Of course your dog is the smartest mutt on the block. But unfortunately, animals, including domestic pets, have no natural sense of the potential dangers posed by live electricity. Your cat won’t know not to pounce on an electric fan. And Jock will quite happily chew on a live electrical cord. Identifying the most common household electrical hazards and taking the right safety precautions will help you create a safer and healthier environment for your pets to thrive in.

Here are some basics to consider if you’d like to protect your pets from common household electrical hazards:

TRAIN YOUR PET

Training your pets to stay away from electrical hazards is your best bet to ensure your own peace of mind and your pet’s safety. Cats might be a challenge to keep away from electronics, so cat deterrents could be a consideration. Dogs, and particular puppies, should be trained to stay away from wires and cables. 

KEEP CORDS HIDDEN

Electrocution from nibbling on live electric wires is the most common electrical injury among household pets.

Common household pets like cats and dogs love to chew on things because of teething, boredom or just when looking for sensory stimulation. Dangling wires, cables, and cords are particularly attractive. If these cords are live with current, they can give your pets a potentially fatal electric shock.

Therefore, it is vital that you either hide your cords or treat them with pet deterrent to keep your furry friends from damaging them. And if you have babies or toddlers in the house – it’s a no-brainer – hide those cables and cords as best you can. 

In addition, consider buying your pets appropriate chew toys to satisfy the urge if you can’t train it out of them. 

NEVER LEAVE PLUGGED-IN APPLIANCES UNATTENDED

Pets are naturally curious and likely to poke their paws and heads into things that can do them harm.

It is not uncommon for pets to jump on lamps, bump over heaters and interfere with moving fans. And all of this is fine as long as you are in the room to supervise them.

However, these innocent activities can lead to more serious injuries if you leave your pet alone with working appliances. Always remember to switch off and unplug your appliances when you go away for extended periods of time. Or consider closing room doors to keep your pets out of harms’ way for the day. As an added benefit, switching your appliances would help you save electricity as well. 

Lastly: never use or store plugged-in electrical equipment near water, particularly not where toddlers or pets can reach it. 

INVEST IN GOOD ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Cheap cords and extensions are more likely to heat up and become a fire hazard, potentially hurting your pets. Never be stingy when buying new electronics. Always make sure the equipment you buy has been thoroughly tested and is approved to be safe for household use.

BE CAREFUL WHEN WORKING WITH ELECTRICITY

The possibility of electrocution is already high when the cords and wires are covered – imagine the likelihood of injuries when wires are exposed. 

If you are having electrical work done on your premises – keep your pets locked away. As much as electricians and contractors love to mingle with pets, it is not their responsibility to keep your pets safe. They will be too focused on delivering a safe job to be concerned with the whereabouts of your pets. On the point – always do your research before hiring an electrician. Talk to our team of professional electricians at Electro Surgeon to get further advice on how to keep your pets safe while having work done on your premises. 

WHY CALL US?

We know you have choices. You can get electrical services from numerous electrical companies. However, we’re convinced that when it comes to providing the best service, we’re your only real choice. 

Providing a superior level of customer service is our all-consuming passion, and an achievement we take immense pride in. We provide top of the range, security-verified, professional electricians who are totally committed to serving you better than anyone else. That’s what The Electro Surgeon is all about!

Some of our services include:

•  Emergency 24 Hour Electrical Services

•  COC’s – Certificates of Compliance

•  Security Lighting

•  Electric Fencing

•  Garage Door & Gate Automation

•  Lightning Arrester (to protect against lightning)

•  Surge Arrester (to protect against voltage spikes)

•  Earth Leakage and Tripping Detection

•  Power Outages & Failures

•  Swimming Pool Motors

•  Solar Power

Find our full list of services here. Call us today on 0861 353 287, or fill in your details here and we’ll call you back within 15 minutes.