So, How Do You Stop Biofilm From Forming?
Well, you have to wash your pup’s bowls! Here’s what I do. Throughout the day, every time I refill their bowls, I wipe them down with a paper towel (note: biofilm needs to be physically broken up).
Then at the end of the day, I wash their bowls in hot water by hand and do a deeper clean once per week! Check out cleaning best practices below.
I have two dogs and I serve them water out of small bowls. So, in my house, the pups drink enough for me to refill their water throughout the day. However, if there is water left in your dog’s bowl at the end of the day then it’s important to toss it out and give them fresh water. Sitting water breeds bacteria.
Biofilm is a collection of organic and inorganic, living and dead materials collected on a surface. It is made up of many different types of bacteria that are bound together. This forms a thick sticky substance that acts as a glue to hold the bacteria together and adhere it to a surface.
These breeding grounds for biofilms provide a haven for organisms like Listeria, E. coli and legionella to form, making them harmful substances for our pets to consume. If regular cleaning is not followed, these contamination levels can increase and harm your petâs health. Harmful Biofilms have been involved in various microbial infections in the body, such as urinary tract infections, middle-ear infections and bladder infections. These infections can leave your pets feeling very uncomfortable and would require a visit to the vet to get checked. This would add more stress to your day and cause a lot more hassle than a simple rinse of their water bowl.
Biofilm has a mixed reputation. It can often hold a collection of good bacteria benefiting your pet. But there is also the risk that the bacteria collecting is bad. The harmful bacteria can cause issues for your pets.
Have you ever felt a slimy substance in your petâs water bowl and wondered what it was? This dangerous slime lurking in your petâs water bowl is called biofilm, and it can have harmful effects on your pets. Hereâs how you can prevent it!
Many pet parents, myself included, just refill our dogâs water bowls and call it a day. In reality, we should be changing out and cleaning their bowls every week. Physically washing their bowls at least once a week with just water eliminates the build-up of biofilm from forming. Even a simple wipe down with a paper towel can reduce the formation in their bowls. Without these simple wipe downs, we create an excellent place for biofilm to lurk and form.
What are the Risks to Pets?
The biofilm on your pet’s bowls could contain algae, bacteria and fungi that come from stuff your pet licks or eats while out walking or in the yard, in addition to his food, says Joseph Kinnarney, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. This isn’t limited to dog and cat dishes–biofilm can form on pet bowls for parrots, rodents, reptiles and any others who rely on a bowl, dish or bottle for food and water.
Periodontal diseases are the number one health problem in small animals. By just two years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal diseases.
Bacteria that form biofilm cause dental plaque formation that leads to dental calculus formation, periodontal diseases, dental caries and systemic diseases.
Biofilm bacteria can also cause systemic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, urinary tract infections and chronic kidney disease in pets (especially in cats).
What Is That Slimy Stuff Inside My Pet’s Water Bowl?
Have you seen pink slime forming in your pets’ water dishes, around toilet bowls and drains, on tiles and in shower stalls?
1.) It’s not caused by anything in the water you’re getting from LCA. 3.) It’s (probably) not caused by a wayward monster from a cheesy B horror movie.
Believe it or not, the Attack of the Pink Slime is actually quite common, and is caused by a combination of airborne bacteria (called Serratia marcescens), mold, and yeast spores that thrive in damp environments. There’s no need to panic, though—it’s not hard to control. And while it’s been found in some cases to cause illness, that’s usually not the case unless you have a compromised immune system.
Technically called a biofilm, this slime can be more widespread in the presence of fatty substances — things like soap residue in the kitchen sink and food debris in pet water dishes. That’s why it’s important to clean your fixtures and your pet’s food and water dishes regularly.
If you’re using a filtering system (such as a Brita Water Pitcher) that removes chlorine from your water, the pink slime has an easier time getting established. Chlorine also naturally disperses from your tap water when the water is exposed to the air for a period of time, which is why the pink slime is more likely to appear in toilets and pet food bowls.
We’ve found the best way to control the slime is through frequent scrubbing with a mild bleach solution, although it can also be removed with a vinegar-and-water solution. To get around sink fixtures, use an old toothbrush.
Pink slime grows very well on surfaces such as limescale (white flaky stuff that sometimes appears around water fixtures), so be sure to eliminate that as well.
To further reduce the chances of a pink slime attack, install a ventilation fan in the bathroom and dry off bathtub, shower and sink fixtures after use.
While we’re certain these tips will help, if the pink slime starts to form into the Blob and oozes up and out of your sink, you’re on your own!