Baby Gate Safety
Congratulations, you have decided to welcome a little furry bundle of joy and mischief into your heart and your home. Does your lounge suite really need the foam inside it to be comfortable? Did your garden bed actually need flowers? I know you really love that smelly bone buried in your pillows and just try to think of the puppy poop in your favorite shoes as a spa treatment for your feet. If this strikes a chord of fear in your heart well look out, as you are in for the many highs and lows that a puppy will bring into your life.A puppy will for approximately the next two to four years of your life need constant supervision, training, exercise, vet checks, food, and more importantly your time and your love. It takes approximately two to four years for most breeds to mature to adulthood. The first two years of puppy hood are toddler taming of your puppy, very similar to that of a child, but worse! Be prepared for all hell braking lose as you go through young puppy hood together. Before choosing your puppy, it is highly recommended to research the breed, as although all breeds need the above-mentioned requirements, some breeds require more of an effort. There are many sites on the internet that can help you determine which breed will best suite you and your lifestyle. Thankfully, the reward for your effort will be an obedient, happy dog that loves you and respects your home.
Ideally, you should start your preparation in attempting to puppy proof your home before the arrival of your puppy. However, unless your home has bare walls with rooms devoid of carpets or furnishings of any kind, to completely puppy proof your home is impossible. Even the corners of your walls can become exciting and something new to chew upon if your puppy is unsupervised. Supervision is the only way of ensuring that both your pup and your home remain safe.
As you will eventually have to leave your pup home alone, the best action that you can take is to ensure that you can provide the safest possible environment for your pup until you return. A very young puppy will explore its surroundings but for the most part, it will sleep. A puppy crate or a room such as your laundry is ideal for a short trip down to the shop. The main concern in a laundry is the poisons usually located there. You must make sure that access to any cleaning chemicals is restricted. If a small child can easily open your cupboards then a puppy easily opens them. If you do not wish to go to the extremes of attaching baby safety catches to all of your cupboards then a cheap and easy alternative is to place packing tape or something similar across the face of the doors.
Get down low to the ground to see the world as your puppy will, this will allow you to ensure things that you may not have otherwise noticed. You need to ensure that your puppy will not be able to squeeze itself between your sink and your washing machine, chew the water hoses connected to the washing machine or worse still chew the electrical cables. Check, that if you have vertical or Venetian blinds that no cords are dangling down, as these are just as dangerous to puppies as they are to small children and can result in strangulation.
The laundry is a common choice for housing your puppy as it usually consists of minimal items and contains flooring that ensures ease of cleaning up accidents. Regardless of which room in your home you decide to house your puppy, the following considerations should be on your safety checklist.
Stairs are particularly dangerous to young puppies. Deny access with a baby gate or a suitable barrier. A fall down the stairs could easily kill a young puppy.
Electrical cords should be placed out of reach, have safety devices placed over them or better yet unplugged if possible, puppies love to chew cords.
Furniture can provide hours of blissful chewing to a bored or lonely puppy so ideally your puppy only has access to areas with furniture when you are at home to supervise them. There are products on the market that claim to discourage puppies from chewing on your furniture. Some people may obtain various degrees of success with these products however it has been my experience after many trials on many products with three German Shepherd pups and three lounge suites later, keeping your puppy out of your lounge room when you are not there is the only guarantee.
Recliner lounges can become a hazard to a curious puppy and they can easily become trapped in the space beneath.
Your puppy if left within their reach will eat children’s toys and small objects of any kind. This can result in an expensive trip to the vet and can cause pain or even death to your puppy. Vigilance in making sure that nothing is left lying around is essential.
Keeping cupboards secure is of paramount importance in keeping your puppy safe. Countless items located in our cupboards are potentially life threatening to a puppy. Cleaning chemicals pose an obvious threat, but items that you may not have considered such as medications, plastic bags, insect repellents, and even certain food items can be life threatening. As mentioned earlier baby safety catches are ideal although tape across an easily opened cupboard will work equally effectively.
