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Pets, just like babies, need to be protected from
potential hazards and household accidents.
While all possibilities are too numerous to list, here are a few of the
most common household dangers. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of
cure.
Common Household Cleanser & Chemical Poisons
Most household cleansers, laundry detergents, bleach,
paints and paint thinners, pesticides, fertilizers, weed-killers, anti-freeze,
disinfectants, mothballs, bug sprays and rodent poison are potentially deadly to
household pets. Make sure all supplies are securely stored in cabinets and any
spills are cleaned up immediately. Pay special attention to anti-freeze since
its smell and sweet taste can be enticing to dogs.
Most common household items that dogs love are foul
smelling vitamins and minerals, especially things that contain fish oils and
vitamin B, and of course any chocolate.
Dogs need to chew, so encourage your dog to chew on
appropriate toys. Just like a baby, the best way to keep your shoes and other
things unchewed is put them in the closet. Your shoes smell like you and your
dog is naturally drawn to them. Do
not leave small or sharp objects around where your dog or cat can chew or
swallow them. Don’t let your pet to play
with plastic bags, because the bags can entangle and suffocate your pet.
Also, keep all wires out of the reach of your dog or cat.
You can spray a harmless, but foul
tasting deterrent, if your pet continues to chew on inappropriate items. You can
also immediately squirt your pet with water in a spray bottle to stop bad
behavior when caught.
Poisonous Plants
There are about 400 toxic common plants, so our list is
not complete. However, it does have many commonly houseplants. If you search the
internet you can find specific information and photos of the plants to help in
identifying them. There are instructions for the various plants on whether to
induce vomiting or not. You can either call poison control or your vet.
These plants are particularly toxic: Aloe, Apple,
Philodendron, Buttercup, Apricot, Azalea, English Ivy, Dieffenbachia, Avocado,
Daffodil, Tulip, Black Walnut, Boxwood, Buckeye,
Cherry, Caladium, Iris, Amaryllis, Foxglove, Lily Of The Valley,
Monkshood, and Larkspur. If any of these
are ingested, get the dog or cat to a vet immediately.
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