A Guide to Pet Safety During Home Renovations and Remodeling

From tearing up the walls and employing professional painters to taking carpets off and removing nails, there are likely to be many activities going on at your home when you're renovating. The last aspect you'll have to think about is the location of your pet. Small, playful, or agitated pets can be prone to barking, getting into situations they shouldn't be, or escaping the house. Home renovations could be stressful for you as well as your pet.

Here are a few of the pet-related dangers that you should be mindful of when doing an interior renovation

Heavy Items

Contractors may be moving furniture, cinder block, glass, wood, or any other large items when they are renovating your home. Animals who are excited and heavy objects can make for a disastrous combination. It is important to ensure that your pet is secured during renovations to protect them from the dangers.

Poisonous and Hazardous Materials

Cleaning materials, adhesives, paints, and nails are just a few of the items that could pose danger to the health of a pet. They could be extremely poisonous or cause danger to choking. Additionally, a pet's naturally curious nature doesn't blend well in the face of harmful dangers. Cats and dogs could, for example, be enticed to lick fresh paint off walls or wander through work areas and discover hair on themselves while grooming.

Here's a list that includes poisonous and dangerous materials commonly found in home renovations:

• Paints: The degree to which paint can harm your pet will depend on the kind. Paints with lead are widely known to be extremely dangerous, and paints that do not contain lead usually cause minor irritation. Paints that are not lead-free, taking in only a small amount, will likely cause little or no risk -- in relation to the pet's weight -- apart from mild stomach upset. Ingestions that are larger could cause stomach upset or nausea. If you are renovating your home and it involves the painting process, it's suggested that you choose eco-friendly colors and paint services since they are less harmful to your health than traditional paints.

• Nails or wood chips, as well as small pieces: Any type of small objects that pets might place in their mouths have the potential to be a choking risk. Wood chips, nails, and other small objects can appeal to cats, dogs, and even birds. However, these objects can be harmful to health and well-being in a number of ways. If your dog ingests an object that is sharp, take him to the vet right away. If your dog swallows another foreign object, it might be possible to provide first aid. Wood chips, as well as other objects, could also contain toxic chemicals, making it an ideal option to choose a green home decor after the home's renovation.

• Chemicals: The most poisonous chemicals found in work areas for home renovations are adhesives, cleaning materials, and the chemical compounds in wood and paint, as described above. The exposure to these chemicals need not happen solely through consumption. Pets can also be at risk when they are in the room where these chemicals are present, particularly if doors and windows are shut.

• Plants: There are various plants that can be poisonous to pets. It is generally recommended to know which plants can be poisonous to pets. If you have plants present in your house, you can be sure they'll be moved and could be in danger to your pet when you are renovating. The plants that pose a risk of poison, such as paints, can affect animals' digestive tract. They can trigger moderate to severe stomach upset and vomiting.