Cleanliness Questions

[luvMyBRT]

The thing is (for me), I was worried mostly about puppy kisses, especially on my face. When I handle raw meat, I don't have it on or near my mouth or face. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something I needed to worry about!

I wouldn't think so. You can see in my avatar pic. that my BRT pup has tons of hair on his face. Surprisingly it stays pretty clean, clean enough to where I don't feel the need to wipe or wash it. And, he loves to get in your face and try to give kisses....and my children's faces are eye level with him so they can't get away! LOL.

[SamWu1]

Small pieces are fed in a bowl and large pieces I hand feed so there aren't meat juices spread all over my floor. I like to keep things spiffy.

[lmgakg]

I bought one of the floor steamers and told husband i would use it every day. Shsh dont tell but i only do it if he is home and asks me before i leave to work.

Hahaha, that's awesome! My dad comes over daily to babysit my daughter after school while I'm at work, I do have a steamer and love it for big muddy paw prints....I'm sure I will be telling him I use it everyday when he finds out about my decision!!!!

[BrownieM]

I am not particularly worried about germs. It sounds like I clean up a bit more than many people here but its not necessarily because I feel like I need to. I just like to clean :) Its been so muddy outside lately and the raw meat juices were staining our pool deck, so I now feed them in their crate (unless its a boneless meal. Then they just eat it out of the bowl in the kitchen). I wipe down the crate most of the time. I use non-toxic method wipes OR just water. I think I might try the vinegar/water solution.

When I prepare their meat in the kitchen I use the same cutting board we use for all other purposes, same knives, etc. I do basic clean-up by wiping the granite counter top with a soapy sponge and then I do a quick wipe down of the sink with soap. I had to pour some baking soda down the garbage disposal the other day because the bloody juices the chicken quarters were soaking in smelled nasty! I do clean their food dishes with soap everyday but its mostly because I like when they are shiny! (I know. I'm silly). I wash their water dish when it loses its shine too This is probably about once a month.

Anyway, I personally feel that I would be just fine even if I cleaned up less I really am not paranoid about germs, I am just a habitual cleaner regardless.

[magicre]

The thing is (for me), I was worried mostly about puppy kisses, especially on my face. When I handle raw meat, I don't have it on or near my mouth or face. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something I needed to worry about!

i have a pug. pugs kiss. pugs lick everything with fervor and passion.

i have an immune system that hates me; yet, i have not ever been sick from feeding raw.

[schtuffy]

I think society has turned us into germaphobes. Bacteria are everywhere. In fact, on average there are over 400 different kinds of bacteria living in the human mouth. Sounds gross, but they exist in such a way to keep everything balanced. Sometimes when we worry too much about sterility and cleanliness, it backfires and causes unwanted bacteria to flourish.

I worried about hygiene as you did when I first started. I fed my dog outside on the deck at first because it was summertime. When the cold weather and rain came, I just started to feed him on the kitchen floor. I used to obsessively wipe down where he ate, but I just started to get lazy. Now when I put his bowl of raw meat down on the floor, he just takes the meat out and carries it to his crate pad in the corner of the kitchen. I never had to 'teach' him to do that, he just started the habit on his own and it's so cute watching him. I wash the pad and swiffer the floor every month or two....or whenever...don't keep track of it really And I'm a neat freak! So don't worry...you will get used to it in no time!

[sassymaxmom]

I am no cleanliness freak but my tile floor shows little marks so I wipe down with vinegar and water. It helps cut the smell of lamb and venison too.