Dog-Proofing Your Home — Preventing Poisoning & Accidental Ingestion

• Onions and Allium Vegetables (including garlic and Chinese chives): Allylpropyl disulfide destroys red blood cells in dogs, causing hemolytic anemia. The toxin remains even after cooking, making prepared dishes like hamburgers and onion soup dangerous too. Since symptoms can take days to appear, a dog may seem fine immediately after ingestion, but this is not reassuring.

Easily Overlooked Dangerous Foods

• Macadamia Nuts: Vomiting, high fever, and hind limb paralysis appear within 12 hours of ingestion. While fatality rates are low, the resulting difficulty walking often causes panic in owners.

• Avocado: The compound persin may affect a dog's heart muscle. It is found not just in the flesh, but also in the skin, pit, and leaves.

• Alcohol: Dogs have extremely limited ability to metabolize alcohol and can become poisoned from just licking a small amount of beer. Symptoms include vomiting, loss of coordination, hypothermia, and respiratory depression.

• Caffeine: Caffeine found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks acts as a methylxanthine toxin similar to chocolate.

• Raw Bread Dough: Yeast ferments in the stomach, causing not only gastric dilation but also poisoning from the alcohol produced during fermentation.

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Dangerous Houseplants and Garden Plants

Many houseplants and plants found on patios and in gardens are toxic to dogs.

Plants Requiring Particular Caution Indoors

• Lily Family Plants (lilies, tulips, lily of the valley): Lily of the valley is particularly deadly—all parts are highly toxic and even small amounts can cause irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. Cases of poisoning from dogs simply drinking water from a flower vase have been reported.

• Pothos and Philodendron: Calcium oxalate crystals found in Aroid plants irritate the oral mucous membranes, causing mouth pain, drooling, and vomiting.

• Cycad: Cycasin found in the seeds causes liver failure. It has high mortality rates and is one of the most dangerous plants.

• Aloe: The compound aloin causes diarrhea and vomiting. Aloe juice intended for human consumption should never be given to dogs.

• Dieffenbachia: Simply chewing the stem can cause oral swelling and difficulty breathing.

Plants to Watch for in Gardens and on Walking Routes

• Hydrangea: Leaves and buds contain cyanogenic compounds.

• Japanese Pieris: All parts contain grayanotoxin, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and bradycardia.

• Yew: All parts except the seed contain taxine, an extremely toxic poison with very high mortality rates.

• Red Spider Lily (Lycoris): Bulbs contain alkaloids.

In homes with dogs, these plants should be placed in high, inaccessible areas or not kept in the home at all. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) website maintains a toxicity database for plants harmful to dogs and cats, so always check before purchasing new plants.

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Room-by-Room Dog-Proofing Practical Guide

Living Room and Dining Room

• Electrical Cords: Chewing can cause electrocution or burns. Protect cords with cable covers or boxes, and install covers on outlets.

• Remote Controls and Smartphones: Small electronics containing batteries are particularly dangerous. Swallowing button batteries can cause chemical burns to the digestive tract, potentially leading to perforation.

• Food on Tables: It's not uncommon for dogs to jump on tables and grab food when given the slightest opportunity. Clear the table immediately after meals, and ensure all family members avoid leaving food at table edges.

• Potted Plants: Some dogs dig up and eat soil. If fertilizer or pesticide is mixed in, the risk is doubled, so place guards around pots or move them to areas inaccessible to your dog.

• Socks and Stockings: Classic items dogs love to chew. Swallowing them whole can cause intestinal blockage, necessitating surgical intervention in many cases.

Kitchen

• Trash Cans: Replace with locking, lidded bins that dogs cannot open. Kitchen trash concentrates hazards like bones, plastic wrap, skewers, and onion skins.

• Storage of Seasonings and Ingredients: Never place chocolate, onions, grapes, or gum (containing xylitol) on counters or shelves at dog height. Child locks are effective for drawers.

• Detergents and Cleaners: Dogs may open cabinet doors under the sink. Install locks on doors or move detergents to upper shelves.

• Hot Pots and Stoves: The safest approach is installing a gate to keep dogs out of the kitchen during cooking. This prevents not only burns but also accidental ingestion of ingredients.

