Household Items that are
Dangerous to Dogs

Guest Post by BARKING ROYALTY

Ever wondered about household items that are dangerous to dogs?

I know that amazing home decoration and your favorite furry friend is all you need for a perfect home, right?

dog sitting near household items with humans close by opening boxes

When Pets Get Bored...

Just imagine that postcard... your furry friend on an ultra-sized boho-style pillow next to a new coffee table filled with candies in Mason jars and candles in different sizes. Sounds like a piece of heaven, right in your home.

Now, picture this: your dog was left at home alone for hours, got bored... tore up the pillow, jumped up at the candles, and accidentally flipped over the coffee table... all while the candles were lit. Not a happy scene, right?

Read on to see how to safely organize your home while keeping your pet safe and sound.

With that in mind, here are the five most common household decorations that you should be careful about putting on display.


Here Are the Top 5 Household Items that are Dangerous to Dogs

The top five items you need to be aware of to protect your pet when you're out of the house:

#1: Breakable Items

A couple of tall vases are all you need if you want to give your home an elegant and sophisticated look. The thing with vases is that you put them where you want them and they don't move. EVER. And you will find them where you left them.

However, that's not the case with a four-legged buddy. With your dog's cheerful nature and happy wagging tail, fragile items are not a good mix.

Every ceramic or glass vase can be potentially destroyed and can harm your dog. But, if you insist on breakable decorations, keep them away from the dogs' reach.

Hanging decorative breakables could be used as art on the wall, so you should think about displaying it that way.

#2: Plants

People surround themselves with plants when they want to relax their minds and reach their calm zone. Having plants in your house is a great way to reconnect with nature.

However, as a dog owner, you should be well aware of the effects that some plants may have on your dog.  Some plants are even dangerous—regardless of their beautiful appearance.

#3: Candles

Who doesn't love candles? They smell nice, look good, and help you set a certain mood BUT we often forget about candle safety.

Candle safety is much more than keeping burning candles out of dogs' reach. This ultimate home decor item can pose a risk for your pet due to all those different fragrances available. Just like plants, certain smells are not desirable, especially any smell that resembles citrus.

If you can, use flameless candles which can eliminate the candle smoke that can irritate a dog's respiratory system. Health before beauty, or simply find a safe balance.

#4: Artificial Fruits

naughty dog eating plastic fruit

Although having a fresh orange, grapefruit, and lemon on your table during the whole year looks GREAT, having an artificial one is not that great when you're a pet owner.

If your canine buddy is an adventurous explorer type, he will come to that fruit sooner or later and eat it. Helping your dog recover from eating plastics, or worse, is a long and expensive road.

Plastic is really not on a dog's eating list.

#5: Essential Oils

A wooden basket that contains a white sheet full of colorful essential oils, placed in your favorite corner, is something that adds to your home's atmosphere.

You can pass that corner, spray a little, and move on. Although smelling essential oils is fine, it's not something that your dog is truly fond of.

Do your research and learn about the safest oils. In addition, just having them out there is a potential hazard for your dog. One dog and his tail may be just enough to toss, break, and lick oil straight off the floor. Next stop?—Vets office.

If you are decor-savvy, you don't have to pace your passion just because you have pets. Evolve. Find a perfect way to present your personality while keeping your dog safe. They are totally worth it! Think safety first!

Editor's Note: Additional Household Items that are Dangerous to Dogs

Chocolate is a no-no for dogs!A "Chocolate Labrador," get it?

Here are some other potentially dangerous items dog owners should be aware of:

  • Chocolate - Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs. Darker chocolates tend to be more dangerous.
  • Xylitol - An artificial sweetener found in many candies, gums, toothpastes. Can cause a dangerous blood sugar crash in dogs.
  • Grapes and Raisins - Contain an unknown toxin and can cause kidney failure. Even small amounts are a risk.
  • Onions and Garlic - Contain compounds that can damage dog red blood cells if large amounts consumed. Cooking doesn't remove the danger.
  • Alcohol and products containing it - Can cause dangerous intoxications due to differences in dog and human metabolism.
  • Cough/cold medicines containing phenol derivatives like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
  • Moldy/spoiled foods - Can cause nerve and organ damage from mycotoxins.
  • Macadamia nuts - Contain unknown substances toxic to dogs' muscles and nervous system.
  • Yeast dough - Unbaked dough can expand in stomach or ferment, causing pain, gas, and bloat.

Prevention is key - keep all human foods and medications safely out of a dog's reach (just as you would a young child). When in doubt about if a "people food" or product is safe Google it, and avoid leaving it lying around OR feeding it to your dog.

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