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Vet Tech Rounds: How To Pet-Proof Your Home

Pet Care Tips 4 min read
Orange and white cat sitting in a pile of shredded paper from a trash bin

Dogs and cats tend to get up to a lot of mischiefs. When bringing a new pet home, it is really important to ensure that their new home is safe. Many of us pet parents know that puppies just love to chew, and kittens will climb as high as they can! We have provided some tips on how to pet-proof your home that can help make your home a safe, happy place and a little more pet-friendly.

How To Pet-Proof The Kitchen 

The kitchen is a common gathering area and a place we love to eat and cook! It is one of our favorite places in the house and probably your pets too. While we associate the kitchen with delicious food smells and family dinner, the kitchen can also be a hazardous room for our inquisitive pets!

Starting with food, there are many different treats that can be toxic to dogs and cats. We have attached a list of treats that should be kept out of reach from your furkiddos:

  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Onions
  • Grapes
  • Foods containing Xylitol
  • Garlic
  • Avocados
  • Alcohol
  • Citrus Fruits

It is also a good idea to make sure your garbage bag is secure and covered. Any cleaning agents that you have in your household should also be kept well out of reach and stored away safely.

Dog with broken plates

How To Pet-Proof The Kitchen The Living Area

Puppies tend to chew almost anything and this includes your sofa, rugs, and carpet.

The living room is probably not somewhere that we would think of as a dangerous room, but there are a few things to look out for. If you have nice furniture and carpet, it might be wise to just keep this area closed off. Puppies tend to chew almost anything and this includes your sofa, rugs, and carpet. Any cords such as TV cords etc that are lying around should be covered up and not accessible to your pet. If you have a nice cozy fireplace, it’s also important to keep this covered with a protective cover or screen.

Many of us forget that there are household plants that can cause serious harm to your kitty or pup, so best to try and avoid a trip to the vet if possible! Below is a list of plants to keep way out of reach from your buddies (These are just naming a few, you can always do your research if you’re a botanist in the home):

  • Azalea
  • Birds of Paradise
  • Daffodil
  • Dumbcane
  • Dracaena
  • Eucalyptus
  • English Ivy
  • Ficus
  • Fiddle Leaf Fig
  • Gladiolas
  • Honeysuckle
  • Hyacinth
  • Hydrangea
  • Iris
  • Jade Plants
  • Lilies
  • Monstera
  • Philodendron
  • Pothos
  • Sago Palm
  • Snake Plants
  • Tulip
  • Wisteria
  • ZZ Plants

How To Pet-Proof The Bathroom

There is not a whole lot that should entice your pet into the bathroom, but from time to time we do see pets that enjoy drinking water from the toilet or chewing up some toilet roll. I guess if you value your precious toilet roll, try to keep it from harm’s way. Apart from the roll, many of us keep our medication and household cleaner like bleach in here too. Always make sure that these are kept stored away safely and securely, they have the potential to cause serious harm to your pets.

dog pulling toilet paper off of the toilet paper roll

How Pet-Proof The Bedroom

Our bedroom is like the living area, where you may have electrical cords, medication, curtains, etc. It is better to be safe than sorry and cover these hazardous materials up and store your medication away safely. It is just not worth the risk of harming your new or current roomie.

If your bedroom is located on an upper floor level, then it would be good to keep the windows shut if they’re within reach for your pet. A lot of us also use mothballs, make sure that these are not in a place that your dog and cat can access them. Another dangerous item that many of us forget about, jewelry! Small hair clips, earrings, and rings would not be pleasant to discover missing and potentially ingested by your nosey pooch! Keep em’ covered!

How To Pet-Proof The Yard

Some cats may be outdoor cats and most of us with a yard will most likely allow our pups to wander out there. First and foremost, it is essential to cover up any and all possible escape routes. This could be some bad fencing or wire, a hole under the fence, or easily opened gates. We would always suggest getting your pet microchipped, that way you can trace them if they end up on a stroll away from home.

Keeping pets from making a run for it can be a challenge at best, but another issue with the yard can be pesticides. It is a common occurrence for dogs to ingest chemicals that have been laid down in the garden. This can 100% be avoided. Some things to watch out for in the garden are:

  • Pesticides & Chemicals
  • Fertilizers
  • Compost
  • Toxic plants
  • Ponds, pools, etc
  • Tools and sharp objects

More Tips To Keep Things Calm At Home

Bringing a new kitten or puppy home can be a very exciting time, but sometimes we forget that we must be prepared for a new family member. Planning to reorganize certain things does not take up much time or effort, once you plan in advance.

We would also recommend adding a daily regimen of Matricalmand Lesstressto your pet’s routine. It will help keep them calm and reduce stress.

We hope that these tips can help turn your home into a pet-friendly environment for all!

Holly RVN

Holly RVN

Holly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland. She also completed a 1-year Animal Care course. Worked in small Animal Veterinary practice for 3+ years before moving on to working in the Equine Industry. Holly is passionate about animals and spends much of her spare time going on long walks with her Boston Terrier, Lloyd.

Published: July 17, 2020

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