Food deserves a special mention, as what can be a treat for us can cause death for your puppy. Chocolate, especially dark or cooking chocolate is toxic for dogs. Never give your puppy chocolate or leave chocolate accessible to your puppy. Even chocolate biscuits can make your puppy severely ill. If you feel you must indulge your puppy, get them a safe doggy chocolate biscuit. Made from carob these will not harm your puppy as chocolate will.
Potato powder mixes are also very dangerous to dogs. If eaten from the packet it can put your puppy at risk of bloat, an extremely painful and potentially life threatening condition. This product is commonly used as an environmentally friendly alternative method for killing mice. Always make sure potato mix is kept in a secure container.
Other foods worth mentioning that cause harm to your puppy are as follows:
Onions, macadamia nuts, potato peel, stone fruits, grapes, sultanas, coffee, garlic (in large amounts), and sugar free sweeteners (in large amounts these can cause death). There are many sites available on the internet that goes into detail regarding commonly unknown harmful foods. It is highly recommended and worthwhile researching such sites, as they are a wealth of useful information. A detailed list of toxic and poisonous foods to dogs can be found here www.dogs-central.com/foods-poisonous-to-dogs.html . As prevention is always better than cure please take the time to make yourself familiar with these foods.
Toilet lids left open are another common hazard to puppies. Toilets commonly contain cleaning fluids, which are toxic to puppies, and provide a drowning hazard.
Windows left open provide the perfect opportunity for your puppy to escape and explore. Keep them shut or latched to a small opening to prevent your curious puppy from possibly falling out and wandering off.
Ashtrays and tobacco are toxic for dogs, and a young puppy just like a small child will happily consume cigarette buts. Keep these items out of reach of your puppy.
Slippery floors are a potential hazard for young puppies. Some breeds are prone to a painful condition known as hip dysplacia. Encouraging your puppy to run, slip and slide on wooden and other slippery surfaces may be fun for your puppy and amusing to watch however, there is nothing amusing about a dog suffering from this condition. Participating in activities under these conditions highly increases your puppy’s likelihood of contracting hip dysplacia. Keep the fetching games restricted to grass areas outside which are much safer for your puppy.
Shoes and items of clothing belong in the cupboard not left lying around for your puppy to find and happily chew. Dislodged buttons and zips torn from items of clothing pose a chocking hazard to your puppy. Similarly, shoes often contain buckles and other sharp items that a teething puppy can easily remove and swallow.
A puppy crate is a good alternative for keeping both your home and your puppy safe while you are away. However, do not leave your puppy in the crate for more than two hours. You are providing a safe haven that can assist as an aid in training, not a prison cell. Puppy crates are usually made of wire and ideally are big enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around in, and lay comfortably on some bedding placed inside. Make sure that your pup is familiar with the puppy crate before you intend to leave them alone inside it. This will ensure that your puppy will happily go inside the crate and not be frightened. It is very easy to get your puppy used to the crate by simply leaving the door open and placing a toy or a treat inside the crate. Your puppy will naturally wander inside the crate and you should praise them when they do so, thus ensuring it is a positive experience for your puppy.
If you are now thinking that leaving your puppy in your yard is an easier option to puppy proofing your home, think again. Your backyard contains numerous hazards and dangers to your puppy. The following safety concerns should be followed before leaving your puppy unattended and unsupervised outside.
Although dogs have fur coats they are still subject to chills and illness and require adequate shelter from all of Mother Nature’s extremes. If you must keep your puppy outside please make sure that it has a warm sheltered place where it will feel safe and secure. As a dog is a pack animal instinctively they want to be with their pack which is now you, so please do not punish your dog for whimpering and crying while it has to make this harsh adjustment. This is extremely stressful and unnatural for your puppy to be separated from the pack. A hot water bottle placed in their bed may help comfort your puppy when it is very young.
Fencing should be secure and not contain holes or gaps where your puppy can squeeze through and escape. A puppy can get itself into a very small space so even small gaps and holes easily become an escape route to a small puppy.
Workshops, garden sheds and garages should be locked and inaccessible to your puppy. There are far too many dangerous discoveries held inside for an unsuspecting curious puppy, always take great care when entering your shed that your puppy is not following you closely behind. My own puppy ate fertilizer whilst in the yard with my husband who was busily working and did not notice our puppy follow him into the shed. Thankfully, it was organic so other than a stomachache for the puppy and a headache for my husband from the telling off her got from me, my puppy was fine. It only takes a second for a puppy to access the many hazardous items contained in our sheds and garages so please close the door and keep it locked.
