When you bring home a pet it’s important to make sure your home is pet-proofed for their safety. Puppies, kittens, and even adult dogs and cats are all susceptible to hidden dangers in your home. We share some pet-proofing tips to keep your pets from needing the services of emergency animal clinics.
Curious pets can often find themselves in some trouble, so it’s important to keep pet safety in mind for every room in your home.
In the kitchen and the bathroom, use a trash can with a lid to keep your pet out of potentially harmful garbage. Move cleaning products, medication, and laundry soap on high shelves, or in cabinets to keep them out of sight and out of mind for your pet. If your pet can open cabinet doors, install child-proof latches. Keep food out of the reach of pets. Too often pets ingest something toxic and end up in animal clinics fighting for their lives. The ASPCA has a list of foods that are dangerous for your pet to ingest. In your laundry room, check the washer and dryer before starting in case a curious pet made its way into these machines.
Bedrooms pose other threats to your pet. Remove lotions, cosmetics, or medications from bedside tables where they are easily accessible. Keep wires from lamps, or charging devices away from open areas where they can be easily chewed. Laundry can be tempting for pets, so keep your clothes off the ground and out of reach. Check closets and drawers for pets, especially kittens and cats, before you close them.
In your living room or family room, keep house plants out of reach. Many plants are toxic to pets, so research plants before you bring them home. As in the bedroom, keep cords out of reach so they can’t be easily chewed. Also, if you have children, keep toys off the floor. Toys can be choking hazards to your pet.
Finally, there are steps to take to pet-proof your garage and yard. Keep toxic materials such as antifreeze, rat poison, and yard chemicals like fertilizer and weed killers out of reach of your pets. If you can place these items inside an upper cabinet, you reduce the chance of your pet getting access. In the yard, only plant flowers and plants that are safe around your pets, and mend any holes in fences.
If you are considering adding a new pet to your home, contact us to establish care and ask any questions you may have about properly preparing for a new pet.
