Pet-Proofing your house, room by room

 
 
 
pet proofing your house

Welcoming a pet of any age into your family brings so much happiness, laughter and joy! With a pet comes a lot of responsibility too. Follow these room-by-room tips to protect your pet—and prevent damage to your belongings!

 

 

Kitchen
With all those delicious aromas and the potential for snacks during meal prep, the kitchen may be your pet’s favorite room in the house! But the kitchen poses a number of dangers. Luckily, it’s easy to make the kitchen a safer place for your pet.

  • Add gates at doorways to keep counter surfers out of the kitchen when you’re not present.
  • Keep garbage and recycling bins covered, and if possible, behind closed cupboards.
  • Use a stove guard to prevent curious kitties from jumping on hot surfaces.
  • Keep cleaning supplies, including dishwasher pods, in closed cabinets, on high shelves or use childproof locks on cupboard doors for really inquisitive pets!
  • Keep vitamins, chocolate, candy, xylitol sweetened products (e.g., peanut butter, pudding, gelatin snacks, sauces, syrups and jams) out of reach of curious pets and don’t let them lick off your knife or spoon.

 

Bathroom
Does your pet cling to your side, even while you shower? These tips will help keep them safe while they “protect” you from the scary bathroom:

  • Keep the toilet lid closed.
  • Keep cleaning supplies, medications and xylitol-containing products (e.g., toothpaste, mouth rinses) on high shelves. 
  • Keep trash cans covered or behind closed doors or in cabinets. 
  • Keep hair accessories off the floor. If eaten, they can cause digestive upset, or a more serious condition if they become lodged in the digestive tract. 

 

Bedrooms
Many pets sleep in our bedrooms but there are a number of potential hazards that can cause some concerns like vomiting, diarrhea or worse. 

  • Put dirty clothes in a hamper right away, out of reach.
  • If ingested, headphone cords, jewelry, drawstrings and shoelaces can become lodged in the digestive tract, causing a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary care. Keep these items in closets, drawers, on high shelves or in other out of reach places.
  • Essential oil diffusers may help calm you at the end of a long stressful day, but the oils can be toxic to pets. Only a couple of licks or a small amount on the skin could be harmful. Keep the oils out of reach and keep your pet out of the bedroom while you relax!
  • Stuffed animals with eyes, ribbons or other decorations can pose a choking hazard or a gastrointestinal blockage. Keep stuffed animals off the floor and out of reach.
  • Keep closets closed and close bedroom doors when no one is in the room.
  • Make a cozy bed for your pet in your bedroom with their favorite blanket and toys.

 

Living room and/or family room
Everyone loves unwinding after a long day. Here are some ways to keep your living space pet-safe:

  • Ensure all plants are non-toxic or out of your pet’s reach. Some plants like lilies and sago palms can cause life-threatening toxic reactions in cats and dogs, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. For more information, check out ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants.
  • Keep remote controls, tablets and smart phones on a high shelf or out of reach. Punctured batteries can cause severe ulceration in the gastrointestinal tract. 
  • Tie up dangling cords which can be tempting for pets to chew on.

 

Laundry room
No one wants to spend time in the laundry room—except maybe your pet who may find the cozy, warm room irresistible! 

  • Always keep washer doors closed.
  • When starting a load, always check the dryer before throwing clothes in and turning on the machine. Cats and kittens are known for sleeping in dryers. 
  • Keep all laundry detergents, laundry pods, dryer sheets, bleach and other cleaning products on high shelves or in closed cupboards. 

 

Now that you’ve pet-proofed your home, relax and snuggle up with your pet!

Keeping your home flea free is easy with year-round prevention. Talk to your veterinary healthcare team about parasite preventives for your pet! >>