Household Dangers Every Dog Owner Should Know

Important Household Dangers to Dogs

1. Paper shredders and dogs

– a new danger to both dogs and cats. Most paper shredders have an on/off and self feed buttons. Cats go everywhere and have been known to walk on the top of the shredder and get a foot or hair caught in the folds. The motor can also be warm, making laying on the shredder an attractive spot for some cats. There have also been reported traumas in dogs that have gotten their tongues caught in the shredder. Keep the shredder turned OFF when not in use and especially don’t keep the auto-feed function turned on. It is a good habit to always unplug shredders when not in use, especially if they do not have an on/off button. Keep shredders under a desk where cats are unlikely to walk or lay.

2. Ethylene glycol and dogs

– also known as “antifreeze” is commonly kept substance in many homes and garages. It can leak on floors and driveways or may be stored inappropriately allowing pet exposure. This highly dangerous substance is sweet and appealing to pets. As little as one teaspoon can kill a small dog. It is treatable if identified, treated early and aggressively.

3. Doors and dogs

– doors can be dangerous for a couple reasons. The first is that doors that are heavy and shut fast. This can inadvertently crush a small or young pet or cause trauma to their paws or tail. Secondly, the door is the opening to the outside which may be an unprotected and uncontrolled environment. Some pets may run out an open door without a collar or identification and suffer trauma from being hit by an automobile, attacks by other animals or become exposed to dangerous toxins.

4. Recliners and dogs

– Adult pets but especially puppies and kittens like to hide and run under recliners. This can be dangerous when someone sits or begins to rock as pets can become crushed. Take special care in checking the location of your pet before sitting or reclining.

5. Potpourri and dogs

Liquid potpourri is highly caustic and tasty to some pets, especially cats. They can cause severe mouth and esophageal burns that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Some cats won’t eat with these burns therefore a feeding tube may become necessary.

6. Bones and dogs

Dogs love bones but they are not always good for them. Bones can get caught in their mouths and/or cause constipation in some dogs. Some bones like chicken or turkey bones splinter easily and may cause a life-threatening perforation of the intestine.

7. Human foods and substances and dogs

Caffeine products (e.g. chocolate), nicotine (e.g. cigarettes or cigarette patches), macadamia nuts, grapes, and reasons can all cause problems (just to name a few). Rich, fatty foods can cause inflammation of the pancreas.

8. Trash cans and dogs

Trash cans are full of dangers. Dogs both can pull bones, ribbons, tampons, meat wrappings, string, dental floss and other potentially dangerous materials from the trash. Keep trash cans covered and out of reach of dogs.

9. Your Medicine Cabinet and dogs

Medications that are safe for you are not necessarily safe for your pet. It is not uncommon to see pets in emergency clinics as victims of a well intentioned and poorly informed pet owners. If your pet has a health problem, discuss all medications and dosing with your veterinarian before giving anything to your pet. Especially toxic are common pain and allergy medications (e.g. Claritin®, Tylenol®, and aspirin).

10. Unsecured Medications and dogs

Dogs are innately curious and may be interested in human medications or inhalers. These can be very dangerous. Make sure you keep all medications out of the reach of pets and off tables that can be knocked over.

11. Glues and Cleaners and …dogs

Dogs especially like to chew and lick on things. Many cleaners are caustic and can cause severe oral and esophageal burns. Some of the new glues such as Gorilla® Glue, expand in the stomach causing severe obstructions that require surgery. Keep all cleaners and glues away from all dogs and puppies.

12. Laundry items and dogs

Dogs are notorious for seeking out interesting smells that may come from your dirty clothes hamper. Socks, pantyhose and underwear are especially dangerous and eating these objects can cause a life-threatening obstruction that may require surgery. Keep laundry items secure and out of reach from curious dogs.

13. Hanging and choking

Collars can get caught easily on all types of household objects. It is important to only use a ‘break-away’ or safety collar if possible. This type of collar will disengage if caught, leaving the cat to escape injury. Dogs should always have their collars and tags removed before placing unattended in a crate to avoid hanging or choking injuries.

14. Electrical wires and dogs

Keep all electrical wires secured and out of reach of dogs. Some puppies may be tempted to chew on dangling wires and run the risk of injury. Electrical injury can cause burns within the mouth, lips or tongue. More serious injuries can result in seizures, difficulty breathing or cardiac arrest. If you find tooth marks on any electrical cord, unplug the cord and have it replaced.

15. Toys and dogs

– Any toy that your dog is able to chew, swallow or destroy poses a risk of injury. Supervise use of all toys and inspect regularly for safety to assess any damage. Throw away any toy that has become unraveled or shows signs of wear. Be sure to keep any children’s toys off limits to dogs