10 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe

Having a pet is similar to having a child in your home when it comes to safety.  When you have a pet, their safety should be your number one concern.  So, how do you keep your pet safe?  Well, here are 10 pet safety tips that you can use to keep your pet safe at all times, whether you’re home or in the car.

1. Have an id tag with name, number, and address.  This is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your pet.  Having a tag on them will increase your chances of finding your pet if they ever get lost.  It’s also a good idea to keep their rabies tag on them, so anyone who finds them won’t be afraid to hold your pet for you until you can get to them.

2. Keep cleaners and other chemicals out of reach.  If you store all of your household cleaners under your sink, you should find an area that your pet can’t reach instead.  The same goes for any chemicals or toxins stored in your garage, yard, or anywhere else that your pet has access.

3. Make sure doors, screens, fences are secure.  So many pets get out of a yard or fence because the gate or door wasn’t secure.  Make sure that all of the ways your pet can get out are secure, so your pet doesn’t have the opportunity to get lost or get hit by a car. 

4. Keep safe in the car.  While it may be cute to have your pet in your lap while you drive or let them stick their head out the window, it is very unsafe for your pet.  You should have them either in a crate or in a pet restraint at all times.  On long car rides, you can take them out often to walk around and then put them back up before you start to drive.

5. Be careful when using leashes.  Always pay attention when you have your pet on a leash.  Don’t ever leave them unattended when it’s on, or they could wrap it around an object and start to choke.  You should also make sure that the collar is not too tight for your pet.

6. Practice hot and cold weather safety.  Pets can be even more sensitive to extreme temperatures than you are.  Make sure you follow the necessary safety precautions in hot in cold weather to keep your pet safe.  You can find a list online of what to do and what not to do during the hot and cold months.

7. Keep small items from being swallowed.  Pets are a lot like children.  You have to be very careful with toys and anything lying around the house.  You don’t want your pet to swallow a small item lying in the floor.  You also want to be sure that toys don’t have any small pieces that can break off when you’re pet is playing.

8. Watch what you feed them.  Make sure you never feed your pets anything with small bones in it or other items that can be easily choked on.  You also might want to ask your vet if there are any other foods that are off limits to your pet.

9. Know what plants are poisonous.  There are many plants, like Poinsettias, that are poisonous to your pet if ingested.  You should research what these plants are so you can be sure to keep them away from your pet at all times.

10. Be careful with candles.  Make sure that you always put candles where they can’t be knocked over by your pets.  You might even consider getting flameless candles or using candle warmers instead.  This way all you have to worry about is cleaning wax off of the floor.

These are just 10 pet safety tips.  If you’re ever unsure about something in or around your home being a danger to your pet, you can always ask your vet about it.  They’ll be able to tell you if it’s safe or not.  Remember that as a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to keep your pet safe.