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Our pets – especially puppies and kittens – are very curious creatures who like to explore the world by putting everything they find in their mouths! They experience the world by chewing, tasting, and sometimes eating whatever they find in their way. Whether your pet lives inside or outside, it’s very important to be aware of household hazards that could potentially cause harm to your furry friend.
Baits, Insecticides and Cleaning Products:
Our four legged friends love to follow us everywhere in our house, don’t they? Sometimes they manage to sneak into our garage, laundry room or shed, and since we tend to store cleaning supplies, fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals in these places it is extremely important to keep these rooms locked and inaccessible to pets, especially when we are not around to keep an eye on things.
Most household cleaners are hazardous to our pet’s health if ingested. They can cause life-threatening burns to the mouth or oesophagus.
Store rat and snail baits safely in the original packaging within another sealed container and keep them in a high cupboard, out of reach of your pet. If you think your pet has had contact with rat bait, call your vet immediately as the effects can be fatal.
Most household cleaners are hazardous to our pet’s health if ingested. They can cause life-threatening burns to the mouth or oesophagus.
Store rat and snail baits safely in the original packaging within another sealed container and keep them in a high cupboard, out of reach of your pet. If you think your pet has had contact with rat bait, call your vet immediately as the effects can be fatal.
Rubbish Bins:
Bins can be full of bio-hazards for pets. They can be easily knocked over or left open and our pets can pull out dangerous or toxic rubbish like cigarette butts, food skewers, dental floss, and foods that are toxic to pets. Keep rubbish bins out of reach from pets, and make sure they are properly covered.
Food
It can be difficult to say no to those puppy dog eyes pleading with you while you are at the table having dinner. Giving some of your food to your pet could be fine, depending on what it is and what’s in it. There are specific foods that your pet cannot eat, because they are toxic to their health. The most common ones to look out for are chewing gum, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, avocado, onion, garlic & chocolate. Check out our post on ‘Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat‘ to find out more!
Toys and small object
Small objects and brightly coloured toys are very appealing to pets. Things you would never expect pets to show interest in can be potential choking hazards. Be mindful of buttons, small batteries, elastic bands and small toys.
Electrical Cords
Electrical cords should be kept out of your pet’s reach, especially if you have young puppies as they tend to chew and pull on any cords they find lying around near them. If your pet chews on a cord and exposes the wiring, it can cause severe injuries including burns to the mouth and tongue, seizures or cardiac arrest. It’s a good idea to regularly check the electrical cords around your house and, if you find chew marks on them, unplug and replace them immediately.
