Health Risks for Dogs in the Home

When you have a dog you must take proper precautions to ensure your home is dog friendly. Although your home may appear safe for your dog, inconspicuous hazards may pose health problems for your loyal pet. Go through your home and see what changes you can make to provide a safer atmosphere.

  1. Chocolate

    • Chocolate is wonderful for humans but toxic and potentially fatal for dogs. The stimulant theobromine is naturally present in chocolate but can poison canines, because it damages their central nervous system and heart. Leaving chocolate around your home is a health hazard for your furry friend. Homeowners must be cautious when it comes to putting chocolate candies out for Halloween, parties or throwing chocolate away in an open garbage can. Keep the chocolate in your home out of your dog's reach and keep lids on your garbage cans.

    Cleaning Agents

    • Cleaning agents, such as bleach and disinfectants, are poisonous to dogs, as well as humans. If you keep cleaning agents underneath the kitchen sink, your dog can potentially open the cabinet door and become exposed to the toxic chemicals. The best thing to do is to lock up your cleaning agents. Put a baby lock on your cabinet doors or move the cleaning agents to an area above the washer and dryer out of your dog's reach. Keep the laundry room doors closed if you can. Accidentally swallowing cleaning chemicals can cause vomiting, diarrhea or affect your dog's neurological system.

    Pesky Pesticides

    • The pesticides you use in your home or yard are unhealthy for dogs. Pesticides are full of poisonous chemicals intended to kill bugs and rodents. To keep your pet safe look for pesticides that are pet friendly. Such pesticides use more organic materials to kill off pests, rather than harsh chemicals.

    Paint Lead

    • The paint on your walls can be a health hazard to your dog. Older homes may have been covered with paint that contained lead. If your dog chews on a wall that is covered in lead paint, it could experience seizures and brain damage. If you don't know if your wall paint contains lead, you can have the paint tested and de-leaded, which is an expensive procedure. You can also find a way to distract your dog from its interest in chewing on the walls to keep him from exposure to potential lead.

    Small Objects

    • Small objects can choke dogs just as they can choke small children. If your dog chokes, you may not realize it's happening until it is too late. Keep small objects off the floor. If you have a kid who plays with small blocks or figurines make sure the dog does not have access to the toys. Clean up game pieces promptly and make sure that things like wood chips, which can splinter in a dog's throat, are not tossed on the ground to be picked up by your dog's mouth.