Pets are nice to have around the house, not just for the unconditional love they provide but also for the empathy and compassion they teach. For all the love they give us pet owners, we also need to be responsible for their well-being, especially at home. After all, they deserve to be just as healthy, happy, and safe as the rest of the family.
The best way to give back to Fifi or Felix for their dedicated companionship is to make your home pet-friendly. Below are ways how to do so.
Keep trash away from your pet’s reach
Small items like plastic, bottle caps, twist ties, fruit seeds, and cores are choking hazards for both pets and children. Leftover human food with bones is also considered dangerous as these could puncture the digestive tract and lead to serious health complications. Anything with a sharp edge could also hurt them. Make sure they’re thrown out to the trash bin before your curious pet decides to fiddle with or eat them. Get a pedal-operated trash bin or a heavy one with a tight cover that your furry friend won’t be able to open or knock over.
Stow cords and wires away
Keep mobile phone chargers and other devices with cords away from pets as these could cause electrocution. Cords plugged into the wall socket can also electrocute even if they’re disconnected from the device. So, make sure to unplug these and keep them out of reach before you leave your pet alone.
Choose pet-safe indoor plants
Poinsettia, mums, aloe vera, amaryllis, azaleas, and other popular indoor plants are not pet-safe. Check out the ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) list of toxic and non-toxic plants before bringing one indoors or within your pet’s reach.
Keep the bathroom door shut
Even if your pet literally begs to enter, don’t allow them inside the bathroom unsupervised. Apart from being a bacteria magnet (we all know the kind of filth we leave there), there’s a risk of drowning. Soap, shampoo and conditioner, hair spray, bleach, and other stuff kept in the bathroom also have chemicals that can cause problems if ingested or touched by our furry family members.
Close cabinet and cupboard doors
Open cabinets, especially low-lying ones with chemicals and cleaning items in them, are poison hazards. Plastic wraps can suffocate pets. The smaller ones can get trapped in cabinets and get hurt from falling items or those they accidentally tip over. So, pet-proof your shelving with spring hinges or, better yet, child-proof latches.
Store medications, toothpaste, and cosmetics
Never leave these items on sinks and kitchen counters. Always keep the lid closed. Chemicals in cosmetics and hand sanitizers, as well as aluminum in deodorants, are also hazardous to pets. Make sure human and pet medicines are properly labeled and kept apart from each other to prevent any mixups. Note that toothpaste contains xylitol, a sweetener that can pose a health risk to dogs.
Store pet food in special containers
Doing so keeps insects and rodents away, and extends shelf life. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) recommends refrigerating wet food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never leave candles and aromatic oils unattended
We know the worst that could happen when an unattended candle tips over. Moreover, some essential oils used in diffusers like eucalyptus, peppermint, and pine may also cause serious respiratory problems among animals.
For more home-related advice and great ideas for buying and selling New Jersey real estate, our team at Pagnotta Homes is here to serve. Call 908.436.7947 or contact us here.