Puppies are cute and loveable but they can get into all kinds of trouble. Their curious inquisitive nature frequently puts them in harm's way unless they are carefully watched. Everything is new and exciting to a puppy but not everything is safe. As puppies explore their world, hazards abound. Here is a list of some common hazards with links to more in-depth information.
Puppies tend to explore their world with their mouths. Exposed electric cords can be quite tempting and chewing through these cords can result in serious, even fatal, injury.
Puppies don't understand that the safe play area ends at the street. With their rambunctious enthusiastic nature, puppies can run into the road and get hit by cars unless properly restrained. Read the article Automobile injuries to learn more about this devastating trauma.
Anyone who has ever owned a puppy will agree that they always seem to be getting into things.
Ingesting table scraps, trash, foreign objects or toxins can all result in illness.
Fishhooks,
human medications as well as plants are other popular items. For information on popular toxins, read the articles
Ethylene Glycol Toxicosis and
Rodenticide Poisoning.
Although you may think your puppy is adorable, other animals may not agree. Puppies have not learned how to tell a friend from a foe and this can lead to some battles and fights. To learn what can happen when animals fight, read the article
Animal Attacks and
Bite Wounds.
Children and puppies have many things in common. One of which is their interest in reptiles and bugs. In certain parts of the US, some toads are toxic and ingesting them can lead to illness. Various species of snakes are venomous and even a couple of spider species can cause serious sickness.
Swimming pools are another source of potential tragedy. Drinking chlorinated water can make your puppy ill and some puppies have drowned in pools.
Lawn and garden supplies must be kept secured from your puppy's curious nature. Many products used to keep the yard beautiful can be damaging and toxic.
Insecticides are very dangerous and exposure can cause significant illness. If you use insecticides such as
organophosphates or carbamates, be very careful to keep them safely locked away from your puppy.
And lastly, at holiday time, special hazards abound. Make sure the holidays stay joyous and keep your puppy away from all the potential dangers. To prepare, review the article Holiday Hazards on this site.
