Is Your Home Dangerous To You Pet?
s Your Home Dangerous To Your Pet? 20 Items You Need To Keep Out Of Their Reach
Keeping your pet safe and healthy is typically the top priority for pet owners, new and old. While there are obvious ways to ensure your pet is far from harm’s way, there are likely at least a few everyday items in your home that can cause severe illness or worse. There is usually no need to eliminate these items from your home completely, but you should certainly keep them far out of your pet’s reach.
Pets are curious by nature and tend to explore their surroundings thoroughly. This means that the safest way to ensure they stay healthy is to be precautious and eliminate any threats to their health. Here are 20 common household items you should keep out of their way.
#1 Medications
Luckily, most of today’s prescription or over-the-counter medications come in child-safe packaging, making it more challenging to break into a bottle. However, it is important to keep in mind that your pet likely has much sharper teeth than your average toddler.
While this may not pose an issue if you are home and able to keep a close eye on them, medications left in the open can pose a serious risk if pets have more time to break through the bottle. The easiest way to ensure your pet doesn’t come into any unwanted contact with human or pet medications is by making sure all bottles are tightly sealed and kept away in a high cabinet.
#2 Pest Traps
No one wants mice, bugs, or other pests getting comfortable in their home. However, those same traps and deterrents used to keep pests away could become a potential danger to your pets. While traps do not pose a serious harm, an ingestible such as rat poison can quickly become a serious threat to your pet.
For ultimate safety, keep any, and all pest traps and deterrents either up high or in a space your pet does not spend any time in – this can be a garage or shed. If your pet has accidentally found its way to one of these items, be sure to contact poison control or vet immediately.
#3 Fertilizer
Fertilizer is dangerous to both pets and humans when ingested. Even though this popular gardening item keeps your grass green and your flowers blooming, it is full of chemicals and other elements that are dangerous when consumed by your furry friend – especially dogs.
Although fertilizer may not smell like food to you, your dog may detect a feast that contains a combination of phosphate and nitrogen, as well as compounds to combat bug and weed problems. The risks of fertilizer and chocolate are combined in cocoa mulch, so be sure to research the mulches you use as well.
#4 Cleaning Products
Cleaning products pose one of the most common threats to pets, not because they are the most toxic but because they are the most accessible. Window cleaners, bleach, and bathroom cleansers are often kept in low cabinets – making them especially easy for pets to get into when given a chance.
When using and storing cleaning products, it is best to treat your pet in the same way you would treat a small child. Keep them far away and out of reach. You also want to ensure that any products you use have a chance to dry before exposing your pet.
#5 Food
Most people are aware that chocolate can be toxic for pets in large amounts, but did you know that there are many other popular food items that can be dangerous to your pet? A few of the most common include:
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Chocolate
- Raw meat
- Raw yeast
- Caffeine
- Onions
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Macadamia nuts
- Xylitol – an artificial sweetener often used in sugar-free gum
To keep these kinds of food away from pets, be sure to keep them out of reach and keep your pets away from your kids while they are eating. Keeping these food items securely stored is the easiest way to ensure your pet doesn’t get into them while you are away.
#6 Toxic Plants
Plants throughout your home and your flowerbeds may look fresh and inviting, but they can pose serious health risks when ingested by your pets. Cats are particularly at risk as they love to munch on greens, but dogs can also be in danger as well. While there are many plants that can be harmful around your pets, a few of the most common include:
- Tulips
- Autumn Crocus
- Sago Palm
- Azalea
- Oleander
- Cyclamen
- Lilies
- Daffodils
- Lily of the Valley
- Hyacinth
- Kalanchoe
If your pet ingests any of these plants, it is crucial to take them to your vet, even if they aren’t displaying any apparent symptoms. It is imperative to remove any toxic material from their body. If you are getting ready to bring home a new pet, be sure to check your home, garden, and any other outdoor areas for poisonous plants.
#7 Antifreeze
Did you know that antifreeze can smell and taste sweet to your pet? Most of us know that antifreeze is incredibly dangerous to both pets and humans if ingested, but its unlikely appeal to animals is what makes it so dangerous.
Even a tiny amount of ingested antifreeze can be incredibly dangerous, which is why it is so important to keep this item very far away from your pet. A high shelf in the garage or shed works best.
The Key To Keeping Your Pet Safe
While it is impossible to keep every threat out of your pet’s reach, knowing these commonly overlooked items can help to ensure that your pet is as safe as possible. If kept in your home, most of these items should be stored in high cabinets and on shelves far away from the reach of your pet. If your pet is exposed to any of these toxins, it is crucial to take them to the vet as soon as possible.