| It's Christmas and you have decided to give that | | | | detailed listing of poisonous houseplants. If you |
| special someone a pet puppy as gift. You have | | | | suspect the pup may have been poisoned with |
| done all your homework in selecting the proper | | | | the wrong plant, contact the Animal Poison |
| breed with the right characteristics and | | | | Control Center 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435). |
| temperament. | | | | 3. Put away dangerous objects: Are electrical |
| You have visited numerous breeders and pet | | | | cords and tools hanging and lying around? If there |
| shops and have found just the right puppy. You | | | | are such dangerous objects lying around, pick |
| choose an adorable playful healthy puppy that will | | | | them up and put them away. |
| make the perfect companion. | | | | 4. Supervise the puppy: Don't let your pup be |
| Well, it's not enough to just bring the new family | | | | unsupervised whether inside or outside the house. |
| member home. | | | | Also, remember to keep the pup away from |
| You need to get your house ready for the new | | | | balconies, upper porches and high decks or they |
| addition. Remember that pups are like babies, | | | | may just slip through the openings and fall. |
| wanting to explore all parts of your house. | | | | 5. Keep our toilet covered: Puppies sometimes like |
| How do you know your house is safe and ready | | | | to play in the toilet bowl water. This is harmful for |
| for your new pet? | | | | the pup as they may swallow the toilet cleanser. |
| Check for these: | | | | 6. Get sharp objects out of the way: Put away all |
| 1. Clear your house of poisonous items: Have you | | | | sharp objects such as sharp twine, sewing |
| cleared your house of all poisonous items and | | | | needles and pins far away from your puppy's |
| taken them out of your pup's reach? If you | | | | reach. If they swallow these objects, they can |
| haven't, now's the time to put away cleaners, | | | | harm their mouth and internal organs. |
| laundry detergents, bleach, disinfectants, | | | | 7. Don't tie ribbons round the pup's neck: They |
| insecticides, cleaning fluid, fertilizers, mothballs and | | | | may chew it and this can lead to digestive |
| antifreeze in cabinets or high up on shelves. An | | | | problems or choke them if the ribbon gets caught |
| adventurous growing pup will be sure to jump high | | | | in something. |
| on to your shelves to find out what's there. | | | | 8. For plant nibblers: If the pup tends to nibble on |
| 2. Uproot all life-threatening plants: Do you have | | | | grass, don't worry, this is natural. But if they take |
| life-threatening plants at home? Apricot pits, | | | | this habit forward and nibble on certain other |
| spinach and tomato vines are dangerous to your | | | | plants, this could affect your pet's health and life. |
| pup. You can ask your vet to identify more such | | | | These simple precautions will help ensure the |
| plants that could affect your pet's health and life. | | | | safety of your new puppy as you welcome your |
| An excellent resource on the web is to visit for a | | | | new family member into your home. |