baking soda: as a pet care product?

Using Baking Soda on Pets
Baking soda is nontoxic and, therefore, safe for use around your dogs, cats, and other pets. It makes it easy to control odors and clean up accidents that are a natural part of having pets in the family. In this article, you will find many uses for baking soda on your pets: as a dry wash, to tend to bee stings, and to help maintain healthy teeth. Let's start with washing and cleanup.

Bathing: Give your dog a dry bath by sprinkling it with baking soda. Rub it in, then brush out the baking soda.

For a wet wash, combine 3 tablespoons baking soda with 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 teaspoon baby oil in a spray bottle. Spritz your pet, then wipe them dry.

Kitty litter: To eliminate odors from kitty litter boxes, sprinkle in 1/2 cup baking soda.

Make your own natural litter by mixing a small box of baking soda with 2 to 3 inches of dry, sandy clay.

Clean the kitty litter pan by removing the litter and pouring in 1/2 inch vinegar. Let it stand, then pour the material out, and let dry. Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom before adding fresh kitty litter.

Pet accidents: To clean up after a pet's "accident," scrub the area with club soda, and let the area dry. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda, and let it stand. Afterwards, vacuum the baking soda.

Healthy teeth and gums: You can brush your pet's teeth by dipping a damp, soft brush in baking soda and brushing gently.

Maintain your pet's dental hygiene by rinsing its mouth regularly with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup warm water.

More Tips and Tricks

Pets run into a number of problems without even trying. Baking soda can bring some relief.

Skunks: If your pet has a run-in with a skunk, wash the pet in a bath containing 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid soap. Rinse your pet well, and then dry them. Discard the unused cleaner.

Bee sting relief: After making sure the stinger is removed, cover a bee sting on your pet with a baking-soda paste.

Deodorize bedding: Sprinkle the bedding area with baking soda, let the baking soda stand, wait 15 minutes, and vacuum it up.

Toenail trimming tip: If you trim your pet's toenails yourself, you may accidentally draw blood by cutting too close. Dip the affected nail in baking soda, and then apply pressure to stop bleeding.

Other Critters

While baking soda can help dogs and cats, don't leave out the other animals in your house. Baking soda can help them, too.

Birdcage: Clean the bottom of your bird's cage by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge and scrubbing. Wipe the cage clean until it's dry.

Ferret cage deodorizer: To reduce odors in a ferret cage, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the bottom of the cage after cleaning. Then cover with the appropriate bedding.

Saltwater aquarium maintenance: To maintain the proper pH level in your saltwater aquarium, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda in 1 cup dechlorinated water. Add this to the tank slowly, over a couple hours, to attain the appropriate pH level for your fish.

Clearly, you can use baking soda to take care of your pets in a variety of ways. Your animal friends will thank you.

Publications International, Ltd.

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