Deadly Hazards in Your Home - Learn of a Silent Killer Lurking in Your House by Brian Spilner

There are items all over our homes that can make our pups sick. Knowing the most common pet hazardous items can help you keep things out of your dog's reach. Our pets are curious and we can be forgetful; and, sometimes our pets get into something we didn't know was poisonous or something we forgot to put up. So, what do you do if your pet digests an item that makes him sick?

More than likely, there are multiple items in every room that can be a hazard to your pet. We would never even think about putting some items away. For instance, why would we lock our mouthwash away in the cabinet? Well, if the mouthwash contains boric acid, then it can cause our pets to have seizures. Every item that poses a hazard does not have to be locked away. Simply placing them out of your pet's reach or in an area that your pet isn't allowed, can do the trick.

Common household items that can have fatal effects on your pets include bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs, denture cleaner, contact lens solution, mouthwash, laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dishwashing detergent, household plants (ivy, aloe, and ferns), chocolate, food wrappers or cellophane, and batteries. There are many other items that can hurt your pet. If it has chemical ingredients, could cause suffocation (candy wrappers, for example), or you are unsure about the item, then you should treat it as harmful, whether it is or isn't. This is just a safety precaution. If you have a question about an item, then read the label and look up safety information on the internet. Make sure you look up the information before an emergency!

Different items will affect your pooch in different ways. The first thing to pay attention to is how he feels in general. If there is a sudden change in his energy level or appetite, then these could be a sign that something is wrong. If you feel that he is acting strangely, then keep an eye on him. There may not be any obvious symptoms (such as vomiting), but even the slightest change in personality can alert you to a problem.

Vomiting is often the first sign that your pet has ingested a harmful substance. The symptoms that accompany vomiting can help you figure out what he ingested. Look into his mouth. If mouth burns and muscle weakness are present, then your pooch could have consumed laundry detergent or fabric softeners. Along with burns to the mouth, coughing and abdominal pain are present with the ingestion of bleach. If your dog is drooling heavily, then he may have gotten into your mouthwash, contact lens solution, or denture cleaner. Seizures have been known to follow the ingestion of these items along with the ingestion of mothballs.

If your pet is showing signs of being poisoned, then call your veterinarian or poison control immediately. Do not waste time trying to find information on the internet. Make note of the other symptoms that are accompanying the vomiting. Has he stopped eating? Does he appear weak? Are there burns in his mouth? If you can quickly identify the cause (the bottle of laundry detergent is spilled on the floor), then read the back of the label. The label will tell you what to do in case of human consumption and this will be helpful information for the veterinarian or poison control specialist on the phone.

It seems easy enough to keep things out of the reach of your pet, but sometimes items will slip passed our radar. A piece of fudge left on the counter or a lily planted outside your front door are fair game for your pet. Research additional hazardous items, so you can monitor your home and your pet accordingly.

Pets can be curious, and humans can be forgetful. There are many items around the home that can harm your pet. If ingested, many cause vomiting and are followed by more dangerous effects. Monitoring your pet's behavior can help you determine how he feels. If you notice a sudden change in your pup's health, then keep a close eye on him. If you suspect poisoning, then contact the veterinarian or poison control immediately. The best thing you can do at home is keep known hazardous substances locked away and stay up to date on what can harm your pet.

This article was written by Brian Spilner a provided by pet-super-store.com a site featuring the industries leading brands at the Best Prices on the Web - PetSafe and Tri-Tronics
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Spilner