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Understanding Veterinary Care

Tips To Puppy-Proof Your Pad

13 March 2018

Cameron Torres

Youthful spurts of playful energy combined with an insatiable curiosity are what make puppies so much fun to be around. These endearing traits, however, can lead puppies into hazardous situations. To prevent potential accidents, pet owners need to be proactive in puppy proofing their new dog's home, inside and out.

Chewing Hazards

Puppies are notorious for chewing on everything that they can fit between their choppers. Puppies chew as a way of playing and of exploring their new world around them. Puppies also chew to relieve the discomfort of teething. As adults, dogs continue to chewing as a characteristic of play behavior and to relieve stress. However, chewing can result in the following medical emergencies:

• Burns
• Electrical shock
• Linear foreign body
• Bowel obstruction
• Choking
• Lacerations of the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract

Chewing electrical cords results in burns in a dog's mouth, and this dangerous behavior can also cause electrical shock. Bundle electrical cord up off of the floor, wrap them with electrical cord covers and spray the covers with a canine chewing repellent product.   

Linear foreign bodies result in the intestine pulling and bunching itself, which is fatal without prompt veterinary intervention. This emergency is caused by ingesting string-like objects. Keep the following items out of your puppy's reach:

• Yarn
• String
• Rubber bands
• Dental floss
• Fishing line

Bowel blockages occur when an ingested object becomes lodged in the intestine. Common culprits that you need to keep away from your furry friend include the following:

• Children's toys
• Socks
• Underwear
• Pantyhose
• Rocks
• Dog toys that are too small for your dog
• Feminine sanitary products
• Napkins
• Food wrappings
• Bones
• Corn cobs

When choosing a toy for your companion, be sure to size the toy appropriately so that he cannot swallow it. As your puppy grows, confiscate the toy and replace it with a larger version.

Fishing hooks and razor blades are common causes of lacerations and perforations. Keep these, as well as pins, sewing needles, thumb tacks, staples and other small sharp objects securely stowed.

Discourage dangerous and destructive chewing by providing your dog with plenty of acceptable alternatives to gnaw and nibble, such as chew toys that you purchase from pet supply retailers.

Toxic Threats

Stow all medications, without exception, out of your dog's reach. Many common houseplants are poisonous to dogs if ingested. Confirm which plants in the home are toxic and move them out of your dog's reach or get rid of them. Some foods also contain components that are toxic for dogs when ingested. Never offer your puppy the following human edibles:

• Grapes and raisins
• Coffee, tea, coffee grinds, and tea bags
• Chocolate
• Nuts
• Onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, and scallions
• Avocados
• Alcoholic beverages

Keep in mind that while some foods may not be toxic, they can endanger your dog's health in other ways. For example, high-fat foods can cause pancreatitis, and excessive sugar intake can raise the risk of developing diabetes. 

Keep your puppy out of the room when housekeeping. Fumes from spray cleaners can be harmful to your dog's eyes, as well as his lungs if inhaled. Floor cleaners can be harmful if your puppy walks across the wet surface and licks his paws. Keep toilet lids closed to prevent your dog from drinking toxic toilet bowl cleaner. Corral cleaning products into a cabinet that your puppy cannot access, and use childproof latches where necessary. Consult with your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline if you are unsure about the level of toxicity in any plant, food, cleaning product or other substances.

Other Indoor Hazards

Use rocking chairs and recliners with caution. Rocking chairs pose a threat to unsuspecting paws and tails. Reclined seating offers an enticing and dangerous spot underneath for a dog to explore and curl up in, which can pose the risk of injury when the human returns the recliner to its upright position. 

Close off access to stairwells by installing baby gates to prevent injury from falls. If you live in an upper-level apartment or a house that has an elevated entry, you will need to assess steps, balconies, and decks outside to prevent similar falls.

Outdoor Safety Precautions

Before allowing your toy breed to lounge on the deck, be sure that the deck's perimeter spindles are spaced adequately so that your puppy cannot fall through or get his head stuck in between. You may need to install a barricade around this perimeter to prevent such injuries.

Restrict outdoor activity to the confines of a fenced yard to prevent your dog from being struck by a car. An additional fence installed around the pool area will protect your dog from accidental drowning. Surround a compost heap with sturdy fencing material to prevent your dog from scavenging bacteria-laden scraps. Inspect structures and shrubbery regularly. Repair wire fencing where jagged edges can cut your dog. Trim hedges so that when your dog darts through to chase a ball or a squirrel, stray branches don't poke his eye or scratch his face. Fill in any holes that he excavates along the bottom of the fence to prevent escape. 

Many garden plants are poisonous to dogs when ingested, as are some mushrooms that sprout randomly in yards. Use pesticides, fertilizers and weed killers with caution. Apply such products sparingly, and keep your dog indoors for several hours after each application. Some commercially prepared mulching material is made from cocoa bean shells and contains theobromine, the toxic component found in chocolate. When garden planning, seek out nontoxic botanicals and opt for safer mulch alternatives, such as pine or cedar chips. Avoid using rat poisons and other baits to control garden pests like slugs and moles. Store all chemical products, including antifreeze and pool chemicals, away and out of your dog's reach when not in use. During the winter months, clear walkways by shoveling snow away before it freezes into solid ice. Many ice melt products are toxic when swallowed and can be irritating to your dog's paws.

Welcoming a new puppy into your household is an exciting event. As his informed and diligent caregiver and friend, it is up to you to ensure his safety by puppy-proofing his new home. Practicing these tips for the duration of his life will increase his longevity for a lifetime of wellbeing and happiness with his family. 

For more information, contact your local pet hospital today. 

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