20 Apr The Healthy Home — With Pets
Heather Ratliff has many years of experience as a commercial interior designer in Cincinnati architectural firms and is now the Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment Specialist for McKesson medical products. In her role, she facilitates the planning, design and specification of interior design elements for the U.S. Oncology Network’s cancer-care practices.
With a passion for healthcare design, and degrees in both architecture and interior design, Heather is dedicated to creating holistic, functional and meaningful interior experiences that provide healthy and positive outcomes. Supporting overall project development through each design phase, she is able to manifest designs aligned with an organization’s values and branding through her understanding of space, materiality and detailing. Her passion for advocacy in health and wellbeing and sustainable design, drives her design approach, creating successful spaces for her clients.
Her passion for health and wellness also extends to pets and providing the healthy incorporation of pets into a home. Here are her tips on how to do this:
Keep your home clean and healthy
- Walk-off mats: Reducing the snow, debris and mud from your shoes and dog’s paws from entering your home, helps to keep cleaning to a minimum. Outdoor mats at the door like: Muddy Mats Outdoor help catch it before reaching your interior. Nubby rugs like Muddy Mats Anti-Mud at the inside of your door is the 2nd layer of defense. For those rainy seasons, I recommend keeping some towels or disposable paw wipes in an easily accessible location by the door to thoroughly clean their paws with. There are many adorable paw or dog wall hooks to help keep your space organized and functional.
- Air Filtration: Reduce pet odors and dander by treating your air with an air purifier. High quality options will include HEPA filter for microscopic particles, a washable pre-filter to catch fur and prevent the filter from clogging and a carbon filter to neutralize pet odors. You can also consider upgrading your home’s furnace air filter with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rated furnace filter. MERV rating 5-8 is considered moderate efficiency and helps to filter pet dander. MERV rating 9-12 is high efficiency and helpful for allergy sufferers. MERV 13-16 is considered a superior, healthcare grade. While recommended for better indoor-air quality, the higher ratings can restrict your air flow, so consult with your HVAC technician or furnace manufacturer to ensure compatibility before switching filters.
Home modifications for style and efficiency
- Incorporate Feeding Into the Kitchen: I think this is one of the “little” modifications that has a big impact on daily life with pets. Incorporating a space in the end of a kitchen island, or a dedicated pantry nook, for food and water bowls is a great solution to not only save floor space, but keeps you from accidentally kicking them, or having to move them back in place as your pets push them around when eating. A bonus, if you have the resources, is adding a “pot filler” to keep the water fresh and full.
Chris Gorman Homes, Homearama 2024
- Dog Wash Station: Not everyone has the space or ability to dedicate to this concept, but it’s a very desirable upgrade if you do! Especially if it can be located in a walk-out basement or a mudroom right off your exterior, it will give easy access for muddy dogs to get right in! Lowe’s even sells a pre-fab unit, see here and Signature Hardware sells a countertop unit for small dogs – see here.
Pay attention to the physical and hygienic needs of aging pet
- Comfy resting spots. Of course we spoil our pets with adorable beds and blankets, but in the senior years investing in high-quality orthopedic pet beds provide many benefits. These beds provide superior joint support, alleviating pressure points and reducing discomfort. Providing multiple resting places throughout the home, allows your pet to choose where they feel most at ease. For pets with incontinence, waterproof liners like potty pads, and easily washable covers are helpful for regularly changing and cleaning bedding.
- Safe surfaces – As pets age, their mobility often declines. Hard surface floors like vinyl, wood and tile can lead to slips and falls causing injury or anxiety about traversing through the home. Placing non-slip rugs or even yoga mats in frequently trafficked areas provide significant mobility assistance by providing a stable surface for standing and walking.
- Easy Access to Litter Boxes and Outdoor Potty Areas – Ensure your pet has easy and immediate access to their designated potty area, whether it is a litter box or an outdoor space. For pets with limited mobility, you may need to adjust the litter box location to an easy-to-access space, instead of through a kitty door that may be difficult for them to navigate, or assist them in reaching their outdoor spot with modifying steps to include ramp access.
Organizations I’m involved with that you can reach out to:
Considering adding a pet to your family and home? Say hello to your new best friend at the League for Animal Welfare in Batavia!
Provide your pet a loving “goodbye” to cross the rainbow bridge from the comfort of home with Angel’s Paws.©
— Heather Ratliff is a long-time guest writer and collaborator at Natural Interiors®
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