If your dog gets into everything, you’re likely used to putting food items away right after meals and keeping your shoes in the closet.
Did you know there are much more subtle threats to your furry family member you may not even think twice about?
Check out our list to see if you can avoid a trip to the vet by taking care of these risks before they cause a problem.
Wood Chips
Luckily, most puppies chew wood chips because the porous texture feels good on their budding chompers and are not usually interested in having them as an afternoon snack. The real danger here is three-fold: splinters, pesticides, and obstructing their bowels. We know, none of those are appealing. Best to smell the flowers in a grass-lain garden versus on your neighbor’s front lawn (or anywhere that harbors these pesky chippings).
Air fresheners
There is one main concern when it comes to air fresheners: phthalates leaching into the oil and being released into the air.
Phthalates are essentially chemicals used to make plastic and help them keep their shape and contain whatever is inside the product (shampoo, bleach, etc.).
For air fresheners that you plug in the wall, the scented oil that sprays out in a puff is usually heated which warrants a concern of the phthalates in the plastic leaching into the oil and being released in the air that way.
This, combined with the proximity our furry friends have to these devices since they are closer to the ground poses the concern that they may be ingesting these toxins which can harm the respiratory and reproductive systems.
Garbage
The tricky thing about this treat is how garbage is not a constant mix of certain items – it changes for most of us every day. Not to worry; the biggest thing to look out for are any toxic foods (keep reading to see some of the worst), and raw meat (for those not on a raw-only diet) as it poses the risk of E. Coli.
Dogs get into the garbage usually out of hunger or boredom but baby-proofing the top of the garbage can easily combat this!
Toxic Foods
We don’t pour our dogs a cup of coffee every morning (though that scene in Lady and the Tramp is adorable) but did you know caffeine is toxic? Here are some other foods to avoid splitting with your pup:
- Xylitol (often found in peanut butter)
- Grapes (and raisins)
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions
- Garlic
- Avocado
- Caffeine in any form
- Fruit peels/pits/seeds
While technically not food, the kitchen garbage also poses a risk to our pets. Containing rotting or potentially moldy food as well as the debris that food is stored in like chip bags or wrappers, it definitely makes the list of risky things to watch out for.
Other Threats
Try to keep these out of reach of wandering puppy paws too:
- Houseplants
- Medicines
- Cleaning Supplies
- Alcohol
