About half of pet owners questioned in a new survey say that they are worried about bacteria on pet bowls, toys and beds. In the research carried out for Microban Europe, 57 percent are “concerned” or “very concerned” about bacteria on pet bowls, 54 percent on pet beds and 46 percent on pet toys.
Their worries are borne out by separate research by Microban’s own laboratories, which show that the average pet toy has between 3,000 and 25,000 bacteria colony forming units on its surface.
“Pet products such as beds, bowls and toys are prone to bacteria," says Alison Southcombe, marketing director at Microban Europe. "They often come into contact with pet’s mouths, fur and paws, and are then left unattended for quite long periods, sometimes indoors in warm conditions where bacteria can grow very quickly. The potential danger from ‘unfriendly’ bacteria growing on product exists both for the pet and for the owner who handles the product when they feed their pet, care for them or play with them.”
Poor pet feeding, litter tray and toy hygiene can potentially contribute to bacterial cross-contamination around the home as well from pet to pet and even to owners.
Microban Europe is the European division of Microban International, a global leader in built-in antibacterial product protection. The survey also showed that 66 percent of people would be “reassured” or “very reassured” by the presence of antibacterial protection in the plastics used in pet products.
“The goal of antibacterial technology is not to provide direct healthcare benefits but to minimize the number of bacteria which colonize and grow on a surface and reduce the possibility of the bacteria transferring around the home," says Southcombe.