Most of us don't realize there are hazards in and around our home that are potentially dangerous to our pets. Just like a concerned parent will baby proof their home, we at Laguna Beach Animal Hospital believe the same should be done for your furry family members.

The following are some hazards that exist in our homes:

Lawn chemicals.

• Automotive products such as oil, antifreeze and gasoline.

• Fire hazards such as leaving candles burning, or leaving the fireplace burning without a screen In place.

• Trash cans and waste baskets .

•  Standing water.

• Toilet water that contains harsh cleaning chemicals

• Plants such as Philodendrons, Hyacinth and Fichus.

A tip to help with the latter is to sprinkle cayenne pepper in the plants soil from time to time to keep your pets interest away. You can also apply unpleasant-tasting substances to exposed cords to keep pets from chewing on them. These could include bitter apple spray, hot-pepper sauce, menthol, toothpaste, mouthwash or lemon juice. Experiment to find out which taste is the one least liked.

We know you can’t keep your eyes on your pets 24 hours a day but we should be aware that if a pet starts drooling, voimiting, or has respiratory difficulties it’s a almost a sure thing that our pet has ingested something it shouldn’t have.

The good news here in Laguna Beach is that the Laguna Beach Animal Hospital is prepared to handle such pet emergencies.  Please don’t hesitate to use the comment section of this blog to ask questions about your pet if you feel something questionable might have become an appetizer.

And as always, please don’t hesitate to contact us at  949-494-9721 with any concerns!