Pools and ponds pose a drowning hazard to puppies. Please ensure that all pools and ponds are fenced off and kept inaccessible to your puppy unless closely supervised. There are many sad stories of puppies drowning as many people mistakenly think that a puppy will instinctively swim and safely get itself out of a swimming pool, sadly this is not the case. Dogs drown in swimming pools usually due to exhaustion from swimming around and around in circles in a state of panic, unable to get out of the pool. A dog instinctively swims to the shore and as there is, no visible shoreline in a swimming pool a dog can easily get into trouble and drown if it does not know how to get out of the pool It is an extremely good idea for you to swim with your puppy in your pool demonstrating to your puppy how to exit the pool using the steps. Supervision with swimming pools is always the safest option however, and puppies like children require supervision around swimming pools.
Educate yourself to the list of plants that are toxic to dogs. There are literally hundreds of common plants that are poisons to dogs and a detailed list can be found here www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.htm .Many common indoor and outdoor plants are a potential hazard to your puppy. Ideally, removal of these plants is the best option from your garden although as this is often neither practical nor desirable then they should be fenced off making them inaccessible to your puppy. Similarly, a much-loved display of colorful flowers will not remain attractive for long with a puppy let lose in your yard. Fencing them off removes the temptation to the puppy and the frustration to the gardener.
Puppies are born without teeth and the teething process is long and painful for them. By the age of eight weeks a puppy will have approximately 28 baby teeth. Fromfour to five months of age your puppy will start shedding their baby teeth and by the age of seven months old all of their forty two adult teeth should be in place. A puppy chews for a variety of reasons, but never is the reason to misbehave so please keep that in mind. A puppy will chew to relieve teething pain, boredom and as a natural way of exploring their world.
Have a good supply of safe puppy toys available. If you give your puppy an old shoe of yours, be prepared for your puppy not being able to differentiate between the old shoe and your brand new Nikes. Give your puppy safe toys where small pieces will not easily be dislodged and pose a choking hazard. Soft rope toys are ideal, and can be wet or frozen to aid in easing sore gums. A carrot is a safe and healthy chew toy that can also ease gums if it is nice and cold fresh from your refrigerator. Rawhide chews are also very good although the leather type ones can become a choking hazard so chose the crumbling type. Items from home such as a cardboard box can provide hours of fun for a puppy, although be prepared for quite a mess. Plastic cool drink bottles with the lid and plastic ring removed also provide hours of noisy amusement for your puppy.
The more time and attention that you can give to your puppy the less destructive it will be. Exercise and obedience training are essential in teaching your puppy manners but also have the added bonus of making them extremely warn out and sleepy.
Finally, bringing a puppy into your life is a lot of hard work but tremendously rewarding. Preparing your home and your yard for your puppy is an essential tool into making the transition easier for you and your puppy. With training love and attention, your puppy will soon become a joyous experience in your life. Just as you would not leave a young child, alone it is cruel to leave a young puppy alone for extended periods on a daily basis. If your lifestyle and work does not allow someone to be at home with the puppy at least for the first few months of your puppy’s life, and your demeanor does not permit nor allow for the trials of learning, then possibly consider getting a turtle, a crazy crab or a goldfish not a puppy.
Sun safety:
Young children with fair skin are at high risk for sunburn. Remember, the most dangerous time for sunburn is between 11 am and 3 pm. If your kids are going to be out during those hours, make sure they are wearing sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30, applied at least 30 minutes before heading out. Kids should also wear a large-brimmed hat and colored clothing. Even on cloudy days there are ultraviolet rays, so take care even when the sun is behind the clouds. Babies younger than six months should be kept out of direct sun.
If your child does get a sunburn, give a pain reliever (age and weight appropriate), apply a cool, damp rag and give a lukewarm bath. If the child has a fever, blisters, or chills, call your doctor.
