Dr. Christina Winter of Flannery Animal Hospital in New
Windsor offers some practical tips to use at home to keep everyone disease
free:
1. Don’t let your pet lick you in the face.
This one can be tough sometimes, especially for children.
Who doesn’t love puppy kisses? But remember that animals use their tongues to
groom and clean themselves.
2. Wash your hands after playing with your pet.
This common sense tip can go a long way to preventing the
spread of parasites that your pet may have brought inside.
3. Bathe your animals regularly
Animals, especially dogs, love to roll around on the ground
and dig in the dirt, and that means all the wildlife that surrounds us can get
brought inside right along with them.
4. Use a poop scoop
This can be a pain but both pets and kids alike can step in
a pile of feces and track it throughout your home.
5. Clean paws when coming back inside
Your pet isn’t going to tell you their paws are dirty and
you don’t want to have to wait for footprints on your floor. Better to make
this a regular habit upon entering your home.
6. Leave your shoes at the door
Not only will this help your floors stay clean, it can help
prevent the possibility of tracking unwanted parasites into your home.
7. Keep the sandbox covered
Kids love to play in the sandbox. Unfortunately, so do a lot
of the wildlife that call the Hudson Valley home. Keep it covered so that your
kids can play safe and you can worry less.