Puppy-proofing is a lot like baby-proofing your home. Get down to a puppy’s level and remove or safeguard anything that they could possibly mess with, and everything about 5 feet up, anything near furniture that they can get onto, etc. It is amazing what they can get into! Prevention can save you a lot of worrying and possible emergency vet visits. Here are some things that you can do to help puppy proof your home:
Secure electrical outlets and cords. Puppies learn about the world through their mouths. Make sure that any loose electrical cords are secured or inaccessible to the puppy. Chewing on an active wire can be very harmful to your pup, or potentially deadly.
Keep Medication or cleaners secured in a closed cabinet. Puppies can chew through containers to get to things!
Keep your puppy away from toxic plants, both in and out of the house. Here’s a list of known harmful plants that can cause illness from mild to deadly. Autumn crocus, Azaleas, Bleeding Heart, Buttercups, Castor bean, Daffodil, Dutchman’s Breeches, Elderberry, Foxglove, Golden Chain, Hyacinth, Iris, Japanese Yew, Jack-In-the-Pulpit, Larkspur, Lily of the Valley,Mistletoe, Narcissus, Oleander, Poinsettia, Rhubarb, Rhododendrons, just about any kind of bulb and beware those peach and cherry pits!
Use pesticides and rodent poisons with caution and make sure that the puppy cannot get to them. Rat baits are sometimes mixed with grains and can be attractive to pets. Same with boxes or plastic packages…..puppy could try to play with them and ingest the contents!
Don’t invite other dogs over to your house unless your puppy has had all his vaccinations. If friends do come over make sure their are folk who are meticulous about the health of their pets!
Don’t leave cigarettes or butts on the table or in the ashtrays. Puppies could eat them and get nicotine poisoning.
Watch out for Christmas ornaments, tinsel, and other decorations. Broken Christmas balls can lead to nasty cuts, and metallic tinsel can cause poisoning. Other decorations may be toxic, as well..
Don’t leave candles burning where puppies can touch them. Puppies are curious creatures and can get burned.
Keep the toilet lid down if you use cleaners. They may be alkaline and tempting for the puppy or dog to drink.
Dispose of bones so that puppy cannot get to them. Puppies will attracted to the smell in the trash can and ingested bones can be deadly.
Don’t leave sewing needles or pins out. Something else for those nosy pups to put in their mouths!
Antifreeze is out of reach and drippings are cleaned up immediately! Sweet tasting antifreeze is deadly to pups.
Be careful not to use flea collars, dips or other preparations on pups under 15 weeks. Check with and follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for flea control on young dogs.
In case of an accident, have your veterinarian’s phone number posted by the phone!