When moving into a new home, if you have animals, you need to weigh many different factors so you don’t end up with a disaster. Keep in mind that a move into a new home isn’t only hard and stressful on the people doing all of the heavy work and packing, but pets have to go through a pretty hefty transition as well.

What do you need to consider?

The first thing to consider is traffic around your new home. Think about this in terms of your animal …. Are you in a high traffic area that will be hard to manage if you have a dashing dog or cat that runs at a moment’s notice? Think about whether or not you will need to put up a fence, if your dog will have plenty of room to run around, and if not, if you can get help him get enough exercise.

If you have a new puppy, get down on all fours and see what they may get into from their point-of-view. Look for choking hazards along with things that they may injure themselves with, such as chewing through an electrical cord. Be sure to put food and medication out of reach of your pets and children.

Keep your trash covered and make sure they can’t get into it! This is a big one. I would say most pet owners have walked into their home to see the kitchen trash strewn all over the house. While this is highly annoying and makes your blood boil, it can also be very dangerous. There are many foods that can make your dog sick if they consume it. A common thing that may end up in your trash that can cause major harm to your dog is chicken bones that they can chew into pieces and choke on. Also, coffee grounds are toxic to dogs.

Make sure your indoor plants aren’t toxic, if your animal tends to get into things like that. Or, just to be safe, put them up high where your pup can’t get to them. Some common indoor plants that can cause issues with animals are aloe, poinsettias, and amaryllis.

Latch doors where you store cleaning supplies. We all know animals have a way of getting to things if they put enough effort into it. Along those same lines, be conscious of where you put insecticide and mouse traps so your dog or cat doesn’t get into them.

Antifreeze is another big one to keep away from your animals! Keep it locked up and if you notice a leak, clean it immediately. Animals are attracted to it, and it can poison them in as little as one drop.

So there you have it! A list of things to consider when bringing a new puppy into your home, or moving homes with your older dog.

Are you living in the home of your dreams? Contact one of the girls today to see how you can get started!