Dog A-Z > S > Safety > Safety in the home

Safety in the home

• If you have a chewer, then electrical leads should be kept out of reach or protected with a cover. Don’t leave anything out that you don’t want him to chew.

• If you have an open fire, always use a fire guard.

• Be aware of hot radiators

• Don’t leave anything sharp lying around – dogs have been known to swallow needles and knives!

• Don’t leave large windows open upstairs as your dog may jump out and injure himself. Don’t leave dogs unattended on balconies.

• Keep nasty kitchen, bathroom and garden use chemicals safely locked away out of reach - also prescription drugs and any others meant for human use.

• Try to keep the dog out of the kitchen when cooking. He could get under your feet and trip you when you’re carrying a hot pan.  Be careful of ceramic/halogen hobs.

• Don’t leave chocolate where he can reach it – especially around Easter and Christmas. It is toxic and too much could kill him. Grapes and raisins are also toxic and can prove fatal. Onions cause anaemia – so don’t feed to your dog in any form.

• Make sure that potentially poisonous houseplants are out of reach or removed completely. These include African violet, Amaryllis bulbs, Poinsettia and the Swiss cheese plant.

• Make sure your dog can't eat any small (children's or dogs) toys.  Do not buy toys that are too big or small for him, or of a material that can be chewed up too easily.  Only buy toys that are specifically designed for a pet's use.

• Don’t let him have access to the bathroom if you’ve left a hot bath running. He could jump in and get scalded.

• Make sure everyone in the family knows about pet First Aid, such as where the First Aid Kit is kept, and how to contact the vet.

• Don’t leave the toilet seat up if you use a ‘cleaning block’ in the cistern or attached to the rim. He may drink out of the toilet and become very sick.