A Guide to Pet Proofing Your Home

A Guide to PET It doesn't matter if you're a dog, cat, reptile, or bird person-you love your pets to death. However, you might've not considered everything that can injure your pets inside your home. For this reason, the experts at Trade Price Tiles have decided to take a look at some ways you can pet proof your home to help safeguard your furry family members. PROOFING Your Home KITCHEN SAFETY Certain foods and objects may not always seem like a threat to us but, for little paws and curious minds, they can be disastrous. Also consider Don't leave out: When cooking on the hob, try to use the back burners only. installing a gate or door to keep your furry creatures out of the kitchen when • Avocados • Macadamla nuts • Ralsins • Grapes • Onlons • Coffee grounds • Garlic • Chocolate Keep twist ties, batteries, cellophane, string, and other small objects off the worktop and floors to minimize the cooking. number of potential choking hazards. Put away sharp knives. If your pet has figured out how to open cabinets, use childproof latches to stop them in their tracks. When cleaning your oven, put your pet in another room or outside to avoid exposing them to hazardous chemicals. This is especially true if you have a self-cleaning oven. Sinks and baths that haven't been BATHROOM SAFETY drained can be a drowning hazard for smaller pets. Cats will generally leave most things alone in your bathroom; dogs are a completely different story. Other things to put away: • Dental floss • Medicatlons • Bleach • Other Cleaners | | Keep towels, socks, and any other dirty laundry out of your dog's reach, as they could chew them up or eat them. While some might not think much of it, we suggest you close the toilet lid when leaving your bathroom. If you use harsh cleaners, your dog may get sick from drinking the water. LOUNGE SAFETY While we might feel safe in our lounge, there are potentially many dangerous objects and features that can hurt our pets. Keep fire lighters out of reach and cover your fireplace with a screen to shield your furry friends from fire and ash. Put away any smaller objects when you aren't in that area, such as: • USB storage devices • Wireless mlce • Pens and penclis • Paper cllps and drawlng plns Hide or cover wires and cables that could be chewed on. BEDROOM SAFETY These areas are generally safe for our pets, however, you can never be too careful, especially when they're young. When you take your earrings, rings, or watches off, tuck them away safely in a drawer or jewelry box. Always keep hair ties, clips, and pins out of reach. If you have a puppy, pick up your shoes or you could be throwing out your favourite pair on rubbish collection day. OUTDOOR SAFETY You generally don't have to lock your animals up and refuse to let them outside, but there are some precautions you can take before letting them run amok. It may not work so well with cats, but fences are excellent at preventing dogs from: • Running Into the road • Getting Into your nelghbours' gardens or waste blns • Flghting other pets In the nelghbourhood Dogs sweat from their paws to keep cool, making lengthy walks on hot sur faces dangerous. When taking your dog for a walk during warm months, avoid asphalt. Collars for dogs can get snagged, which could be a choking hazard. To prevent this, make sure their collar is close enough to their neck When your pets are outside for any extended amount of time, make sure they have access to fresh, cool water during summer. Choose pesticides and lawn care products that will not be toxic to your pets. Harsh chemicals can irritate their paws and make them very sick if ingested. Similarly, an open window or door could be a serious danger to your household pet that constantly wants to explore the outside world. Balconies are very hazardous for pets, especially cats that love to jump up on railing. To keep cats safe, consider building an outdoor walkway for them around your house. DESIGN DECISIONS with PETS IN MIND COUCHES, DAY BEDS, & ARMCHAIRS: RUGS: THROWS: UPHOLSTERY: Pick a rug that is: Dogs often like to lay on Match the colours » Varied in colour, comfy furniture in your of your upholstery » Low to the ground, Cats love scratchings home, and who can to the colours of and is meant for things, so satiate their blame them? To protect your animals. There's outdoor use, as desires by wrapping your furniture, buy a nothing worse than they're more sisal rope around pipes throw blanket to cover having black fur on a or poles in your home. durable (and just as soft!). their favourite area to white couch. prevent damage to the fabric. Cats won't shred your furniture and the rope will lok like a decoration! Wood Floors vs. Tiled Floors vs. Laminate Floors It's tough to choose a material that will stand up to the scratching, dirt, and general hardships when it comes to flooring. That's why you should choose once and choose wisely. WOOD FLOORS Wood floors can be beautiful in a home, but they can also scratch up easily in high traffic areas and with pets. SOFTWOODS are somewhat delicate and HARDWOOD is very resilient and while it may easily scratched and aren't recommended eventually show blemishes, it can be refinished if you have pets. Softwoods include: every few years to maintain its glamour. Hardwoods include: Cypress Spruce Hemlock Fir Pine Oak Birch Cedar Ash Walnut Maple Poplar TILED FLOORS LAMINATE FLOORS Tile floors are resilient, non-porous and easy to clean, repel stains, and help prevent water damage (if they're properly fitted) Laminate flooring can be the be-all and to the subfloor better than wood. end-all for some pet owners. With a wide Types of Tiles include: selection of looks that can mimic the real Stone Quarry deal for a cheap price, it's no wonder that it's so popular. Porcelain Terracotta Unfortunately, it doesn't always Ceramic hold up well to moisture and its finish can often tarnish much Most tiles are perfect for flooring if you quicker than tiled flooring. have pets, as it's very resistant to damage and stains. Not to mention, there's a massive selection of colours and styles, including some textures that look like wood and metal, As always, it's advised that you consult a professional when replacing floors, purchasing new furniture, or maintaining your lawn to avoid harming your furry friends whenever you can. While life can be unpredictable, even for your pets, you can take steps to protect them from danger. tradepricetiles.co.uk SOURCES [1] http://blog.designerappliances.com/kitchen-safety-for-pets/ [2] http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/22944505/list/Pet-Proofing-Your-Home-A-Room-by-Room-Guide [3] http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_WarmWeatherSafetyTips.php [4] http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2014/05/14/20-purr-fect-design-ideas-your-cat-will-love/ [5] http://www.designsponge.com/2014/0/10-ways-to-stylishly-pet-proof-your-home.html [6] http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/why-not-softwood-flooring-wood-117062