5. Clean your four-legged friend's resting places
Next, I would go to the places the dog goes when he wants to rest. This affects everyone, for example Dog beds, cushions, sofas, dog caves and also Doghouses.
If the furniture is over one Textile cover It is sufficient to machine wash it at the maximum possible temperature. Models that fit into the are ideal Boiled laundry may, otherwise a may also be possible Steam cleaner help.
Nice tutorial about steam cleaning upholstered furniture. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgDFVdXYH4.
Important: If you allowed the dog, human furniture To use them, these must also be cleaned! So remake your bed and clean the sofa too – ideally with a vacuum cleaner and also a steam cleaner.
(Artificial leather covers
At Leather or faux leather Of course that's not possible. Here I would advise using one of the pieces of furniture several times damp cloth to clean, which was soaked in water that was as hot as possible.
6. Discard chewing bones etc
In the next step you should everything edible, that your dog has interacted with, dispose of it. The risk of worms settling there is simply too high.
This applies in particular chewing bones or snacks, which the dog occasionally touches. Should your dog “stock” a bowl? Dry food It is also advisable to throw away these croquettes with a heavy heart.
7. toy & Wash stuffed animals
Next, you should focus on the dog's favorite things: If your four-legged friend is with you every day Toys or stuffed animals It is very likely that they are also infested with parasites.
Don't worry: I'm not suggesting you throw everything away – there's no reason to break your best friend's heart. But then you have to clean your stuff.
This means: The best way to clean plastic toys is with a damp cloth dipped in hot water. Cuddly toys and other plush or textile goods ideally go into the washing machine.
A machine wash just for the dog
I strongly advise you to remove any textiles that may be infested with worms not along with other clothing items to wash. This way you prevent the parasites from infecting you unnecessarily.
8. Clean the floor thoroughly
Then you have already made almost all “risk areas”, i.e. the areas with an expected high worm population, more or less harmless. To really be on the safe side, you should also do this complete floor clean.
This not only applies to the rooms that the dog can enter, but the entire house: it is quite possible that you have unintentionally picked up a few worm eggs in your shoe. For this reason I would also Wipe shoe soles well.
Also clean under furniture
Also under the furniture – e.g.B. under the sofa – you should clean. Dogs like to use these areas as a place to retreat, so they can also be infested.
9. Don't forget the terrace/balcony/garden
Finally, it is also advisable outside to clean up a little. In the garden, on the terrace or on the balcony you should especially look for any feces left by your four-legged friend and render them harmless.
This not only protects your family, but also the entire neighborhood: if, for example, there is a… cat strays into your garden, After all, it would be possible for them to become infected and then transmit the parasites to other animals.
It is also ideal – but not absolutely necessary – if you cover the sidewalks with one, for example Pressure washer can clean.
10. Repeat if necessary
Worms reproduce extremely quickly and are surprisingly resistant: some eggs manage to survive for several weeks to survive without a host. Especially in the case of a severe infestation – for example, the dog has already excreted live worms – it is therefore possible that the plague is not yet over.
That's why it's advisable to do the cleaning a few days or weeks later to repeat again. Some veterinarians then recommend giving the four-legged friend another worm treatment. This time would then be ideal for a “second cleaning”.