By: Jillian McKee
There’s more to being a good pet owner than potty training and regular visits to the vet. Pet owners must also learn how to make their home a safe living environment for their furry friends. This means ridding the home of potential poisons, choking hazards, unstable objects, and other possible dangers.
The easiest way to keep pets safe is to learn what human foods and products need to be kept away from pets. While most pet owners know to keep dogs away from chocolate, they don’t realize that there are other things to watch out for. According to the ASPCA, avocados, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, onions, grapes, raisins, garlic, salt, uncooked dough, and artificially sweetened foods are also dangerous. Many household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, medicines, and vitamins may also harm a pet. Even seemingly harmless items, like citronella candles, can be poisonous. In fact, many of these hazards are more dangerous than chocolate.
Pet owners must also be aware of what they keep in their garden. Cocoa mulch, for instance, can be dangerous if ingested. Many plants are also poisonous to animals. Pets should not be eating hydrangeas, poinsettias, ferns, morning glories, nightshades, lilies, and a wide variety of other shrubs, houseplants, flowers, vines, and trees. Before deciding on a new plant, pet owners may want to determine whether it’s pet-safe. To be on the safe side, pet owners should always discourage their animals from eating plants regardless of whether they are at home, on a walk, or playing in the park.
Pet owners can also keep their home safe by clearing their floors of choking hazards, electrical cords, and items that can easily be knocked over. If a lamp or shelf is unstable, a dog or cat could be injured if the item were to fall. Pet owners should also make sure that their cabinets are difficult to open, their trash can is impossible to get into, and that pets can’t get stuck in small spaces.
The last thing that pet owners need to consider is asbestos. Humans are not the only ones affected by asbestos, dogs can be as well. According to a study conducted by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, dogs can develop mesothelioma and the mesothelioma prognosis is almost always grim. Because the disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, many canine sufferers must be euthanized. Keeping your pets away from asbestos is just another part of a being a responsible pet owner.
There’s more to being a good pet owner than potty training and regular visits to the vet. Pet owners must also learn how to make their home a safe living environment for their furry friends. This means ridding the home of potential poisons, choking hazards, unstable objects, and other possible dangers.
The easiest way to keep pets safe is to learn what human foods and products need to be kept away from pets. While most pet owners know to keep dogs away from chocolate, they don’t realize that there are other things to watch out for. According to the ASPCA, avocados, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, onions, grapes, raisins, garlic, salt, uncooked dough, and artificially sweetened foods are also dangerous. Many household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, medicines, and vitamins may also harm a pet. Even seemingly harmless items, like citronella candles, can be poisonous. In fact, many of these hazards are more dangerous than chocolate.
Pet owners must also be aware of what they keep in their garden. Cocoa mulch, for instance, can be dangerous if ingested. Many plants are also poisonous to animals. Pets should not be eating hydrangeas, poinsettias, ferns, morning glories, nightshades, lilies, and a wide variety of other shrubs, houseplants, flowers, vines, and trees. Before deciding on a new plant, pet owners may want to determine whether it’s pet-safe. To be on the safe side, pet owners should always discourage their animals from eating plants regardless of whether they are at home, on a walk, or playing in the park.
Pet owners can also keep their home safe by clearing their floors of choking hazards, electrical cords, and items that can easily be knocked over. If a lamp or shelf is unstable, a dog or cat could be injured if the item were to fall. Pet owners should also make sure that their cabinets are difficult to open, their trash can is impossible to get into, and that pets can’t get stuck in small spaces.
The last thing that pet owners need to consider is asbestos. Humans are not the only ones affected by asbestos, dogs can be as well. According to a study conducted by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, dogs can develop mesothelioma and the mesothelioma prognosis is almost always grim. Because the disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, many canine sufferers must be euthanized. Keeping your pets away from asbestos is just another part of a being a responsible pet owner.