Bathroom and Washroom

• Human Medications: Pain relievers (ibuprofen and acetaminophen) are deadly to dogs. Keep all medications in medicine cabinets or drawers behind mirrors, never left on countertops.

• Toothpaste: Dogs can be poisoned by licking xylitol-containing toothpaste. Fruit-flavored children's toothpaste is particularly appealing to dogs, so be extra cautious.

• Soap and Shampoo: Accidental ingestion causes digestive problems. Make it a habit to always keep bathroom doors closed.

• Toilet Water: If using toilet cleaners or scented bowl tablets, drinking from the toilet poses a poisoning risk. Keeping the lid closed is essential.

Bedroom and Closet

• Jewelry and Hair Ties: Small accessories and hair ties can cause intestinal blockage. Make it a habit to store them in drawers.

• Mothballs (Naphthalene and Camphor): Incidents of dogs chewing mothballs hung in closets have been reported. Either prevent dogs from entering the closet or place mothballs at heights out of reach.

• Cosmetics: Nail polish remover (acetone) and sunscreen contain harmful substances. Keep them in dresser drawers and never leave them on tables.

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Special Precautions During the Puppy Stage

Puppies go through a "chewing everything" phase from 3–6 months old. As baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, the itching in their gums drives them to chew indiscriminately. Particularly during this period, strengthen the following measures.

• Provide Multiple Appropriate Chew Toys: Interactive toys like KONGs that can be stuffed with food keep dogs engaged for extended periods.

• Separate Rooms: Use playpens or baby gates to limit where your dog can roam freely, gradually expanding their access over time.

• Minimize Unsupervised Time: Since constant supervision is unrealistic, use crates or playpens when you cannot watch your puppy.

• Store Everything You Don't Want Chewed: Check at dog eye level what's accessible to your puppy and systematically remove anything dangerous.

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What to Do If Your Dog Ingests Something Dangerous

It's important to know the basic steps for responding if your dog accidentally swallows something dangerous.

First, Confirm the Details

1. What and How Much: Work backward from remaining quantities to determine the ingested amount as accurately as possible.

1. When It Was Eaten: Treatment depends on elapsed time.

1. Your Dog's Weight: This is necessary for calculating toxin levels.

Contacting Your Veterinarian

Once you realize your dog has ingested something dangerous, call your regular veterinarian immediately, regardless of whether symptoms are present. If it's after hours or a holiday, contact an emergency animal hospital.

The information to provide over the phone is what your dog ate, when, and how much, plus your dog's weight, breed, and current symptoms. Never induce vomiting without veterinary guidance. Vomiting is counterproductive in the following cases:

• Sharp Objects (needles, bones, tacks): Risk of damaging the esophagus during vomiting.

• Strong Acids or Bases (bleach, drain cleaner): Vomiting causes the stomach lining to be burned again.

• Petroleum Products: Risk of aspiration (entering the lungs).

• Altered Consciousness: High risk of aspiration.

Everyday Preparedness

• Post your regular veterinarian's number and emergency animal hospital's number in your phone and on your refrigerator.

• Keep regular records of your dog's weight (necessary for calculating toxin levels).

• Develop the habit of tracking what your dog eats and in what quantities.

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Safety Checklist

Below is a checklist you can use to verify your home's safety. Regular reviews can significantly reduce accident risks.

• Are dangerous foods like chocolate, gum, and grapes out of your dog's reach?

• Does your trash can have a secure lid and lock?

• Are electrical cords covered or protected?

• Are houseplants non-toxic to dogs or placed out of reach?

• Are human medications put away and not left out?

• Are bathroom and toilet doors kept closed?

• Are detergents and cleaners stored where dogs cannot access them?

• Are socks, hair ties, and small items picked up off the floor?

• Is a baby gate installed in the kitchen?

• Do all family members know the emergency animal hospital's phone number?

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Start Confidently with br-choku

Preparing your home for safety before bringing a dog into it is an essential responsibility of dog ownership. With br-choku, you can welcome puppies directly from trusted breeders and consult with them directly about breed-specific concerns and indoor environment advice.

The unique strength of buying directly from breeders is that questions like "What does this breed particularly like to chew?" and "What should I especially watch out for during the puppy stage?" are answered by the breeder—your puppy's original caregiver—based on hands-on experience. Begin your journey to finding your beloved companion with br-choku as your first step toward creating a safe environment.