It’s no secret that having a dog or cat means living with an abundance of hazards. From the risk of eating poisonous objects to knocking down and breaking heavy items in the living room, bringing a new member of the family home requires a bit of planning and preparation. Not only do you want your pet to be safe, but you also want to ensure that they don’t destroy the legs of your new sofa or the expensive set of curtains in your bedroom.
If you’re new to owning a pet and are wondering how to pet-proof your home, read on for a few tips.
Assess any Hazards
What might seem safe and normal in a room to humans can be a hazard to a variety of pets. Sharp edges, narrow spaces, or exposed wiring can be dangerous to pets who may not see or be aware of the harm it may cause. Before you bring your new pet home, be sure to assess any dangerous areas and either seal them off or use tape or other materials to ensure they’re safe.
Close Off Protected Areas
If you have a baby or a toddler, you may want to use gates or latches to protect certain areas of the home until your pet has become well trained. It’s also a good idea to keep certain areas isolated from your pet for sanitary reasons. Whatever the reason, be sure to decide which areas are free for your pet to roam, and where you want them to stay out.
Protect Valued Possessions
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know there is a good possibility that something you own will be chewed, peed on, eaten, or destroyed, especially when you’ve left the house. Puppies are well-known for this, so it’s a sensible idea to make sure that any object you value and that you think might be tempting to your pet is safely stowed away or out of reach.
Keep Trash Cans Covered or Hidden Away
The last thing you want is for your pet to eat something poisonous or harmful to their health. Trash cans are notorious danger zones for dogs especially, particularly if they contain things like chicken bones or sharp edges of opened cans. By allowing them access to the trash, you risk a visit to the Frisco vet clinic, where they may have to remove an object from your pet’s stomach. The best solution? Hide the trash away or keep it locked!
Store Medications or Hazardous Chemicals
Keeping a bottle of pills on the counter might not seem like a big deal, but pets have been known to break into these containers and digest medicines which are poisonous, especially if they are sugar-coated. Also, it’s essential to review any areas of the house where you store harmful chemicals like cleaners, pesticides, gasoline, etc. Pets can get into mischief, so storing chemicals in a high inaccessible place — or better yet, locked away — is the safest thing you do for your pet.
Hazards exist in any home, and you can’t always get it right. But being vigilant and aware by employing the above tips may just save your pet from harm.