Dog Proofing Your Home

A house can hold many mysteries and adventures for a dog. There are countless smells, tastes and sounds for a canine to explore inside your home. While most are harmless, some items your pooch could investigate, could be harmful. The following is a room by room summary of what to be aware of and what to avoid when getting a dog.

Kitchen

Look out for: Sharp cooking and/or cleaning utensils may cut dogs' mouths if chewed. Many detergents, soaps and cleaning liquids are poisonous and may be deadly if ingested. Sharp aluminum cans and broken glass can cut paws and mouths of curious pups. Many choking hazards exists in the kitchen: discarded chicken bones and plastic bags may suffocate an inquisitive dog. To prevent any harm, keep cabinets containing hazardous materials locked, store garbage bags out of sight and keep cutlery and dishes out of reach. As an owner, it is your responsibility to always clean up messes immediately and to train your pet to stay out of the kitchen (or any room) at your command.

Bedroom, Family Room, Dining Room

Look out for: Any cord or wiring, such as electrical, or curtain and blind cords can choke a dog. Electrical cords also provide the danger of shock. Be very careful to keep these out of your dog's reach. As a rule of thumb, anything kept away from children should also be hidden from your god. To train your dog to stay off of furniture, use cayenne pepper or another bitter-tasting spray available at pet stores to make those areas less tempting. If chewing is a problem, provide a teething puppy with a nylon chew toy or wet, knotted towel left overnight in the freezer. Also, never buy toys or treats resembling shoes or clothing or let your pet play with shoes or clothing. Toys and bones should only be made or latex, nylon, hard plastic or rawhide.

Bathroom

Look out for: Medicines, airfresheners and personal-care products can all be poisonous to a dog. All of these items should be store out of reach to prevent ingestion. The toilet lid should also be kept down as smaller dogs could fall inside. Also, many toilet tank refresheners are poisonous and could harm your pet if swallowed.

Garage

Look out for: Paints, chemicals and motor oil are all poisonous. Check your vehicle for leaks as well. Antifreeze, a sweet liquid, will kill animals when ingested. Also sharp tools could puncture a dog so keep them away from your pet.

Many common household items are poisonous to your pet. All of the following are poisons: chocolate, crayons, ibuprofen, laxatives, onions, road salt, suntan lotion with cocoa butter. If you believe your dog has ingested some toxin, call a veternarin immediately. Also, many plants are toxic for dogs. Chrysanthemum, iris, mushrooms, nutmeg, potatoes and tulips are all toxic if ingested. Side affects may include, fairly mild, or the dog may become dehydrated, suffer from diarrhea or even die. If you suspect your dog has eaten a strange or poisonous plant, seek help immediately.

Dog proofing a home may require alot of diligence and preparation, but a happy healthy pet is always worth it. For more imformation, visit Animal Planet's website concerning this topic, Dog Proofing Your Home.