We created this guide so you can understand the many health hazards present in the average home, and make quick impactful changes to make your home safer for your pets. Please read carefully and make sure to spread the word.
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Accidents can easily happen no matter where you are or who you are. Anyone would want to see their loved ones fine and unhurt. Especially the ones who are defenceless or who cannot grasp certain things. Think of babies, toddlers, small children, the family puppy, etc.
For our purposes today, we’ll focus on that family pet. We’re going to see how you can protect your pet from common household dangers, bad food, and more.
Common Household Dangers for Pets
Here’s a list of the most common household hazards for pets:
- Insecticides
- Batteries
- Fertilizers and plant food
- Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
- Detergents
- Antifreeze
- Household cleaners
- Rat poison and traps
- Razors and sharp utensils
- Exposed electrical cords
- Any item small enough to be a choking hazard
- Mothballs
- Tobacco
- Kerosene
- String, rubber bands, and floss
These are all items that when your pet should get a hold of them, can cause problems. Al lot of these are common items found around the house. You might want to be more careful and store these away of their reach.
Foods That Can Make Your Pet Sick
A list of dangerous foods and substances for your pet to ingest:
- Alcohol
- Mushrooms
- Moulded or spoiled food
- Fat trimmings
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Macadamia nuts
- Avocados
- Coffee
- Grapes
- Meat bones
- Raw meat
- Eggs
- Artificial sweeteners
- Onions, leeks, chives
- Milk
- Salt
- toothpaste
- chewing gum candy
- cat food*
*When ingested by dogs.
Overall, it’s best for all pets to feed them only pet food that’s been specifically made for them. If they on occasion happen to sneak a piece of your pork chop into their mischievous gullets, it usually won’t be a problem.
How to find out for sure? The best thing to do if you think your pet has ingested some of the above, is to call a vet as your first move. After having told them what has occurred, they can either reassure you or tell you not to worry too much. On the other hand they can tell you what you should immediately do as your next step.
How to pet-proof your home
To discuss in depth all the varieties of possible dangerous situations in a typical home situation would be beyond the scope of this article. Instead, let’s take a brief look at some of the most important things to watch out for.
The kitchen: honestly, the best way you can protect your pets from all the obvious dangers that lurk within the kitchen area, is to simply deny them access to it, for example with a collapsible gate.
The garbage: probably, one of the bigger risks since it can hold still tasty snacks for hungry pets. Buying special garbage cans with a lockable lid, is your best bet here. Pets can’t very easily pop these open, compared to standard trash bins.
Electrical cords: people can get frustrated with pets who have a tendency to gnaw and chew on furniture and the like. But when it comes to electrical wiring, the biggest risk isn’t for the chewed, but the chewer. A jolt of electricity should of course at all times be guarded against. If possible, keep the cords higher up and off the ground, to where they are out of reach. Or tape them to the side of walls, et. Instead of lying about the room, making them less enticing. Alternatively, there are also a few chew deterrent sprays on the market that might help.
Choking hazards: many small everyday items can become a choking hazard for your pet. Think of office stuff like pens and paperclips; or more yet: batteries and jewellery.
Tall furniture: It may be hard for smaller pets or pets getting on in age, to jump on and off tall furniture. Not wanting to see them getting themselves hurt when just trying to reach up to where you are to just hang out with you, buy or build some assisting steps or a ramp. It’ll make it easier on them to reach their favourite spots around the house.