Household Dangers
Elephant Ears
As with the arrival of a new baby and the subsequent "baby-proofing" to the household, the preparations for the arrival of a new puppy should also include "puppy proofing". Following are a couple of pointers which also include danger prevention for adult animals.
A number of normal household items are deadly poisonous to animals and they should be stored in either a lockable cupboard or a very high shelf. Alkaline household cleaners, bleaches, sanitisers and pool chlorines are absorbed through the skin and can result in bad burns. Likewise solvents, paint strippers and thinners are also dangerous. The incorrect application of tick and flea dips or ingestion thereof also presents a serious health risk. Rat poisons and snail/slug baits are very dangerous and may be eaten by the unsuspecting animal.
Some items may appear harmless, but are lethal to our furry friends. These include: antifreeze or coolant leaking from radiators (dogs will eat this and it causes irreversible kidney damage often resulting in death); lead (old paint and batteries are the most common domestic sources) and chocolate (the ingredient theobromine in chocolate is lethal to dogs. Cooking chocolate has the highest concentration and a 1kg slab can kill a large dog in half an hour after consumption!).
The garden also presents possible poisoning. The list is numerous, but the most common poisonous plants are: oleander; elephant's ear; cyclamens; foxglove; ivy; rhododendron; sweet peas and the bulbs of daffodils; tulips and crocuses. Should you suspect that your pet has been in contact with something poisonous, consult your veterinarian immediately.
A flight of stairs is another potential danger. These should be cordoned off to prevent the young animal from falling and breaking a limb.
The swimming pool is another possible danger. All puppies should be able to swim, but should they fall in they will find it hard to climb out and after a while exhaustion sets in and the animal will drown. Pool nets also make it more difficult to get out of the pool.
Dogs love to play with sticks, but if the stick breaks off and is swallowed it may require surgery to be removed. The same applies to stones.
Electrical cords also present a potential electrocution threat. Make sure that all cords are well out of reach.
A number of normal household items are deadly poisonous to animals and they should be stored in either a lockable cupboard or a very high shelf. Alkaline household cleaners, bleaches, sanitisers and pool chlorines are absorbed through the skin and can result in bad burns. Likewise solvents, paint strippers and thinners are also dangerous. The incorrect application of tick and flea dips or ingestion thereof also presents a serious health risk. Rat poisons and snail/slug baits are very dangerous and may be eaten by the unsuspecting animal.
Some items may appear harmless, but are lethal to our furry friends. These include: antifreeze or coolant leaking from radiators (dogs will eat this and it causes irreversible kidney damage often resulting in death); lead (old paint and batteries are the most common domestic sources) and chocolate (the ingredient theobromine in chocolate is lethal to dogs. Cooking chocolate has the highest concentration and a 1kg slab can kill a large dog in half an hour after consumption!).
The garden also presents possible poisoning. The list is numerous, but the most common poisonous plants are: oleander; elephant's ear; cyclamens; foxglove; ivy; rhododendron; sweet peas and the bulbs of daffodils; tulips and crocuses. Should you suspect that your pet has been in contact with something poisonous, consult your veterinarian immediately.
A flight of stairs is another potential danger. These should be cordoned off to prevent the young animal from falling and breaking a limb.
The swimming pool is another possible danger. All puppies should be able to swim, but should they fall in they will find it hard to climb out and after a while exhaustion sets in and the animal will drown. Pool nets also make it more difficult to get out of the pool.
Dogs love to play with sticks, but if the stick breaks off and is swallowed it may require surgery to be removed. The same applies to stones.
Electrical cords also present a potential electrocution threat. Make sure that all cords are well out of reach.
Some common garden plants that are dangerous - check out your own plants in your garden with your local nursery, as these are just some of them.
Oleander - comes in a variety of colours
Cyclamen - comes in a variety of colours
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Foxglove - comes in a variety of colours
rhododendron - comes in a variety of colours
Sweetpea - comes in a variety of colours
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