8 Household Items to Keep Away from Your Dog

Do you have a dog that you keep inside your home? If so, you know that these pets can often make a mess by chewing on household items and getting into other things that they shouldn’t. Although this can be an annoyance to animal owners, it can also be dangerous for your canine. Even if your dog does not have the tendency to explore, there are still certain items that should not be kept inside your home or should be placed in hard to reach spaces in order to keep your pet safe. Many common household items are toxic to canines and can be life threatening if ingested.

Eliminate Dangerous Products from Your Home

Because dog safety should be your top priority, it is important to understand what items can be potentially dangerous to your pet so you can ensure its health and safety. Animals that become sick from coming into contact with toxic products make up about 15 to 20 percent of emergencies at an animal emergency facility. To keep your pup safe, here are 10 items that you should keep away from him.

Human food. Although some of the food that we eat can be safe for canines, the majority of it does not belong in a pet bowl. Some of the most dangerous food for dogs includes grapes, raisins, avocados and sugarless gums. You should especially keep chocolate hidden, which can cause seizures, irregular heartbeats, tremors or even death. To be safe, do not feed your pup human food and let anyone who enters your home know that your animal is not to be fed.
Cleaning products. Many items that we use to keep our homes clean can be poisonous to both dogs and humans if consumed. As a result, make sure all of these products are put away when not being used. You should also consider purchasing organic cleansers instead, which can be less harmful.
Plants. Dogs will often chew on plants when they have an upset stomach. However, many plants can be toxic and will cause more harm. These include chrysanthemum, oleander, rhododendrons and cyclamen. Research the types of greenery that you keep in your home and garden to make sure that they are safe if your pet happens to ingest them.
Pharmaceuticals. Keep all pills and other medications in a safe place that your furry friend cannot access. Although the bottles are child proof, a canine can easily chew its way through. When taking your medications, make sure your pup is not around just in case you drop a pill on the floor. If your pet takes its own medication, you will also want to keep it in a safe place so your dog does not overdose.
Metal. Coins, especially pennies, can be very dangerous to your dog and will usually require surgery to be removed. The best thing to do is to keep any pocket change somewhere out of reach. You should also be aware of any other items in your home containing metal that could be potentially dangerous.
Insecticide and rodenticide. Dogs especially like to consume cockroach or ant baits because they contain an attractant, such as bread or peanut butter. If you need to use any sort of insect or rodent baits, place them somewhere that will be difficult for your canine to reach, such as under a couch or other piece of furniture. Save the packaging, keep your pup away from the area and check daily to make sure the baits are still there. Rodenticides are especially harmful because they may cause internal bleeding or even death.
Fertilizer. Because it may smell like food to your pet, you should keep your canine out of the yard whenever you are using fertilizer. Many of them contain herbicides and insecticides, which can be poisonous. Save the packaging and keep your dog out of any area that the fertilizer is stored. You could also consider purchasing an organic alternative that is more pet-friendly.
Chemicals. Many chemicals around the home may taste sweet to dogs. One of the most appealing but toxic chemicals for canines is antifreeze. Within a few days of drinking it they will go into kidney failure. Other substances that could be harmful include paint, pool chemicals and solvents.

Keep Your Dog Safe

Although many of these items must be kept in the home, you can store them in cabinets, drawers and other places that your canine cannot access. In addition, you can monitor your dog to make sure that he or she does not come into contact with any of these products. If your pet happens to consume one of these items, contact poison control and take it to an emergency veterinary facility as soon as possible. Always keep the packaging of an item that may be harmful so the poisonous ingredients can be identified.

Although it can be scary, if you take steps for prevention and are prepared for when a toxic emergency does happen, you can help keep your dog safe and healthy.

Bryan Passanisi is an online marketer living in the Redwood City, California area. He graduated from The University of San Francisco with his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. He is an animal rights advocate and loves Corgi puppies. Bryan Passanisi is a contributor to various websites and blogs including Shutterfly.

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