| Article 11: Proofing Your Home For
Your New Bulldog |
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You wouldn’t leave hazardous objects lying
in the reach of a child, so why would you think it’s okay to do
that with a pet bulldog? Bulldogs, especially puppies, are very
similar to children: if they can get into something they
shouldn’t, they will. Pet proofing your home is extremely
important for the wellbeing of your pooch. There are a few
simple things you can do to make sure your home is ready for
your new bulldog.
You should always have an emergency contact list stored
somewhere that’s easily accessible. Create a list specifically
for your pet. Important numbers to include are your local poison
control, a veterinarian, and an after-hours or emergency
veterinary care facility. You never know when an emergency will
arise; the last thing you want to do it waste precious time by
flipping through the phonebook.
People love to keep plants inside the home; and why not? They
are beautiful and add warmth to the space. Unfortunately, there
are many plants that are extremely poisonous to bulldogs. If you
already have plants, look them up on the Internet, and decide if
you need to toss them. If you are thinking of buying plants, do
research first to ensure you won’t be bringing in something
poisonous. Many popular, yet poisonous, house plants include
oleander, English ivy, mistletoe, and azalea. If your pet
ingests any of these, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Just because a poisonous plant is outside your home does not
mean your bulldog is safe. Keep an eye on him when you go for
walks, and don’t let him ingest anything that you don’t give
him. On the same note, you should use extreme caution when you
spray your yard with herbicides or insecticides. If you hire a
company to treat your yard, make sure you are given the “rules”
of the chemicals before you take your pup out. If you apply
these treatments yourself, pay close attention to the product
labels.
Candy is another commonly found item in the home. Most people
know that bulldogs, really all dogs for that matter, cannot
ingest chocolate.
However, not everyone keeps chocolate out of the reach of their
dogs. A cute candy dish filled with chocolate may be tempting
for your bulldog. If you want to sit out candy, make sure it’s
out of the reach of your pup.
Unfortunately, what is inside the wrapper is not the only thing
that can cause your pet harm. The candy wrappers are a choking
hazard, so don’t leave them lying around.
Household cleaners are something else you want to lock up
properly, since they are extremely poisonous. If the cleaning
supply cabinet is on your bulldog’s level, consider using a
child’s lock to keep your pooch out. Otherwise, put the cleaning
supplies out of reach.
There are many additional items that can cause your pooch harm,
including over the counter prescriptions. If you are questioning
an item, the best thing you can do is place it out of reach of
from your dog. Once you can verify whether or not it’s a hazard,
then you can decide how to store the item.
If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, contact poison
control or your veterinarian immediately.
Written by the team of Pet-Super-Store.com, a place where you can find discount products, such as
dog carriers and
elevated dog feeders.
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