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How to pet-proof your home
After months of searching, you’ve finally
chosen the perfect pet. You’ve taken online
quizzes, consulted friends and family, and
visited local animal shelters and breeders.
You might be ready for a pet, but is your
home? While most pet owners are familiar
with potential poisonous hazards, such as
chocolate and anti-freeze, many probably
don’t know that grapes and raisins can be
deadly for dogs, and that almost all lilies
can be toxic for cats. Dr. John Sheppard, a
veterinary consult, says the most common pet
emergencies veterinarians see are fractures,
intestinal blockage, ingestion of household
chemicals, lacerations and soft-tissue
trauma — all of which can result from
accidents at home. Pet-proofing your home is
a simple and inexpensive way to keep your
furry family member safe and happy.
Getting started
1. Survey each room of your home by getting
down on your hands and knees, the same way
you would to prepare for a toddler. It will
help you pinpoint potential hazards that you
wouldn’t notice if you were standing up.
2. “The little things that kids can get
themselves in trouble with are the same for
a puppy or new animal,” said Dana Farbman of
the ASPCA Poison Control Center in Urbana,
Ill.
Outdoor dangers
1. Fertilizers should be used carefully and
sparingly. If you have to use them, make
sure to keep animals away from a freshly
fertilized lawn for at least 24 hours. Use
extra caution with products containing high
concentrations of iron or pesticides.
2. Wipe up spills of anti-freeze, gasoline,
oil, fertilizers, insecticides or cement
mix. Keep these products in a locked shed or
at least off the floor — curious claws and
canines will investigate.
3. Cat owners should be especially careful
before starting a car. Cats love warm places
and sometimes will crawl inside the engine.
They also like to take naps under or on top
of cars. Bang on the hood of the car before
starting it. Also check clothes dryers,
another warm place.
4. Dog owners should make sure that backyard
fences are strong and that gate latches
work.
Food hazards
1. There are more than 230 plants and 13
foods identified by the ASPCA as potential
hazards to your pet’s health. See more at
www.aspca.org.
2. If you have a cat and a dog, keep their
food dishes in separate areas. Cat food has
high quantities of protein that can be hard
on dogs’ kidneys.
3. Discard any household plant that could be
toxic. Common ones include azaleas, lilies,
morning glories, daffodils, tulips,
hyacinths and irises. Also be aware of
plants with thorns, since they can cause eye
injuries. During the holidays, keep your
pets away from mistletoe, holly and
Christmas tree water (it might contain
harmful fertilizers). Poinsettias are
actually OK, although they can cause your
pet an upset stomach.
4. Lock up all medications. Common
painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen
can cause kidney failure and sometimes death
in pets. Even vitamins pose a potential
health hazard.
5. Never use animal-specific medications on
other pets. Treating a cat with a dog
preventative for fleas, ticks or heartworm
could cause serious health problems.
Toxic hazards
1. Remove pennies, nicotine products,
mothballs and batteries that might be lying
around. All can be lethal to a pet if
digested.
2. Use safety latches to secure all cabinets
and trash cans that contain food or cleaning
products. Even overhead cabinets sometimes
need securing, because cats and larger dogs
can be clever when they want something they
smell.
3. Fatty foods, onions, salt, garlic,
avocados, macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes,
chocolate and alcoholic beverages can be
toxic to pets if ingested in large
quantities. Rotting food, coffee grounds and
fruit pits can cause serious health problems
as well.
4. Bones from pork chops, chicken and ribs
can splinter and cut the inside of your
dog’s mouth or cause choking.
Physical hazards
1. Remove anything within your pet’s reach
that has sharp edges or could be a choking
hazard. This goes for toys as well. Plastic
bags and wrappers also are hazardous because
they can cause an intestinal blockage, which
could require surgery.
2. Cover exposed electrical cords or outlets
to prevent burns and electrocution as the
result of chewing. Visit www.ehow.com/buy_5717_cord-cover.html
to learn more about cord covers.
3. Secure loose strings from window blinds
or curtains by wrapping them around a peg.
It’s very easy for pets to become tangled
and possibly strangle themselves. Secure
your windows by repairing torn screens and
reinforcing the molding on wooden window
frames and the spline on metal ones.
4. Use baby gates to block off any spaces
where your pet could be in danger of
falling. Many puppies and kittens lack depth
perception, and falling presents a big
hazard. Older cats also are at risk because
they become less agile with age.
Visit
www.MyVNN.com
THE Veterinary News Network
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