As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to protect your furry friends from any harm. After all, they become an essential part of our families. Besides being exceptional friends, pets also help people with stress and anxiety. For example, hearing your cat purr can make you feel happy while getting hugged by a dog after coming back home can be delightful in its way. Undeniably, pets have a lot to offer when it comes to loving their owners. However, many owners overlook precautionary measures for their pets. It’s important to note that pets need to rely on someone for their safety. They are not intelligent enough to take proper care of themselves, mostly because they are domesticated. Pets have genetically adapted through breeding to live with humans, which means that we are responsible for them. Most importantly, no owner would want to put their pets in dangerous conditions. So, to help you keep your pets safe and sound, here are a few essential precautionary measures.
Keeping Clean
Many sanitary hazards come along with keeping a pet at home. Pets are bound to create a mess once in a while, even if appropriately trained. If you overlook the cleaning of your house frequently, you and your pet can both fall sick. The greatest threat comes from animal feces, which can carry many different bacteria. Cats are mostly known to create such a mess, usually the owners’ fault, as they don’t clean the litterbox properly. It creates odor all around the house, making it unhealthy for both pets and owners. To prevent such a situation, you should get a disposable litterbox that controls odor while also being easy to clean. Get the best cat litter box for odor control if you want to care for your pets properly. Moreover, dog fur can also bring in many dangerous bacteria for all pets in the house. Therefore, be sure to brush them with dry shampoo and give them a good wash once in a while.
Remove Dangerous Objects
Homes always contain some potentially harmful objects. So, you must be aware of anything that is a threat to your pet. The most commonly known threat is a choking hazard, which is usually caused by small objects. Playtime can easily turn into a nightmare for your pet as it can easily choke on smaller things. Keep an eye out for such items and keep them away from your pets if they frequently try to chew on those items. For example, dogs are commonly known to choke on toys and rubber balls, so be sure to choose the right sized ball. However, the greatest threat comes from cleaning supplies and other chemicals like medicines. So, be sure to put cleaning products out of your pet’s reach at all times. It’s best to store them in a cabinet. Medicines should also be kept away and sealed tightly after use. Cats and dogs often mistake such items for food. A single pill swallowed by your pet can lead to fatality. Keep away fragile objects like glass from pets, as they can easily break them, causing harm to themselves.
Moreover, some plants can also be dangerous for pets. For example, lilies, tulips, and azaleas are known to be highly toxic for pets. So, check your house for any toxic plants and remove them from your pet’s reach.
Be Watchful Of Open Windows or Doors
All pets like to enjoy the outdoors, which is a great activity for them. However, it’s best if they go outside with your permission or supervision. Over 10 million pets get lost per year; if you don’t want your pet to be amongst those animals, make sure you close any open windows or doors. Cats are especially known to seek outdoors, so you should be extra careful around them. However, keeping pets happy is equally important. So, the most significant thing you can do is place outdoor items inside the house. For example, you can plant cat grass inside your home.
Use Pet IDs
Despite keeping doors and windows closed, pets can still run outside without you being aware of it. You can fit the pet IDs on pet tags or collars. Make sure you write the relevant information about your pets on these tags so that people can return them to you. However, microchips are an even better solution. You can get your pets microchipped and can easily track them in real-time if they get lost.
Learn Basic Emergency Response
Every pet owner should know how to respond in an emergency. For example, if your pet is choking or bleeding internally, you need to react as fast as possible; otherwise, emergencies can lead to fatalities. You should have a proper first aid kit for such situations, and learning CPR moves is also essential. Take some courses on performing basic aid procedures, and remember to stay calm during such situations.
Conclusion
Pets are important members of the house; they deserve better care. It’s time that you prepared to return the affection given to you by your pets, using the precautionary measures mentioned above. Your efforts will undoubtedly give your pets a safe and happy future with you.
