5 Items in Your Home That May Harm Your Pets

All pet parents will agree that taking care of animals is a massive responsibility. Aside from making sure they are always given the nutrients they need, it is also important to keep our homes safe for them by getting rid of items that may harm them. This can range from little trinkets that they can choke on, to certain kinds of food that can cause health problems for our furry friends. Here are some household items that you will do well to keep away from your pets.

Leftover bones

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Many of us may assume that it is only normal to give our dogs some bones to munch on, but did you know that bones can actually cause several fatal health issues with your dog? Cooked bones, in particular, are dangerous, since they can break into splinters and cut your dog’s tongue, esophagus, stomach, or intestine—which can be deadly to your beloved pet. If you do decide to give your dog a bone, go for large, raw bones instead, which contain more nutrients and are more difficult to bite off.

Medicines

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Medicine may be beneficial to our health, but they have the opposite effect for our four-legged friends. For them, ingestion of pharmaceuticals can lead to a disruption in oxygen flow and to liver damage.

Essential oils

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If you’re a cat owner, you may want to rethink using essential oils in your space. Cats are quite sensitive to essential oils, and mere inhalation of them can lead to aspiration pneumonia, while ingestion can cause gastrointestinal issues and liver damage, among others.

Batteries

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Batteries are necessary for a lot of different gadgets we have at home, but they are best kept at a significant distance from your furry friends. If they accidentally bite into a battery, they might end up developing ulcers in their mouth, esophagus, or stomach.

Fabric softener

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If you use fabric softener regularly in your laundry, make sure to store it somewhere hidden after usage, preferably somewhere your pet can’t access it without your knowledge. The chemicals in fabric softener contain the potential to cause symptoms like vomiting, fever, and ulcers in your pets. Better keep your laundry area off-limits to your four-legged friends!

Source: Elle Décor