3 min read
Most pet emergencies at home are accidents that could have been prevented: a dropped pill, an open bin, a chewed cable. Looking at the house through the eyes of a curious puppy or cat takes an hour and removes most of the risk. This guide is a room-by-room approach.
The kitchen and food
Keep human food out of reach, particularly the items that are dangerous for pets, such as chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, macadamia nuts, alcohol, bread dough and anything containing xylitol, a sweetener found in some gum, sweets and baked goods. Close the bin or use a lid your pet cannot open, as discarded cooked bones, corn cobs and corn husks are common causes of blockages.
Our toxicity pages explain what each substance can do. Remember that quantity, size and health all matter, so when in doubt call a vet instead of guessing.
Medicines and cleaning products
Store every medicine, including those prescribed for your pet, in closed cabinets or high shelves.
Pills that fall on the floor can be eaten in seconds. Never give your pet human painkillers, since paracetamol and ibuprofen are dangerous to dogs and cats. Keep cleaning products, detergents, pesticides, rodent bait and slug pellets locked away, and use pet-safe products when you can.
Keep chemicals in their original labelled containers. Antifreeze in a garage or a car park is a particular danger because it tastes sweet to animals and is extremely toxic.
Plants and flowers
Many popular plants are harmful to pets.
Lilies are especially dangerous to cats, and even a small amount, such as pollen licked from fur, can cause serious kidney damage. Check any plant or bouquet before bringing it into the house and place unsafe plants out of reach or avoid them. If a pet chews a plant you cannot identify, call a vet and take a sample or a photo.
Cables, small objects and furniture
Puppies and kittens chew.
Protect or hide electrical cables, and keep batteries, coins, hair ties, needles and thread, children's toys and socks out of reach. Strings, ribbons and elastic bands are particularly dangerous for cats because they can be swallowed and cause serious intestinal damage. Check that furniture cannot topple and that your pet cannot get trapped behind appliances.
Windows, balconies and garden
Cats can fall from open windows and balconies, a problem sometimes called high-rise syndrome.
Fit secure screens or netting. In the garden, check fences for gaps, keep compost and fertiliser covered, and be careful with pesticides and slug pellets. Open water such as ponds and pools is a drowning risk, even for animals that can swim.
Be prepared for the unexpected
Keep your vet's number, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and a poison helpline number somewhere visible, and save them in your phone.
Make sure your pet wears an identification tag and has an up-to-date microchip, so that it can be returned if it ever escapes. Our first aid guide explains what to do while you reach help.