Last Updated on February 24, 2024 by Ahmed Khan
I’m sure you’ve heard that it’s not hygienic to wash your dog in the kitchen sink. Well, I thought it was a little strange too until I did some research. I found that there is a lot of conflicting information about whether or not it’s safe to wash your dog in the bathroom or kitchen sink. The truth is, if you’re at the beach, in a park, or at a friend’s home, the kitchen sink is the safest option. But if your home is indoors and you do have a bathroom, you should use that instead. So, what’s the verdict? Should you wash your dog in the kitchen sink or in the bathroom? I believe it’s better to avoid doing that. Why? We will explain this in this blog.
Wash or Not to Wash Your Pets in the Bathroom?
For all of us, a shower or bath is a calming experience. But it is not the same for our pets. Every time you try their wash, it will be like the most unpleasant thing ever happened to them. Is their traumatic bath experience linked to the bathroom? Many experts believe that pets who are new to baths or don’t get washed off so often may simply react to the unfamiliar experience of being plunged into the bathtub. That may create a negative association between bathrooms, baths, and bathtubs, making them fearful for future baths. So, it may be a simple reason to avoid washing off your pets in the bathroom. But there are many other reasons to avoid washing off your pet in the bathroom, and that is as follows.
Risk of Slips and Falls.
Bathrooms usually have slippery surfaces due to soaps and water on the floor, tiles, and tub, etc. Slipping or falling in such a space can be extremely dangerous. When you have pets in such an enclosed and slippery space, they often get panic and are terrified. Keeping the legs in place may be a lot of struggles for some of them. You may see them hitting their legs against the floor surface. So, they may slip and get injured more easily than us. It is important to note that bathrooms are designed for human use and therefore are not a perfect space for pets. You may need some other stuff like the right mats, padded surface, and dimensions to make it a suitable space for pets.
Stressful Space.
You may have already noticed that most pets usually panic during bath time. It is due to the that they are fearful of the enclosure space, slippery floors, and brighter lights that all make together a tense environment for them. When you try to force them into the bath in such a confined area, they become stressed. Alternatively, you can use your backyard space to give a bath to a pet in the open space. Such space will not be stressful for your pet as your dog can easily relate some happy memories with it. In addition to that, in such an open space, you can make the wash time appear as a game to them. You may use the mat to prevent them from getting into the mud again. You should also make sure they are fully dried off before getting back into the house.
Drain Clogging.
As most pets have hair all over their bodies, you will see them loads going into the drain. However, the fur is usually the small hairs that will not be caught up by the drain catch. As a result, these will be accumulated within the drainpipe and clog it after some time. Even partial clogged drainpipes can result in bacteria build up, and infestation of house drain flies. If it’s clogged too much, then you will not have any other way but to call a plumber to open the drain for you. If you do wash off your pets in the bathroom, then regular use of drain opening liquids is highly recommended.
Hygiene Concerns.
Other than fur, there are many hygiene related concerns to sharing a bathroom with your pet. For example, if you bathe your pet every week, it will leave a lot of contamination there. That can be a hygiene concern for someone going to use the same space for the bath. You may not even realize it, but you may be prone to tick bites, fungus infections, and much another health issues when taking a bath there. Therefore, you should avoid using the same space to wash off your pets to avoid such problems.
Final Thoughts
If you have a dog or cat, you know that they need to be bathed. Not everyone has the time or the money to take them to the groomer. So, the bathroom can be an obvious choice. But it is not entirely safe to wash your pet in the bathroom due to the reasons that we have discussed. Therefore, it is a better idea to bathe your pet in the open space or backyard to avoid such problems. Alternatively, you can install a designated sink outside the bathroom to wash off your pets.