Our Top 5 Ways to Safeguard Your Pets from Electrical Hazards

Pets are very important members of our ‘Ohana, filling our hearts with joy at the sight of their antics and being on the receiving end of their affections. Many of us don’t realize that our pets can also become entangled in the electrical cords that are strewn about every modern house, or possibly become injured or electrocuted by chewing on them. Here are our top 5 ways to help make your home safer from electrical dangers for your pets. 

1. Take care of those loose cords around the house, and only buy quality! Visible, twisting cords are practically mana from heaven for young, unsuspecting Fido! Do your pets a favor and utilize strategic maneuvering, such as tucking them away or using protective covers, to make cord-chewing as difficult as possible for them. The nice (and loveable!) thing about your pet is that they don’t always have the longest memory, or the most patience. If they can’t find or get at your electrical wiring, they will most likely mosey on to entertain themselves with something else. Speaking of, don’t skimp on your electronics! Cheaper models are more prone to overheating or other malfunctions.
2. Invest in some deterrent spray. If your pet remains insatiable in their quest to chew on your electrical cords, there are 100% all-natural pet sprays that you can buy to discourage chewing. These sprays leave a bad taste in the mouth of any well-meaning critter trying to play fetch with the TV cables. Please keep in mind though: don’t ever spray your outlets, plugs, or power strips/surge protectors. Safety first!
3. Unplug your electronics when you’re not enjoying them. Building on the above, it can be difficult to think of each and every way your pet could damage your electronic devices, particularly when you’re not always around or monitoring. Keeping your unused electronic devices unplugged can help guard against injury or electrical accidents when you’re not around to help out. Cultivating new habits can sometimes be a pain, but the peace of mind in having a safer home can be a tremendous motivator!
4. Responsibly train your pet and provide other playtime opportunities. Teaching your pet that certain areas or parts of your house are off-limits and not for playing with will help make them much less likely to do so, even when you’re not around. Along these same lines, make sure to provide play time and adequate stimulation for your pets so that they don’t start to go a-hunting for new opportunities around your house
5. Have an emergency plan, just in case. Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans can’t be guaranteed to work 100% of the time, and should your pet sustain any injuries you’ll need to act fast. Make sure that you unplug and remove whatever apparatus caused the issue to begin with, then check your animal’s pulse and rate of breathing. Apply cold compresses to any burns, and contact your emergency veterinarian to inquire as to your next steps.

Although making sure to have a robust emergency plan is critical for your animal’s safety, taking preventative steps to minimize the risks that electrical power presents to your household pets is by far the most-effective way to keep them safe. We’d be more than happy to help you review the best practices for electrical safety in your home for all of its inhabitants, give us a call today. Mahalo!