What Is Biofilm?

Mar 24, 2020 | Pet Health, Pets

Have you ever picked up your dog’s water bowl and dishes and felt a slimy substance on your fingertips?  That is called Biofilm.  A Biofilm forms when certain microorganisms (for example, some types of bacteria) adhere to the surface of some object in a moist environment and begin to reproduce. The microorganisms form an attachment to the surface of the object by secreting a slimy, glue-like substance.  The length of time it takes Biofilm to form is one day and can stick to plastic, stainless steel, ceramics, glass, and many other surfaces.
Years ago (18 years ago to be exact), I went to the shelter to just “look” and came home with a little wiggle worm I called Bear.  I had nothing but a blanket and a small bag of dog food the shelter gave me, and dishes from my cabinet.  Although we always had animals growing up, the wealth of information and knowledge out there to research was no where near what it is today.  After only a day and a half, I noticed a slimy feeling when I picked up his dish.  I immediately washed it with soap and water and continued to do so but never knew until this day that I was dealing with what is called Biofilm.  
 
 

Rainy day, walk anyway!

The three of us have created a little routine where we walk the property line every day.  Jake and Maggie love watching the robins, smelling the fresh air, and checking out the bugs in the grass.  Come rain or shine, we are out there!  Good thing I bought extra wipes for wiping off those muddy paws!

"A dog's love is forever"

Listeria, E. coli, and Legionella are all organisms that call Biofilm home.  Bad biofilms have been linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder infections, middle-ear infections, and more.  It is extremely important to keep your pet’s food bowls and food containers clean and dry.  In order for you to remove the Biofilm, you need to wipe your pet’s dish out every time you refill it.  This slimy substance needs to be broken down in order for it to be removed.  In order to keep Biofilm from forming, place your pet’s dish in the dishwasher and run on high heat using Vinegar.  Please do not use any harsh cleaners which can harm your pet should any residue be left on the dish.  Should you need to clean the area around the dish and do not have vinegar to spare, you can use Hydrogen Peroxide to wipe the affected area down.  

Other natural ingredients that can help break down Biofilm are: Garlic has been found to be effective against fungal Biofilms, Oregano, Cinnamon, Curcumin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Cranberry can be used to treat UTI-associated biofilms, Ginger

 

You Might Also Like

Your Dog’s Zodiac Sign

Your Dog’s Zodiac Sign

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Ever wonder what your pet's reaction means to something?  Your Dog's Zodiac Sign is a fun post that sheds light on their behavior based on the month they were born.  Jake and Maggie are Gemini's born June 8, 2017!  The horoscope (see chart)...

The Stigma Surrounding The Pitbull Breed

The Stigma Surrounding The Pitbull Breed

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today on the blog we are talking about The Stigma Surrounding The Pitbull Breed.  For those of you who have never owned a Pitbull, I want to tell you that they are a wonderful breed.  So when I heard about the UK banning all XL bully dog...

What Do You Think? Let Us Know!

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.