The Keys to a Pet-Safe Home
February may have been National Cat Health Month, but don’t forget that good health and safety is important for every furry, feathered, and scaled member of your family! With strong doors, solid walls, and no sharp edges, you might think your house is pet-proof–but sometimes even the most loving pet parent can overlook simple details that can lead to danger later on.
A pup or kitten’s insatiable curiosity can be a subject of adorable fascination, but it can also be its worst enemy. Petside blogger Tamara Vostok wrote a recent article examining some of the worst offenders ASPCA’s newly-released list of the top ten poisons effecting pets in 2009–nearly all common household items–and how to keep your loved ones out of harm’s way:
Human Medications: The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center fielded more than 45,000 calls last year regarding incidents with pets ingesting cold medications, anti-depressants, dietary supplement, etc. Our furry friends find them in drawers, find pills dropped on the floor and just lap them up. So, it’s important to store all medication out of reach and make sure you don’t leave any lying around.
Other guilty parties include household cleaning chemicals, insecticides, and–perhaps most surprisingly–people food. (We all know by now that chocolate is not for pooches, but what about avocado or grapes? Shockingly, these innocuous snacks are just as bad in the wrong bellies.)
So how can you make sure your pets are safe? Keep questionable materials stored securely, and keep an eye on your pets. But most importantly, educate yourself and stay informed. When it comes to good health, a good defense is your best bet.
