Do YOU ​​feed your dog safely? Study shows pet owners often get 4 key things wrong

DOG owners can put their pets and themselves at risk by not feeding them safely.

One study found that nearly two in 10 people wash their bag’s dishes less than every three months or not at all.

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And just one in ten said they clean it daily, as recommended.

Of even greater concern for the owners themselves, just over a third said they wash their hands after handling pet food.

But many also didn’t make it before filling a dog bowl.

“Most pet owners are unaware that pet food bowls can be a hidden source of bacteria in the home,” experts at North Carolina State University said.

“Knowing how to mitigate this risk and practicing proper pet food storage and sanitation can result in a happier, healthier household.”

Their research found that only five percent of pet owners were aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has guidelines for handling pet food.

The vast majority seemed unaware that you should also wash and dry scooping utensils after each use.

Luckily, nine out of ten said they watch for signs of damage to their dogs’ food.

The same crowd also said they don’t use the bowl as a scoop.

Experts interviewed 417 dog owners and took swabs from 68 dog food bowls for their study.

“Exposure to contaminated dog food can have health implications for both dogs and humans,” the in states PLOScalled.

“For example, there have been several outbreaks in which both humans and dogs have become ill after exposure to dog food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.

“These risks may be amplified in households with children and/or immunocompromised individuals, which made up more than a third of respondents’ households.”

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