The Importance of Keeping Your Dog’s Bed Clean

When did you last wash your dog’s bed? Most of us change our own bedding on a fairly regular basis, but don’t realize that our dogs can benefit from clean, fresh bedding too. Not only will it help keep them healthy, but it can also prevent excess fur and dander getting into the air and creating havoc for anyone in your home who may suffer from allergies or asthma.

Unless you give them a bath every time they come in from outside, your dog will naturally transfer any dirt and debris that they have picked up on their coat and paws onto their bed. Since many dogs like to roll in anything stinky that they come across, these odours will be transferred onto their bed, along with any fleas, ticks or worm larvae that they may pick up when exploring outdoors and meeting other animals. If you are an experienced owner, you’ll already know that parasite problems can be frustrating and unpleasant for the whole household, not just your dog.

With this in mind, here are our top tips for looking after your dog’s bed.

How often should I wash my dog’s bed?

If you want to keep your dog’s bed clean and smelling fresh, fairly regular washing is essential. Exactly how often this should be will depend on several factors including:

• How much your dog sheds?
• How much dirt they bring into the house with them?
• Whether they have any health issues affecting their coat or skin, such as mites or fleas.

For the majority of dogs, washing their bed every 2/3 weeks should be enough. However, if they have any sort of parasite infestation, it’s best to wash their bed as often as possible – every other day if you can. For example, if your dog has fleas, flea eggs could fall off them and into their bed where they will hatch and mature into adult fleas, restarting the cycle and leaving your pet and your home riddled with an infestation for weeks or months to come.

Tips for washing your dog’s bed

If you have a washable dog bed or removable dog bed cover, you may be able to pop it straight in the washing machine but be careful to check the washing instructions on the label so you can avoid ruining the fabric or filling. Use the highest temperatures that the instructions allow as this will help kill germs and any parasites and leave your dog’s bed as clean as possible. Choose a non-bio detergent if possible, and this shouldn’t irritate their skin.

Depending on the type of bed your dog has, it may take some time for it to dry fully. Don’t let your furry pal back onto it too soon as dampness can lead to mould spores which could make your dog sick. Many owners choose to have two beds so that there’s always one that is clean and dry, and ready for their dog’s downtime.

We also have a guide for looking after Waterproof dog beds here.

A clean comfortable bed equals a happy, healthy dog and we have a huge range of beds to choose from including the leading brands in waterproof dog beds. Got questions? Contact our friendly, expert team today.