What happens when you don’t wash your dog’s bed enough?

We all know the importance of keeping our own bed sheets fresh and clean.

Aside from making your bedroom feel refreshed for the start of the week, washing your sheets on the regular helps keep any bacteria at bay.

But there's one bed in the house we might not be as familiar with the washing rules for.

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From going out on walks to rolling around on the lawn, dogs can bring all kinds of dirt and gunk from outdoors into the house. Now imagine all of that building up on their bed.

So what happens if your dog's bed isn't washed regularly enough?

Well, it turns out washing your dog's bed isn't only for the pup's benefit.

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According to veterinarian Mehdi Esmatparast in an interview with Real Simple, “a dirty bed can worsen respiratory issues for both dogs and humans, especially those with allergies or asthma.”

He explains not washing your dog's bed can breed bacteria, dust mites, fleas and fungi.

“This can lead to skin infections, allergies, and unpleasant odours.”

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The vet recommends washing a dog bed every two weeks, or weekly for pups who have allergies or are prone to shedding and spending time outdoors.

The good news is cleaning your dog's bed is not much different to doing your own.

Unless the care label specifies otherwise, the bed can be popped in the washing machine without it's cover and using pet-friendly detergent.

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Keep the dog bed in a separate wash load to your own sheets and laundry. 

On the topic of dog hygiene, you should also be washing your dog regularly around every 21 days according to veterinarian Dr Cliff Faver.

The vet explains the 21-day wash cycle is to remove dead skin cells which will then replenish themselves.

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While he says the cycle is the same for any hair-length, “different hair types have different needs and the short haired [dogs] because they have less hair to protect their skin, actually need more oils.”

To avoid dry skin, he recommends using shampoo and then conditioner.

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