Heat Illness:
Summer temperatures can rise dramatically. Heat illness can lead to exhaustion and stroke. Prevention includes planning your outdoor activities during the early morning or early evening; when outdoors make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids (according to the Texas Children’s Hospital a 90 pound child needs at least 4 to 6 oz of water every 15 minutes while outdoors); and have your child wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
If your child becomes nauseated, light-headed, dizzy, weak and feels cool and clammy, get him or her indoors or in some shade and give something cool to drink. If your child has dry, red skin and a fast pulse and is disoriented or confused he or she needs immediate medical attention.
Watch for symptoms of dehydration which include: Few or no tears when crying, eyes that look sunken into the head, soft spot (fontanel) on top of baby’s head that looks sunken, lack of urine or wet diapers for six to eight hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine), lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine), dry, cool skin with “goose pimples” on chest and upper arms, irritability, altered mental status, headache, fatigue or dizziness in an older child. If you notice these symptoms, give your child plenty to drink. If the symptoms persist or are highly pronounced seek immediate medical attention.
Insect bites and stings:
If children are going to be out during prime mosquito hours (early morning and late evening), be sure to use an insect repellent with DEET. Use DEET with caution, and use as little as possible. Also, do not use repellent containing DEET on skin that is sunburned or has a rash. Wash your child’s skin immediately after coming indoors.
Keep children away from ant hills. If there are ants in the area make sure your child wears shoes. If your child is bitten, wash the bite with cold water and apply ice. Apply an antibiotic or cortisone cream if needed.
If your there are flying insects in the area, make sure your child knows to stay calm if an insect approaches. Swatting at a flying inset may provoke an attack.
If you child is stung by a bee, hornet or yellow, carefully remove the stinger by scraping it with a fingernail or credit card. Do not attempt to pull it out. You may push more venom into the area. Apply ice and give a pain reliever. If you child develops a rash, hives or is having difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention. Your child could be having an allergic reaction.
Outdoor Injuries:
Playgrounds are great places for summer fun. Unfortunately, they are also prime places for injuries. Here are some quick facts about playground injuries. As a result of accidents on playgrounds at home, at school and in public areas, more than 200,000 children ages 14 years and younger visit U.S. emergency departments each year according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Children 5 years old to 9 years old have the highest rate for playground injuries. School is the site for the majority of these injuries. On public playgrounds, more children are injured on climbing equipment than any other attraction. Swings are responsible for most injuries on home playgrounds. www.texaschildrenshospital.org
Keep an eye on younger children at a playground, especially if there are older, bigger kids around. Make sure your child is wearing the appropriate clothes, and that there no loose strings which could become entangled on playground equipment. Check the ground beneath the equipment. Avoid playgrounds which have concrete, hard sand, or gravel under the equipment. Do not let children play in sandboxes which are left uncovered at night. Animals could get in the sand and leave bacteria, parasites or intestinal worms in the sand.
Pools and other swimming areas:
According to the Texas Children’s Hospital, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death to children ages 1 to 14, taking more than 900 children’s lives each year. www.texaschildrenshospital.org One of the saddest things about this is that the majority of the drownings are preventable.
The following tips will help prevent childhood drownings:
Nothing takes the place of an adult presence. Always, always stay with your child by a pool.
If you own a pool, put as many barriers between your house and your pool as possible. Lock doors and windows leading to the pool. Add alarms or self-closing/self-latching devices for outside doors. Look for self-closing and self-latching gates. Install gate alarms and pool alarms to alert you when someone is in the pool area. Store water toys away from the pool when the toys are not in use. Don’t assume young children will use good judgment and caution around water.
Keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the pool.
Enroll kids age 4 and older in swimming lessons taught by a certified instructor - but don’t assume swimming lessons make your children “drown-proof.”
Learn infant and child CPR. Classes are offered by the Red Cross and several EMS locations.
Have toddlers wear life jackets, not floaties or water wings. Life jackets should fit snugly. If you cannot pull the jacket up to the child’s ears, his or her nose will stay above water.
Never allow diving in water less than 6 feet deep.
Following some simple rules will help you and your kids have a great summer. Keep them safe, keep them healthy and have lots of fun!
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