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Safety Tips
What can you do to keep your pet safe? Plenty. Here's a brief rundown of safety tips to keep in mind if you share your home with a furry friend:
• Watch them. There's no replacement for having those proverbial 'eyes in the back of your head.' As much as is reasonably possible, keep an eye on your pets. Know their whereabouts in your house and yard, and become familiar with their daily routine. Much as with young children, many problems can be prevented simply through attentiveness.
• Contain them. Even the most devoted pet owner can't keep watch over a pet 24 hours a day. We all have to work, run errands, or participate in other activities that may not be suitable to do with a pet in tow. When that's the case, make sure your pet is safely contained and can't escape from your house or yard. If your pet gets into trouble when you are gone, consider crate training or placing her in a 'safe' room or area of your house. Potential escape routes include windows, fences, and flimsy doors that a pet could attempt to jump through, over, or out of. Use safety bars
or baby gates to close gaps, or completely close and lock problematic windows or doors if you think your pet might try to push her way through screens.
• Train them. Good training can also help your pet stay safe, both indoors and out. Taking the time to teach your pet the rules of the house, such as no jumping up on counters or no going through the garbage, can go a long way toward keeping her safe.
Potential Hazards
In addition to these general tips, here are some specific hazards you should protect your pet from:
• Electrical cords: Pets that chew or bite on these cords can be shocked or even electrocuted. Secure cords out of reach behind furniture or in specially made tubes or other safety devices.
Pets can also become entangled in or play with dangling cords and become injured when they pull heavy lamps or electronic equipment down on top of themselves.
• Chewing and choking hazards: Many dogs and even some cats have a tendency to chew and attempt to eat things they shouldn't, such as socks, needles attached to thread or yarn, pennies, their own toys, and much more. Make sure your pet has her own safe
toys. If you see her playing with something unsuitable, take it away.
• Poisonous substances: From holiday plants to household cleaning supplies, your house and yard are loaded with substances that can sicken and even kill your pet. Animals, like toddlers, can't read warning labels, so be sure to store and lock away any hazardous
substances. Antifreeze is extremely poisonous to pets. If you notice a spill in your driveway or garage, keep your pet away from it and clean up the spill immediately!
• Medications: Never give a human medication to a pet, even if it seems similar or has the same name. Aspirin, for example, can kill a cat. If your pet gets into a medication accidentally, call your veterinarian immediately. By the same token, never give a medication meant for a dog to a cat, and vice versa, unless your veterinarian has instructed you to do so.
Much as with young children, many problems can be
prevented simply through attentiveness.
HOUSEHOLD POISONS*
• Certain house and garden plants, such as yew bushes, rhododendrons, lilies, mistletoe, geraniums, and foxglove are poisonous.
• Rodent poisons and insecticides are one of the most common sources of pet poisoning.
• People food. Many food items that are completely safe for people to eat-such as chocolate, coffee grounds and beans, and onions-can be toxic to pets. If you aren't sure, don't feed them! Buy only pet-appropriate treats.
*This is not a comprehensive list of toxic substances. For additional information, consult your veterinarian.