- Keep your pet away from machinery like sewing machines or workshop power tools. A nose, paw, or tail can get seriously injured!
- Make sure your home office is safe. Keep staplers, scissors, and letter openers out of your pet’s reach. Store anything dangerous to pets (or kids) in a drawer or cabinet. Don’t leave your paper shredder on automatic!
- Check appliances before using them. A pet may crawl into the dishwasher to lick leftovers from plates or into the dryer for warmth.
- Don’t leave the kitchen while you’re cooking. A curious paw could get burned on cooking food; an errant tail can be in danger from burners.
- Make sure your pet’s collar fits. You should be able to slip two fingers between the collar and your pet’s neck. Check your pet’s collar for fit every two weeks; a growing puppy may outgrow three collars before reaching adult size. Older pets may gain or lose weight, making their collars dangerously large or small.
- Cover garbage cans so your pets don’t have access to spoiled food or potential poisons.
- Keep your pets away from electrical wires! Use cord covers to protect your pets from electrical shock.
- Give your pets appropriate toys. Make sure that all toys are the right size for your pet — a toy that is too small can be a choking hazard. Don’t give your pet toys with hard plastic eyes or other parts that can be a choking hazard.
- Supervise your pet while having rawhides or bones.
- Don’t leave yarn, fishing line, or other types of string around. Swallowing yarn can cause intestinal damage.
- Store household cleaners in a cabinet, or use environmentally friendly cleaners.
- Keep the toilet seat down to prevent your pets from drinking from the bowl.
- Keep all medications out of your pet’s reach.
- Certain types of houseplants are dangerous, even deadly to your pets. Azaleas, daffodils, tulips, holly, lilies, and other plants can cause serious health problems.
For more safety tips, visit the Safety Blog!