Keeping a pet is a truly enriching experience, as pets are loving, devoted and can be great for a laugh. However, if you work away from your home, the time that you spend with your pet could be limited. Typically, you go to work and leave your pet in the house, and then come back to interact with them at the end of the word day. In that time, your pet can become lonely, or bored from a lack of something to do. This may cause your pet to become destructive or a danger to themselves.
To make sure that you keep your pet safe at all times, whether you are home or not, here are 8 things that you need to know.
- Little Animals Chew
When you have kittens and puppies, they use their little paws, noses and teeth to explore their surroundings. Therefore, if you leave any electrical cords around, they are likely to get burns or electrical shocks because they will stop and chew at them. To keep your pet safe in the home, make sure that these are put away in a cord organizer and that there are no wires which are hanging. Your pets could jump up and pull the wires down.
- Create a Habitat
If you do not have a habitat in your home, then your pets will have free run of the entire space, and they will run amuck. Therefore, you should make sure you create a habitat, which is a large but enclosed area where you pet can play safely. This is your pets space within the home, where they have everything that they need including food, toys and a warm place to sleep. The size of the habitat, and all the things within it, will depend on the type and size of pet that you have. If you have a dog, you may even be able to create a habitat outdoors.
- Have them Labelled
Many pets are masters at escape, and it is highly possible that when left in your home alone, they will find some way in which they can get out into the world. If this happens, they could get lost or be found by a stranger. For you to have peace of mind that they will always be able to find their way home, ensure that they have been tagged on the collar with identification tags. These could contain a microchip that has all your information on file, or you could add a tag to the collar with your name and contact details. The best option is to take your dog to the vet and have the microchip implanted. This will ensure that they can easily be scanned by an officer of the humane society or animal control.
- Put Up a Fence
When you have a pet that is going to spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, you need to put up a fence to contain the animal. This applies especially for animals like horses and dogs that can jump, and even for rabbits or tortoises which can dig. The type of fence that you put up will depend on the animal that you are trying to keep contained. If you have an animal which may jump, consider a fence that is higher than their actual height. For those which dig, you may need to line the foundation with stones, and make sure that it is deep.
- Be Careful with House Plants
Pets are naturally curious, and will explore everything in your home including your plants. Cats enjoy chewing houseplants, and there are some which are harmful to their health. You should do a little research about the houseplants that are within your home, and if there are any which could poison your pets, get rid of them or gift them to a friend. It is better to have no plant and a safe pet, then hold on to a potentially dangerous plant that could poison your loyal pet.
- Travel Safety
There are times that you may want to travel somewhere with your pet. This normally means that they need to get into the car with you so that you can easily get from one point to the other. If you have a pet that has fantastic training and a calm disposition, this could be a trip where nothing eventful happens. However, if your pet is spirited and prone to over excitement, it could be a nightmare. For the safety of your pet, you need to get a large crate which they will stay in for the duration of your trip. Make sure that there is plenty of fresh air in the car as this calms your pet down.
- Pet -Proof like you would Baby -Proof
A part of the baby proofing process for your home is to keep small toys and items out of the reach of children, as they pose a choking hazard. The same applies to your pet, as pets are also prone to swallowing what they come across. A piece of plastic in the digestive system of your pet could be fatal for them. Therefore, make sure that there is nothing within reach that could pose a choking hazard.
- Watch the Heat
As the weather gets warm, you may be tempted to let your dog run free in the sun, but too much time in the sun could lead to health problems. When it is very hot, make sure that there is plenty of shade where your pet can rest, and also, that they have lots of water to drink and fresh air.
Taking these tips into consideration, you will find that you can keep your pet safe both indoors and outdoors. You may not be able to have eyes on your pet 24 hours a day. With the advice from this column, you can trust that your pet will always be safe. This will give you complete peace of mind.
