As a pet owner, can you remember the excitement you had when you first acquired your pet? Can you remember all the preparation that went into bringing your pet home? You wanted to make sure you had the right food, bedding, toys, etc. Also, you wanted to make sure you found the right veterinarian to take care of your new addition to your household. A common preparation that is often overlooked is whether the home is pet proof. Why is it important to pet proof your home? What is involved in pet proofing your house? Below we will discuss some tips on how to pet proof your home.
Why pet proof your home?
Of all the emergencies that are seen, one of the most common cases are poisoning or ingestion of a toxin. Many times these toxins are common household items. So if you can protect your pets from these toxins, you can reduce chances that you will need to take an unexpected trip to the emergency visit.
What needs to be done to pet proof your home?
The easiest way to determine how to pet proof your home is to breakdown the potential dangers that can occur in each room. Below we will look at each room in a typical household.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a popular place for a family to enjoy a meal together. But it is also a place that can harbor potential dangers for your pet. One of these dangers is food. Common foods that can cause major issues with your pet includes baking chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, and caffeine. Garbage cans full of discarded food can prove to be dangerous. Besides food, there are common household cleaners that can also be a danger. So it is important that these items are secured properly. Avoid leaving food out for a curious pet to get in contact with and secure all garbage cans. You should also keep cabinets doors locked.
Laundry room
This room is a common area where your pets can get in contact with items used to clean the laundry. It can be common for dogs to ingest fabric softener sheets and detergent pods which can cause serious digestive issues. So it is important that these items are kept far out of reach of your pets.
Bathroom
Since this is a room where medications are commonly stored, pets can be exposed to prescription and OTC meds alike. Childproof caps are no match for sharp teeth. So it is important to keep these up high and out of reach. Other dangers include bathroom cleaners. A common issue is toilet bowel cleaners that are placed in the tank since it is common for dogs to like to lick out of the toilet bowl. That is why it is important to keep the toilet bowl closed after using it or not using those extended toilet bowl cleaners if you have a pet.
Living room
Many people don’t think of their living room as being a dangerous place for pets but it can be based on the set up and their behavior. Certain plants such as sago palm, easter lilies and Dieffenbachia can cause issues. So double check your plants you have in your house before bringing in a pet. If your pet has a tendency to eat unusual things, then they may go for a remote control and get in contact with batteries. So keep those out of reach.
Garage
The garage is one of the most dangerous places for dogs especially if you have a car parked in the area. Antifreeze leaking from a car can be deadly for a dog if ingested. The garage is also a common storage area for other potential toxic items such as gas and paint. So if you are deciding to keep your pets in the garage, make sure they don’t have access to any of those things.
Yard
Before bringing that pet home, it is important that you survey it for any potential hazards. Plants are a common issue with pets so look for any toxic plants and make sure they are removed. Make sure you don’t have any pest bait outside. It is also important to make sure that your fencing is secure. Pets often escape from poorly secured fences leading to increased risk for being hit by a car.
In conclusion
As you can see it is important to pet proof your home for the safety of your pets. It also allows you to avoid an expensive trip to the emergency room. What should you do if your pet gets poisoned? The first thing you should do is call your veterinarian. If your veterinarian is not open, then you should call pet poison hotline. Another option you have is to check with an online veterinary consulting website such as JustAnswer . Whatever you decide it will be important that you act quickly.
This was really very informative! Thank you for sharing
This is so informational and eye opening to things you may not necessarily think about. We leave our toilet seats down anyways, but I never thought about the chemicals from the cleaning disks that are put into the tank being a threat. It does make sense though that they end up the the bowl. Thanks for sharing this!
Wow! It’s like babyproofing your house in so many ways! I didn’t even think about toxic plants outside until now.
Great information you have. I never thought some of this back when I have still a dog.
When my cat was a baby it felt like I was chasing a toddler. She was into everything, putting everything that would fit into her mouth!
This came at the perfect time! Thank you for an informative post!
This is brilliant information. I am hoping to get a pet in the near future so this is very useful.
These are some fabulous tips for pet owners. My sister would definitely find it to be useful. I unfortunately do not have pets
These are all amazing tips to pet proof the house!! I didn’t even think of these when I had my dog.
These are some fabulous tips for pet owners. I don’t have any pets. But great tips for those who have.
In some ways, having a pet really is the same as having a baby xD
We have a Black Lab, she is always picking up something especially when she is excited. We alway have to be aware of her environment for her safety.
ahhh even the simplest things I would never have thought about. great tips for everyone!
This is so informational! I never would have thought to double check all the plants. You always know of the major plants that could be harmful but double checking regular household ones is necessary too, just to be on the safe side. Thanks for sharing!