Your Pet's Healthcare Starts at Home

Hazards in Your Home That Could Harm Your Pet

If you are getting your first pet soon, you need to be aware of all the hazards in your home that could harm your pet's health and well-being, and take steps to ensure that your pet has a safe home to reside in.

Food

When you have a pet, you need to be extra careful to keep food secure. You should not leave food containers on the counters or leave your cabinets or refrigerator open. When you are done eating, you should throw away food scraps into the trashcan with a lid and not leave food sitting around unattended.

There are numerous foods that you eat every day that could harm and hurt your pet. Here is a list of some of the most common foods that could be poisonous to your pet or harm their digestive systems: chocolate, avocados, alcohol, salt, tea, coffee grounds, onions, garlic, artificial sweeteners with xylitol, macadamia nuts, yeast dough, and fatty foods. Be extra careful to keep these types of food out of your pet's reach.

Cleaning Products

To start with, you need to keep your cleaning products somewhere safe where your pet will not tip them over or will not bite or try to eat the containers. Keep all cleaning products in a cabinet that has a baby lock on it so that it is safe from your pets.

When you use cleaning products, you need to pay attention to how they are to be used. With many cleaning products, you need to keep your pets away from them until they are dry. For example, the solution you use to clean your floors with may be perfectly safe once dry, but your pet should not come into contact with it when it is wet. It is a good idea to put your pets in different room or outside while you are cleaning.

Medications

Many medications that you take on a regular basis can be harmful to your pet, especially if ingested in large quantities. Always keep the lids on your medications so that they don't spill out on the floor for your pet to eat. Ideally, you should keep all medications inside of a locked medical cabinet, take them out when you need to use them, and put them right back in the cabinet. This is the best way to ensure that your pet never eats any medication that they are not supposed to.

Bathroom Products

Finally, keep lids on all the products in your bathroom. Everyday bathroom items, like toothpaste and even sunscreen can cause your pet to develop an upset stomach, resulting in either diarrhea or vomiting. Keep these items on a high self or inside drawers and cabinets to keep them out of reach of your pets.

Make sure that you pet-proof your home before your bring home your new pet so that they don't get sick from everyday products that are around your home. To learn more ways to keep your pet safe, contact pet services like East Valley Animal Clinic.


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