15 Hidden Dangers for Dogs Inside Your Home
Did you know your home is full of hidden dangers for dogs? It’s true. Your dog is a member of your family, or as some may say, your baby. Just as you would baby-proof your home for an infant, you need to dog-proof your home.
Take time to review this list of fifteen hidden dangers for dogs inside your home so you can better protect your four-legged family member.
1. Electrical Cords
According to Pawlicy Advisor, “Electrocution from chewing on electrical cords is the most common type of electrical injury for household pets, and it can also cause choking.” If your dog is allowed to roam your home freely, make sure the electrical cords are not easy to get to.
2. Batteries
Small batteries are extremely dangerous for dogs and children to ingest. If your pet accidentally chews a battery, it can rupture, and the battery acid can cause mouth ulcers and stomach ulcers.
3. Garbage Cans
We’ve all seen pictures of dogs who got into the kitchen trash can, and we might have even experienced it personally. The problem is that much of what we throw away isn’t safe. If you own a dog, make sure your garbage can has a lid that is difficult for a dog to remove.
4. Magnets
One of the scariest pet emergencies we’ve faced was when we discovered our dog had found the refrigerator magnets. She took the wooden alphabet magnets for toys and chewed them up. We were able to see the destruction, so we rushed her to the veterinary clinic. They did X-rays to make sure the magnets hadn’t caused an obstruction or something more catastrophic. Make sure your fridge magnets are up towards the top.
5. Medications
According to Pawlicy Advisory, “Human-grade drugs available over-the-counter (OTC) top the list of toxins in dogs for the third year in a row, making up approximately 17% of ASPCA’s total call volume. The most common items in this category include human pain medication unsafe for dogs (like naproxen and aspirin), vitamins and supplements, and cold medicine.” If your dog swallows a large dose of OTC or prescription medication, it can cause vomiting, GI problems, cardiac issues, blood pressure changes, and possible kidney failure.
6. Certain Foods and Alcohol
There is a pretty lengthy list of foods that are dangerous for dogs to consume, such as chocolate and alcohol. We’ve written about dangerous foods for dogs in the past. Find out which foods to avoid giving your dog here, here, and here.
7. Cleaning Products
Unfortunately, many household cleaning products are dangerous for dogs. For instance, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pet Poison Helpline saw a 65% increase in calls related to cleaning and disinfecting products.” Make sure you store your cleaning products safely out of reach.
8. Rodenticide
Rodenticide is supposed to attract rodents so it can kill them. The problem is that some brands of rodenticide also attract dogs. If a dog ingests it, it can cause serious problems.
9. Insecticide
Whether you use insecticide in the form of a bait trap or spray, it is dangerous for dogs. They can lick their paws after stepping in it or accidentally chew and swallow a trap.
10. Gardening Treatments
Some fertilizers are serious dangers for dogs. Rover explains, “Fertilizer may not smell like food to you, but your dog might sniff out a feast that unfortunately includes a cocktail of phosphorus and nitrogen with chemicals for insect and weed problems. Cocoa mulch combines the dangers of fertilizer and chocolate.”
11. Some Plants
Indoor plants are great – unless they are the kind that is dangerous for dogs. Here is a list to keep away from your dog:
- Sago palms
- Azaleas
- Lily of the Valleys
- Oleanders
- Philodendrons
- Rhododendrons
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Birds of Paradise
- Hyacinths
12. Small Toys
When you have small children, you avoid getting toys that have a “small part” warning because you don’t want them to swallow these pieces or choke on them. This same warning applies to dogs. This is why dog toys are sold separately from children’s toys – no small parts to worry about.
13. Coins
One of the surprising hidden dangers for dogs is coins. If your dog swallows a penny, it can be deadly. “While a trace amount of zinc is necessary for many physiologic functions, a penny contains enough to be toxic. The veterinary literature reports deaths after an 11-pound dog ate two pennies and even after a 50-pound dog ate a single penny.”
14. Anti-Freeze
Anti-freeze tastes sweet to dogs, so it is really alluring to dogs. But it is extremely dangerous. Don’t let your dog lick the floor of your garage after you’ve used anti-freeze.
15. Windows and Balconies
Take note of the size of your pet. If your dog can fit through the rails on your balcony, don’t let him on the balcony unattended. If you live on a higher floor, don’t leave your windows open where your dog could potentially jump or fall out of.
TIP: Read Why You Need to Know Dog CPR and Pet Emergency First Aid just in case your dog accidentally gets into one of the dangers on this list.
While we can’t protect your dog from hidden dangers in your home, Super Scoopers can help protect against hidden dangers for dogs outside your home. By removing the poop from your yard, your dog and other family members are protected against dangerous bacteria.