. They also enhance our lives by providing the unconditional love and happiness. In order to take better care of our pets, we will need to organize their pet themed items as well. Gathering all the pet items, cleaning and developing a system for managing these items will help us to engage more productively in our pet relationships while also helping us to provide improved quality of care for them. Just a note: as you engage in your dedicated exercise, take your pet along if possible. You will enhance your pet’s health as well as your own while you are spending quality time with them. You will also provide them much needed exercise and stimulation while you are engaging in exercise, a transforming activity. One you have organized all the pet related items, schedule one day a week to engage in maintenance activities to keep all the items clean and accessible.  Here are my suggestions for pet care:

Pets:

Pets are wonderful companions and stress relievers. I believe that pets make great first parenting experiences for children as they learn responsibility and putting needs of others before themselves.  All children can have a pet even if they are allergic to most animals. However, frequently I hear from parents that “I end up taking care of the animal.”  And I agree, however, I consider pets to be family members and the extension of caring for a child is a responsibility of both parents.  Therefore, I use the multiple care giver model to replicate the parenting reality of caring for anything.  I am by no means advocating you shouldering the burden of caring for the pets, but I make it a family activity just as caring for a child would be.  We set aside time for all of us to get together to spend time with the pets such as cleaning cages, walking, feeding and grooming.  This is valuable time to spend with your family and making your pets members of the group. You also model caring for living things which is a valuable skill for children to learn.  Slowly the children should be given more responsibility toward independent caring.

Organizing pet items is important as you can assess the items that you have and not duplicate purchases.  The first step, of course is to gather all the pet items that you have both indoors and out.  Let’s take this one step at a time and categorize the items by type of pet.

Dogs and Cats

Dishes

Let’s start with the dishes. Dog dishes need to be clean and germ free. Some dogs are susceptible to a form of acne on their muzzles and clean, sterilized dishes helps to reduce this type of acne for dogs. You need to have a regular routine to making sure that the dishes are washed and sterilized several times a week.  Stainless steel is the easiest to clean and disinfect, however, you can use the same procedure for ceramic and glass dishes.  First, scrape out any uneaten food and discard.  If your animal has food left in the dish, you are probably feeding too much and your animal may have weight issues.  Consult with your veterinarian if you have food left over frequently.

To clean pet dishes, soak in hot, soapy water and scrub with a scrubbing sponge to eliminate any food residue.  Rinse and set aside.  Run hot clear water in a sink or basin and then add 1 tablespoon of bleach to the water.  Rinse the clean dishes in the bleach water for 30 seconds and then rinse with fresh water.  Dry with a towel or let air dry.  Dishes can also be washed in the dishwasher with a heat dry setting to kill germs.

Dogs and cats should have fresh, clean water available to them at all times.  You can add vitamins to the water or dental rinse that keeps tartar from building on your dog or cat’s teeth.  Make sure that you change the water daily and that the water dishes are clean and bacteria free.

Collars and Leashes:

Nylon collars and leashes can be washed in a bin of warm, soapy water. I like to use a plant-based cleaner for items that will touch your animal’s skin daily. Let the leash soak for about 5 minutes and then rinse and air dry.  Leather collars and leashes need to be treated with a leather cleaning and conditional product.  Beeswax works well to keep the leather soft and supple and to prevent it from breaking.  Just wipe the beeswax on with a clean, dry cloth and then wipe the leather until it looks glossy and supple.  This routine should be performed every couple of months to avoid dry rot in the leather.

Bedding: 

All bedding should be washed and dried according to care directions on the product.  After drying, you may want to air out the items to add freshness and reduce odor.  All fabric items that can be washed can be cleaned in the washing machine on gentle cycle.  Most fabrics can be dried in the dryer or hung out to dry.  A good airing out once a week helps to maintain freshness and reduce odors in your home.  A suggestion would be to bathe the dog or cat prior to cleaning the bedding so that they are fresh and clean at the same time.

Crates and Carriers:

Animal crates and carriers can be cleaned with a mild disinfectant and a cloth or they can be sprayed out with a sprayer attachment on a hose.  They can be left to air dry outside or wiped dry with a towel.  Make certain that no cleaner residue remains after you have disinfected the crate.  Frequent cleaning is sanitary and healthy for both you and your pet.

Toys:

My dogs love toys and love to chew and leave them all over the house.  Here’s a great tip for cleaning them.  For plastic, rubber or fabric toys, run a gallon of warm water in a sink or bin and then add 1 tablespoon bleach. Soak the toys for 5 minutes and then rinse with fresh water.  Lay the toys on a towel to air dry and then put back in a basket or bin to keep them contained until the next time your pet goes through them to play.

You could keep them in a plastic bin and use the same bin to soak and disinfect the toys.   For bones and other flavored chew items, you can recharge your pet’s interest in these items by cooking them in beef or chicken broth.  First, wash all items in warm, clear water. Then add 5-6 beef or chicken bullion cubes, spoons, or envelopes to a pot of fresh water.  Bring to boil over medium high heat. Turn off the heat and slowly add the bones and flavored chews and let soak for  5 minutes, When you have soaked all of the items, pour the remaining broth over the items and let them cool for 2 hours.  When they are completely cool, you can offer these to your dog and see how enthusiastic he is to have such tasty treats.

