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A Guide To Preventing Clogged Drains When Bathing Pets At Home

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As a responsible pet owner, the cleanliness and hygiene of the animals in your care is obviously of the utmost importance, but balancing that need with also being a responsible pet owner is not always easy. Specifically, bath day for your pets can be challenging since their fur can make it down the pipes, increasing the potential for unexpected expenses when soon after, your pipes drain slowly or not at all. Therefore, it is a good idea to be aware of the following information when you are determining the most appropriate and useful ways to bathe your pets at home.

Choose The Right Hair Drain

Unfortunately, one common issue that is frequently noted after clogs have already occurred is that the drain did not catch all of the fur that was shed. In order to fully address that concern, it is important to note that there are many different types of fur that dogs can have. For instance, poodles are not known to shed frequently, but are considered by many to have hair instead of fur. They have one coat of dense hair that is prone to thinning when a female dog is in heat or is pregnant. In comparison, the Akita and Alaskan Malamute are both dogs that have recently been declared to be the biggest shedders, so their fur could also be a risk to your pipes.   

They, and any dog with fine or excessive amounts of fur or hair, could easily cause clogged pipes when their fur or hair make their way through too-large holes in the drain cover. One way to prevent the problem is to obtain a more appropriately sized drain cover. Your veterinarian, groomer, or plumber is likely to have an appropriate product recommendation. However, preventing animal fur and hair from entering your pipes needs to be a two-pronged plan of attack, as explained below, especially when you are planning for cleanup after bathtime.

Clean The Newly Shed Fur

Another common mistake that is easy to make, especially if you're not the one paying the repair bill, is undoubtedly using toilet paper or flushable wipes to remove the fur from the tub—and then flushing it down the commode. One way or another, that fur is still making its way through your pipes and you are likely to be displeased with your choice later on..

Instead, use a washcloth, paper towel, or similar product to remove the excess fur and put it in the trash, and then doing so again after allowing the water to drain. The trick to implementing your safely cleaned tub is to make sure that you can remove as much of the dirt, mud, and other contaminants from the area without introducing any dangerous items to the drains. In that interest, you may need to repeatedly use your preferred cleaning agent while the previously mentioned drain cover remains in its place.

In conclusion, dogs usually need regular bathing in order to maintain a hygienic and attractive coat. While bathing them at home is certainly a great way to avoid the high cost of grooming services, doing so often presents with the very real possibility of clogged drains. Preventing that occurrence will be easier when you consider the aforementioned information when making the necessary plans.

For more information, contact local professionals like A Absolute Plumbing & Heating.