10/12/2025
To prevent staph and E. coli in dogs at home, maintain good hygiene by regularly cleaning food bowls and bedding, wash your hands after handling your dog, and ensure your dog's skin is clean and dry.
Support their immune system with a high-quality diet, and if feeding human food, ensure all meat is thoroughly cooked. Avoid raw meat diets unless supervised by a vet, and schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian.
Hygiene and cleaning:
Wash bowls:
Wash food and water bowls with soap and hot water after each meal.
Clean bedding: Regularly wash your dog's bedding in hot water.
Disinfect surfaces:
Use a disinfectant on surfaces your dog contacts, like floors and counters, especially after handling raw meat.
Handle waste:
Clean up f***s from the yard promptly.
Wash hands:
Wash your hands thoroughly after touching your dog, especially after handling food or if they have an infection.
Dry your dog: Thoroughly dry your dog after baths or swimming, as moisture can lead to skin issues.
Diet and nutrition:
Avoid raw food: Do not feed raw meat diets unless they are supervised by a veterinarian, as this can increase the risk of E. coli.
Cook meat thoroughly:
If feeding human food, ensure all meat is cooked completely.
Feed a high-quality diet:
Support your dog's immune system by feeding a high-quality, whole-food diet that provides all necessary nutrients.
Monitor diet:
Consider a diet with reduced carbohydrates and rotated protein sources, and consult your vet before making major changes.
Health and veterinary care:
Vet check-ups.
Schedule regular veterinary check-ups to catch and treat any issues early.
Manage skin issues:
Address any underlying allergies or skin conditions that make your dog prone to infection, and talk to your vet about solutions for skin folds or other issues.
Treat wounds:
Promptly address and clean any cuts, wounds, or skin irritations.
Avoid contact:
If one dog in a household is infected, keep them separate from others until the infection is gone. If you have a contagious pet, take precautions to avoid spreading the infection to other pets or humans, particularly immunocompromised individuals.
Other prevention tips:
Prevent licking. Discourage your dog from licking you, as staph can spread from dogs to humans.
Support urinary health:
For E. coli related to urinary issues, provide plenty of fresh water and consider incorporating things like cranberry or blueberry supplements, which can help prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls.
