Having a dog around our home can be a comforting idea. A dog will keep us safe, keep us company when we’re bored, or give us affection but danger can come in many forms even in our homes. What do we have that could endanger the lives of our canine pals? Apparently, there are a lot of things that could put our fur babies at risk. Let’s take a look at these things.
10. Small Objects
There are objects at home that seem harmless overall but are a hazard for your dogs. These are tiny unassuming things like batteries, jewelry, buttons, etc. Small objects that can choke your pet or have sharp components are basically a no-no.
Safety Tip: Sweep or vacuum your home once or twice a week. Doing so will keep away these tiny objects from your dog’s reach. It will also eliminate dust or other particles that can irritate you and your dog.
9. Kid’s Toys
Some toys when left around, are also a potential danger for your dog. When your dog chews on these toys they can break off small movable parts or pieces of fabric and swallow them. These can make your dog choke or have other vital passages blocked off and will result in you rushing your dog to the vet.
Safety Tip: Pick up the kid’s toys and keep them in a covered container. This will prevent your dog from reaching any of the toys while keeping your kid’s stuff organized.
8. House Plants
House plants are a great addition to your home because they brighten up or add color to rooms that are otherwise plain. But not all plants can be around your dog. Some of these plants can cause irritation, allergies, or even be toxic when eaten. Some of these plants include tulips, aloe, daffodils, and more.
Safety Tip: Do your research before buying any plant that can come into contact with your pet. If you already have these plants transfer them to a place where your dog can’t smell, touch, or eat them.
7. Electrical outlets and cords
Dogs, especially puppies are curious about their surroundings. Maybe even a little too much. They can stick their noses or paws in electrical outlets or chew on electrical extensions or cords. The resulting shock can be fatal to your fur babies and even result in house fires.
Safety Tip: Cover up those outlets all around the house by installing plastic outlet covers. In addition, coil up those extension cords and place them on higher surfaces such as tables or chairs so that they are out of the reach of your dogs.
6. Harmful Fabrics
Some fabrics can cause harm to your dogs as well. These are typically loose-woven materials that can snag your dog’s nails or teeth. Once they are snagged, they can chew on these fabrics and cause blockages or absorb moisture in their body. These fabrics can include cotton, linen, silk, etc.
Safety Tip: Keep your clothes and bedding off the floor and place them on shelves and cabinets where your dog won’t be able to reach them. Also, opt for blankets that are made from dog-friendly material and cover the furniture like the couch and other surfaces with cloth or fabric. Some dog-friendly fabrics are leather, vinyl, and nylon.
5. Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies can contain chemicals that are harmful to us as well as dogs. These dangerous cleaning supplies can include detergents, bleach, and many more. If left with your dog they can cause skin irritation, poisoning, and respiratory issues.
Safety Tip: Seal your bottles tightly and place them inside a cabinet secured with doors. This will help prevent your dogs from playing with them. You can also buy some pet-friendly cleaning products in your groceries.
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4. Pest Control Products
These products were designed to eliminate unwanted critters like roaches and rats from infesting your home, as they can cause diseases. But these products don’t differentiate from friend or foe. Things like pesticides, insecticides, or traps can cause harm to your dogs when they ingest, smell, or touch these products.
Safety Tip: Place these traps or poison pellets in places where your dog can’t reach them and sweep up or vacuum the area every 2 to 3 days to get rid of stray pellets that may have spilled over your container. If you must, use a pet-friendly bug spray so you can safely get rid of bugs in your home.
3. Medication
Medicine was created to cure us of the many ailments that we humans experience all throughout our lives. But these medications were designed for us, not for our furry friends. Some of these pills can lead to poisoning, kidney failure, or stomach ulcers. Things like anti-depressants, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or any human medicines are examples of medicines that are off-limits to our dogs.
Safety Tip: Tightly seal your medicine bottles with their caps and place them inside a medicine cabinet or a high shelf where your dog can’t reach them.
2. Open Trash Bins
Nothing is more appealing to a dog than an open trash bin. The smells of any garbage container can make your dog curious, to say the least. But why do they go through our trash? In primitive times, dogs followed us because we left bones and meat scraps around and in return, they guarded us from predators while we slept at night. In modern times things haven’t changed much. As we all know trash bins contain food scraps, paper, fabric, shards of glass, etc. All of which can be harmful to dogs. They can choke, get poisoned, or get lacerations when rummaging through garbage.
Safety Tip: Tie up your garbage bags and throw them in the dumpster right away to prevent your dog from going through them. Also, seal any garbage containers lying around uncovered in the house.
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1. Human Food
The most dangerous thing for our dogs is the food that we give them freely every day. Dogs are always happy to get food from us, and we sometimes can’t resist the urge to give them a taste of what we are eating. However, some human foods do not go well with our canine buddies and can be life-threatening when given. Things like chocolate, sharp bones, avocados, grapes, citrus fruits, and many more can cause anything from indigestion to fatalities.
Safety Tips: Watch what you feed your dogs. Like everyone else, they need a balanced and nutritious diet to keep them healthy. Aside from that, do not give them anything potentially dangerous. If you’re not sure it’s edible for your dogs do not give it to them. Researching these dangerous foods will also keep you updated on what not to give them.
From The Club
There are things in our homes that might seem innocent to us but can be dangerous to our pets. Always be mindful and be on the lookout for things that might harm them when they get ahold of it. If you’re not sure about one thing, don’t hand it out to them. Just a reminder, it is our duty to provide our pets with a safe and secure environment. They love and protect us unconditionally, so let’s do the same for them.
