Plumbing Tips for Pet Owners

that They are your fuzzy friends and you love them, but pet owners know that with that wagging tail comes some destruction. Plumbing tips may not sound like what you need, but you would be surprised what pets can get into. Doing what you can to keep them out of trouble includes closing off certain areas or removing dangerous or valuable things from their reach. However, you may not think of protecting your plumbing until there is an incident. We have a few plumbing tips to protect your pipes from your pets and vice versa.

Keep Water Bowl Filled

Your pets’ water bowl should always be filled. Not only does it keep them hydrated, but it also keeps them from taking desperate measures and drinking from your toilet bowl. The water bowl should be topped off at least twice a day. Most pet owners have a regular feeding schedule, and their water should be checked when they are fed. Generally, if you see that their water bowl is low, fill it for them. Toilet water is bad for dogs because of the chemical cleaners used on them. They are also a danger to smaller pets that may fall in. Closing the lid of the toilet is a good habit to get into.

Cover Exposed Pipe

Pet owners often find out the hard way that if pets are not properly trained or exercised, anything that can be chewed will be chewed. This includes exposed pipes. They are only able to chew things within a couple of feet of the ground, which unfortunately includes a few plumbing fixtures. If they are not enclosed in cabinets, you may have to get creative on how you conceal them. A simple solution for this is to wrap the pipes. Generally, it is a good plumbing tip to cover pipes anyway.

Clean Pet Outside Whenever Possible

One of the best plumbing tips for pet owners we can give is to bathe them outside! When the weather is warm, the best way to wash your pet is outside with a hose and some soap to prevent any fluff from going anywhere you do not want it to. In the Midwest, it is far too cold in the winter to consider taking your dog outside for a bath. But your pet needs a bath, what do you do? If you do not take them to a groomer who already has the equipment in place, you can transform your bathtub into a pet spa. To avoid a serious plumbing clog, use a good drain guard. Pets tend to shed, and all that hair going down your drain is a real problem. It is easy to find and install guards that catch all the hair saving you from an expensive visit from the plumber.

Cover Floor Drains

Floor drains are something else to be wary of. Small animals are at risk of getting stuck, and even smaller animals like hamsters are at risk of falling in. Make sure the grate for the drain is securely in place. If the openings on the grate are large, see if they can be replaced with a grate with smaller holes to lower the risk of a paw getting stuck. If the floor drain is not one you use, for instance, one in the basement or garage you can find both permanent and temporary solutions to plug the drain with no openings at all.

Do Not Flush Kitty Litter

We brought this up with some of our other plumbing tips in our Ten Proper Garbage Disposal Tips to Avoid a Blocked Drain. The only way you should be disposing of kitty litter is throwing it away. Pet owners should be wary of brands that say flushable. Even if it is advertised as safe for plumbing, it should not be flushed down the toilet. Kitty litter clogs over time. Flushing it will get rid of the smell right away but is not worth the hassle down the road.

Keep Dogs from Digging

If your dog is a digger, he will have to be watched when he goes out. Pet owners should train their animals not to dig early, but if they cannot seem to break the habit they should be watched. While most water lines are too far down for your dog to reach, some are not as far as they should be. More enthusiastic digging dogs can rupture a sewer or water line which is a costly repair. Don’t take chances. If you notice your dog likes to dig, watch them when they go outside.

Save your pets from injury and your plumbing from repairs by following our plumbing tips. Pet owners that act now can save themselves from a large bill from the plumber or the vet down the road. If your furry friend has already done some damage, you can always call Valley Fire Protection for repairs.

Related Topics: Plumbing Tips
By: Tom Hartel
I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.

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