Grooming:

If you have amassed multiple items for grooming your pet, then the same principle applies to these as for your grooming items.  Use it or lose it.  Use these items to benefit your pets well-being.  Begin by bathing.  Don’t use shampoos intended for people on your pet.  The pH balance is not the same for you and for your pets.   The best rule of thumb is to use grooming supplies specifically intended for your type of pet.  Bathe your pet in the product that is specifically designed for your pet according to the instructions.  Once your pet is dry, then brush if your pet has fur.   Remember to trim nails frequently. This will positively affect your animal’s health by keeping their feet from splaying due to nails that are too long. This is ultimately better for their joints as they can walk appropriately. Shorter nails will also help save flooring, furniture and carpeting. I use a dremel for my dogs. It is quick and easy. You will have to scaffold using it by beginning with just running the dremel and treating your pet. Then move on to just touching the nail with the dremel and then move on to filing the nails.  For the cats, you can purchase a hood to keep your cat calm while you trim nails. I use a trimmer made for cat’s nails and trim them once a month when I administer their flea preventative.

Ears and teeth are other areas to consider when grooming. Cleaning the ears helps to prevent infections and subsequent vet bills. Keeping the teeth clean improves your pet’s health too. For dogs, I use large biscuits and rawhides to help to keep their teeth clean. You can brush or add teeth cleaning additives to their water. Cats can be problematic as the dry kibble is not usually large enough to clean their teeth. I add a small amount of high protein dog kibble, slightly larger than the cat kibble to make them crunch it to keep their teeth clean. I prefer to feed all my animals grain free food and this is especially important for the cats.  I mix a ratio of one bag cat food to 1/2 bag dog kibble. This way the cats get enough pieces in each feeding to help keep their teeth clean.

Vitamins

If you have vitamins and supplements, add them to your pet’s food regularly. It improves their health and you will be using them instead of wasting them. Check with your vet if you have questions or concerns regarding the vitamins your pet will need.

Rawhide Chews and Bones:

Some bones are safe for your dog to chew.  Chewing helps to keep teeth and gums healthy as well as provide calcium for your dog. In addition, chewing helps to relieve stress and providing your dog something appropriate to chew reduces the risk that he or she might chew on something valuable to  you. Provide appropriate items for your dog to chew to reduce the amount of destructive behaviors and enhance your positive relationship with your pet.

Flea and Tick Preventative:

Flea and Tick preventative help to keep your pet happy and your home healthy. Talk to your vet for the right type to use. Schedule a routine for administering such as the first of every month. Keep your pet flea and tick free for lower vet bills!!

Birds, Reptiles and Other Pets

Clean cages are essential to an animal’s well being and health. Daily, bi-weekly and weekly cleanings will keep your pet healthier, reduce vet costs, keep your home cleaner and decrease pet odors. Clean and disinfect cages, habitats, dishes, toys and bedding. Bath your animal and trim nails and condition skin. Taking better care of your pet will increase your enjoyment as well as make you feel happier about yourself and the quality of care you are providing.

Routines, Routine, Routine

Establish a routine for your pet care.  Develop a framework or timeline in order to keep your animals happy and healthy.  Establish days during each month to bath and put flea preventative on your pet if needed.  Have a specific day to clean cages and wash bedding.  Trim nails once a month and take care of pet accessories monthly to keep all items in tip top shape.

Weekly: you will want to establish a weekly routine for washing and sterilizing pet dishes.  Your animal will be healthier if you routinely scrub and disinfect their food dishes.  You will also want to attend to nails weekly and for goodness sake, brush your animal’s teeth.  Another weekly care routine for pets is to groom them to stimulate circulation and keep their skin and coat healthy.

Daily: of course there are some tasks that need to performed daily such as feeding, providing fresh water and exercising.  If your pet is overweight, consult your vet but reduce the amount of food by ¾ and exercise your animal regualary.  Take long walks with your dog to help you to decompress and to give your dog a much needed calorie burn.  It is good for both you and your pet to be outdoors walking and taking in all the fresh air and sunshine.  Enjoy this time with your pet and your will develop a stronger bond and a more exciting relationship as you incorporate your animnal care into your Transformational Organizational routine.

Using What you Have:

Cage bedding can be shredded paper from your shredder as long as you don’t shred envelopes or items with plastic windows in them as these could be ingested by your pet and it is harmful.

Old blankets or fabric make great bedding too is your pet needs it.  I use worn out throws with no fringe or the kid’s old sheets and blankets.  Remember, if you can use something that is not being used before throwing it away consider another application for the item.

Food storage:

You can use many different items for food storage.  Crystal bowls with lids and biscuit barrels with lids make great dog, cat or fish food storage containers.  Ceramic lidded bowls work well too.  I use crystal bowls for food dishes.  Trays that are not being used can be used for the bottom and helps keep the areas around the dishes clean.  For an added touch, perhaps some pretty decorative stone works to give it a polished look.

Betta fish make great pets for children with severe allergies and the water from the bowl changes makes great fertilizer for plants.  Get a pretty decorative bowl and keep a betta in it for decoration or even in the kitchen for companionship during dish duty.  They become more accustomed to your presence and tend to gravitate toward you as you work.  Everyone that I know who has set up a betta tank, comments on how personable the fish are.  I have several bowls in the house and a routine for cleaning them.  All fresh water aquarium or betta bowl water is recycled as fertilizer for the indoor plants.  Ferns really love it!!!

When you take control of your animal’s weight you see first hand that weight loss takes time and is best done slowly in gradual steps.  First, just like advice for people to lose weight, portion control is a must.  Reduce the amount of food that you feed your animal and instead of feeding when they pester you, realize that they are not really hungry but looking for attention.  Instead of feeding, walk, play or show affection to your animal to help distract him or her from the food, but also to provide them with the love and attention that they deserve.

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