Veteranarian Reveals Most Common Kitchen Injuries To Pets And How To Eleviate Them

Online, April 25, 2011 (Newswire.com) - I asked Dr. Holly Trief, VMD, of San Francisco-a veterinarian for 24 years what kitchen-related injuries she sees most often in her patients. These are the first three on her list:

1. "Burns to cat paws from jumping on stoves.

2. "Digestive upset/obstructions from [eating] items in the trash, such as chicken bones, plastic wrappers, sponges, Brillo pads, and [eating] items off table and counter tops, most commonly seen in dogs but occasionally in cats too.

3. "Electric cord injuries, especially in kittens. Dogs will also chew on electrical cords."

You can reduce the chance of your cat burning its paws by changing from gas or electric cooking to induction. An induction burner will only heat up when there's a pot covering it. It will also cool faster than an electric or gas burner. If changing your range or cooktop is not an option right now, and you have a curious cat, keep the burners covered when they're not in use.

Our childhood German shepherd and my Lab step dog both got into the trash on occasion. Both dogs' kitchens had a tall, open trash can-an invitation to mayhem. Minimize the chance of this happening in your kitchen by moving the trash to a closed cabinet, ideally a base cabinet with a trash pull-out accessory. Often they fit below the sink, a very convenient spot. A two-can model will hold both recyclables and trash.

The simplest way to save your pets from electrocution is to unplug your counter top appliances when they're not in use. This will also help save money and energy. However, some pets chew on appliance cords when they're in use. Dr. Trief recommends a baby gate to keep pets out of the kitchen while you're cooking. If your kitchen entrance doesn't lend itself to being closed off, an appliance garage could be an alternate solution. Just be careful not to forget about the appliance yourself if it's in use, and read the manuals for ventilation requirements! Appliance garages are most often installed during a remodel, and can be factored into your next update.

Source: http://www.kitchens.com/kitchenology/pet-friendly-kitchen-design-tips.aspx

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