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To Eat or Not to Eat: He’s Going to Eat It It’s not really a question of whether a dog will eat something he shouldn’t: it’s more a question of when. Dogs have appetites designed to be useful in the wild: they’ll eat nearly anything. Even a finicky eater who only likes one type of canned food will joyously dig through the garbage for scraps the first chance he gets. At the very least, you’ll come home to a trash-strewn kitchen; oftentimes, trash-eating results in vomiting. If dogs get hold of furniture-polish soaked wipes or splintery bones, his adventure in garbage may wind up with a trip to the vet, or even in death. The best way to prevent your dog from eating garbage is to keep trash outside in secure cans, or to buy trash cans that can’t be opened or tipped over by dogs.
Some dogs eat furniture, leather from shoes or belts, napkins that still smell deliciously of last night’s meatballs, and children’s toys. Other dogs might not actually eat your stuff, but may chew reflectively on the remote control, books, blankets or door frames. Some dogs will be happily distracted by a natural rubber chew toy: others won’t be fazed a bit. If you have a dog whose appetite for new foods seems boundless, you may need to design a special room where he can stay while you are out. It should be big enough for his crate or bed in addition to giving him some room to stretch his legs. It should have a bowl of fresh water and some chewable toys to keep him occupied. If the room is fair-sized, you may be comfortable with just shutting the door, but you can buy a child-safe gate to place across wide doorways so that dogs can see more of the house. Some dogs can climb fences, so that safety gates may not be helpful, but most dogs will stay happily behind the gate.
Avoid chemical hazards to your dog by locking your cleaning and automotive supply cupboards as you would to protect children. Ideally, you may used non-toxic cleaners in your home so that dogs don’t come in contact with petroleum products, propellants and poisons at all, but if you must use toxic products, put them in cupboards with dog-proof locking mechanisms. Also, just because some products are biodegradable or non-toxic, it doesn’t mean that they won’t hurt your dog if ingested. Finally, some pets are allergic to certain cleaning products: I know a Siamese cat who threw up every time his people’s apartment was professionally cleaned, until they replaced the non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner they had been using. Ingredients in the all-natural product made the cat sick just from breathing its non-toxic fumes!
Toilet-bowl cleaners can poison dogs if they drink from the bowl: teach every member of the family to put the toilet lid down when they are through, and make sure your dog has access to a bowl of fresh water at all times.
Dogs can be internally injured by eating chicken or pork bones, which become splintery when cooked. Eating chocolate can make a dog sick, or even kill him. Cold pills, shaving cream, pipe cleaners, candles, soap, fertilizer and automotive wax are just few of the things in your house that can harm your dog. Desiccates, (usually consisting of silica) come in tiny packages placed in shoes, handbags and some clothing, and are toxic. Throw them away in a secured trash can as soon as you get your new purchases home.
Animal repellents and traps are dangerous to all animals: use them with discretion and not at all around your pets. Look for chemical-free ways to deter pests, such as using bug-zapping lights or devices designed to drive rats away using sound instead of poison (make sure they are guaranteed safe for dogs). Don’t put ant traps or roach motels where your dog might find them.
Electrical and phone cords are a common hazard for dogs, who may see them as toys to be chewed on or tugged at. Keep cords out of your pet’s line of sight, and unplug cords when you aren’t using them. Dangling cords should be rolled up and placed out of reach so that a playful dog can’t pull the attached printer or iron down on his own head. Even non-electrical cords may pose a problem: pets and small children can become entangled in drapery cords. Place drape and curtain pullers up where your pets can’t get caught in them.
If your dog uses a crate, prop the door open in such a way that it can’t swing or fall shut, trapping the dog inside.
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