Second-hand accessories for dogs and cats: is it a good idea?
We love them and they love us back. Our four-legged friends need a certain amount of comfort and entertainment to lead a balanced life. Cat trees, baskets, toys of all kinds and other transport crates represent a non-negligible additional cost when you get a dog or cat. Buying second-hand can be a good thing, but only under certain conditions.
A question of hygiene and health
Don't forget that it's not easy to wash all your pet's accessories, and that previous owners don't necessarily do it. Pets can carry various parasites (worms, fleas, ticks, etc.) and a whole range of infections and diseases, which can be transmitted through the skin, saliva or other mucous membranes. So it's extremely important to wash again and make sure you've eliminated germs, microbes and parasites before giving your purchase to your pet.
It is essential to treat the object with the appropriate products
A homemade, economical preparation for maintaining and cleaning your pets' accessories
Rest assured, you don't need to invest a lot of money: you can clean your pet's toys, cuddly toys, baskets, cat trees and other accessories with a homemade preparation consisting of :
- 5 litres of water,
- 12 centilitres baking soda,
- 12 centilitres of black soap or Marseille soap.
This preparation is perfectly suitable as the products used are completely risk-free for the animal, which can then put the objects back in its mouth after rinsing them!
Beware of (very) nasty surprises
However, this preparation won't get rid of fleas, bedbugs or other parasites nesting in the accessory you've bought. Don't forget that these parasites are very small and can sneak inside a cushion or basket, or into the soft covering of a cat tree. So it's quite risky to use second-hand products. If you still want to give it a go, it's essential to treat the object with the right products. However, it turns out that, except in special cases, it will cost you just as much to buy the second-hand accessory and the treatment products as the new accessory.
Visit the owner to finalise the transaction
Hand-delivering is preferable to sending, so that you can see for yourself the actual condition of the item. In all cases, don't take any risks - if in doubt, give up! For plastic toys and products, however, the risks are much lower, as you can wash them much more effectively and easily.
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