After years of inspections and seeing thousands of homes, we’ve gotten a firsthand view at some common home dangers for family pets.
We wanted to take the opportunity today to lay out some potential dangers for your furry friends and give you some tips on making your home more pet-friendly.
Common Dangers for Pets in the Home
Various household items can pose a threat for our beloved furry family members.
- Human medications
- Certain household plants (azalea, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), lilies, mistletoe and philodendron are toxic to animals. See a full list here)
- De-icing salts, antifreeze, rodent traps, and poison
- Holiday décor and lights
- Fumes from self-cleaning ovens
- Toys with movable parts
- Cedar and other soft wood shavings
- Small objects like batteries, buttons, string, and needles
Making Your Home Safe
We know how curious our furry companions can be. Follow these tips to make sure they’re safe and sound at home.
1. Create a secure space:
Make sure all doors, windows, and patio entrances are securely closed and don’t have problems locking. Pet doors should be the right size and close without issue.
2. Keep toxic substances out of reach:
Put all medications, chemicals, laundry supplies, and cleaners in locked cabinets or high shelves.
3. Don’t forget about the bathroom:
Keep the toilet lid closed to prevent ingestion of any chemicals as well as drownings.
4. Secure wires:
Put all dangling cords, loose wires or cables away! Tie them up or place them out of reach.
5. Check nooks and crannies:
Be sure you regularly investigate those hard to reach places that your vacuum may not reach for harmful objects your pet may have dragged there.
6. HVAC system:
Make sure all vents and heaters have covers.
7. Sharp objects:
Whether it’s in your kitchen or your bathroom, if it can draw blood it should be in a hard to reach place or secure in a pull out drawer.
8. Fireplace:
Never leave your pet unattended around an open fire. Investing in a cover or barrier is a great idea.
9. Child safety locks:
Many pets are capable of maneuvering their way around cupboards and drawers. Consider investing in safety latches to keep them shut for extra protection.
10. Use blockades:
Animals can get trapped behind large units; use blockades to keep them from getting stuck behind appliances like washing machines or refrigerators.
Our furry, feathered, and finned friends not only require our love but also our time and attention. Putting in a little effort can make your home much safer for your beloved pets and relieve you of extra stress and worry.
Try to think like a pet and imagine the areas of the house they spend the most time in, and places they will likely want to explore, including spaces in which they can jump or climb to reach. Your pets will thank you!
What are some precautions you took to pet proof your home? We want to hear!
If you’re worried your home may have a few issues or even some hazards schedule an inspection with us today!
