Picture obtained from https://post.bark.co/health/clean-dog-bowl/ Have you noticed a pink film in your pet’s bowl or is the water cloudy? That is caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. It is an airborne bacteria that can be found in human and animal feces, dust, soil, anywhere moisture sits, and in surface water. Serratia marcescens grows in moist areas where phosphorous containing materials or fatty substances accumulate. The sources of the phosphorous is soap residue and food residue left behind after a pet eats and then drinks water. How do you get rid of it? Once established, it is hard to get rid of the bacteria, but frequent cleaning and disinfecting will help to minimize its growth. To clean a pet’s water bowl: Scrub the surface with a brush and household cleaner. Disinfect the bowl with a chlorine bleach solution and leave on the surface of the bowl for 10-20 minutes. Thoroughly rinse the bowl with clean water. Avoid using abrasive cleaners as they can scratch soft surfaces like plastic bowls which would provide more surface area for the bacteria to grow. Information on Serratia marcescens was obtained from: Gwinnett County Government and Ecowater Systems Bat Country Pet Sitting produced more information on bacterial films and can be read at https://www.batcopetsitting.com/biofilm-bacteria-pet-dishes/
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