Let’s start with a few tips relating to safety for man’s best friend. One of the worst dangers for puppies is chewing on electrical cords. Wherever possible, fasten down or tuck away any long, fun-to-play-with stretches of flex. Replace frayed cords and, if you do actually see your dog chewing a cord, stop him, discourage the behaviour, and offer a toy as an alternative.
Other chewing dangers for curious canines include poisons, especially rat or snail bait, and small items that can cause damage if swallowed. Keep indigestible temptations, such as golf balls or fishing sinkers, out of reach of their pups. Apply the same principle to your favourite ornaments, batteries, or anything else small that could be swallowed. Even that yellow, fuzzy dog favourite, the tennis ball, can be a danger if Fido is left alone with it. Dogs can tear tennis balls to pieces, and swallow the netting that covers the outside and the rubber inside.
To prevent your dog from eating what he shouldn’t, have a crawl around your home at pet level. Move anything potentially dangerous, or particularly valuable to you, out of the dog’s reach. You’ll also need to keep rubbish in a lidded bin or other pet-proof container. Chicken, pork and chop bones in the rubbish are a particular danger, as they break into small fragments that can be fatal if swallowed.
Keep the lid down on the toilet, too, especially if you use a clip-on automatic cleaner. And what if, despite best efforts, your dog does swallow something he shouldn’t? Get to the vet or an after-hours vet clinic immediately. This is especially crucial if poison is ingested, as treatment needs to be administered within a very specific timeframe.
If a puppy’s mouth is not getting him in danger, the next likely culprit is his energy level. An energetic puppy and a flight of stairs can be a particularly bad combination. A puppy’s bone structure is not fully developed, especially with large-breed dogs. They need to be stopped from running up and down stairs at speed. They can miss steps quite easily, and fall and break legs or damage joints when they’re little. You may need to consider child-gates for the stairs, or discourage your puppy from running up and down if he must use the stairs.
For cats, many of the same concerns apply. They, too, get themselves into trouble by swallowing dangerous or indigestible items left lying around the home. They may be particularly skilled at slicing open bin bags and finding bones or other hazards, so keep rubbish out of claw-reach. Also, be aware that cats are particularly likely to do themselves a mischief by swallowing fishhooks that taste or smell of fish, so these need to be washed thoroughly and packed away.
Bearing all that in mind, keeping your pet safe seems complex enough, but possible. However, just like a person, your pet could be perfectly safe and totally miserable. Providing for its comfort and stimulation at home is a basic kindness.
Let’s begin with sleeping quarters. For cats, it really doesn’t matter what you do. Cats are very self-reliant. You can buy all the beds in world, but your cat will still curl up in paper bag. It’s a good idea, though, to make sure they can easily come and go, and this is as simple as installing a cat door. Dogs, however, need the security of a well-defined place of their own. Especially for puppies, we recommend a specific bed for the dog, in a specific place in the house. You should teach your dog to go there when told, and that space should be off limits to children. This helps a dog to understand its place in the family, and also gives it room to retreat from noisy kids or other stresses.
Two things to think about in a pet-friendly home: make sure your pets aren’t going to set your burglar alarm going — choose a model that operates above a given height or has a specific body mass tolerance. Also, make sure your pet is safe at night. Has your cat got a cat door sensor on its collar, and is the property well fenced for the dog?
You have made your home safe and comfortable for the family. What about your pets?
Pets and Miscellaneous | Issue 5 — February and March 2009
Pets and Miscellaneous | Issue 5 — February and March 2009
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