For many, pets play a very important role. They can be comforting friends or companions who kill loneliness. They can also be playmates for children or give a sense of safety to people who live alone. Whatever reason you have for keeping a pet, it is important to make sure that your environment is conducive to his or her wellbeing.

There are quite a number of things around your apartment that you may not realize you need to protect your pets from. Here’s a list of possible dangers:

Foods that may seem harmless to you may not be good for your pets. Chocolate, for example, is infamous for poisoning pets. Animals cannot digest the chemicals in chocolate as well as humans, and this poisons their bodies. Onions and garlic also have chemicals that can be harmful to some pets as well, so keep them away. Be careful not to feed your pets food containing nuts and large seeds. Bigger dogs may be able to swallow seeds, but smaller pets might choke on them. It’s better to simply avoid feeding these to your pets. If you would like to opt out of feeding your pet processed pet food, you can consider getting a pet recipe book from a bookstore. This will give you more specific guidelines as to what you should and should not feed your pet.

Be sure not to leave string, ribbons and small toys lying around. They may be useful and fun for the kids, but they can end your pet’s life. Pets tend to choke on yarn, dental floss, gift ribbons and the like. So be careful to put away all your knitting and wrapping items when you’re done.

Keep medicines out of reach of pets. Also keep them away from anti-freeze, disinfectants and other household cleaners. It is always a better option to use non-toxic cleaning products. This is not only good for your pets, but for your family and the environment too. If you are trying to get rid of pests, make sure your pets do not have access to or cannot be harmed by the traps or bait you may be using.

Remember that dogs and cats have lungs too, and can be victims of second-hand smoking. Do not smoke around your pests or give them access to tobacco and tobacco products.

If you see your pet experiencing muscle tremors, excessive drooling or seizures, it may be a sign that your pet has been poisoned or is choking. Other signs include, unusual licking, bleeding, swelling, pawing at the mouth, change in mood, vomiting and diarrhea. If you see any unusual behavior in your pet, contact your vet right away. But always remember that it is better to not let it get that far. Take the necessary steps now to ensure that your pet is safe in its home.