Kids love pets, but the last thing you want is for your child to get bitten or scratched by an animal. To keep everyone safe, follow these pet safety tips in your household:
Is your kid allergic to dogs?
If your kid is allergic to dogs, they may have an allergic reaction after being around one. Allergies can cause redness and swelling in the face and mouth. In more serious cases, anaphylaxis could occur where blood pressure drops rapidly and airways narrow, causing difficulty breathing.
If you or your child has any of these symptoms after being around a dog:
- Swelling in the mouth or throat
- Rash on their skin that spreads from their face to other parts of their body (especially neck)
- Hives (itchy bumps on the skin)
If this happens: Call 911 immediately!
Talk to your doctor first
If you or your child have a pet allergy, talk to your doctor about the available options. If you don’t have an allergy but want to adopt a pet, ask the doctor about getting a pet allergy shot. This will help prevent symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose when handling animals.
If your child has been diagnosed with asthma or other respiratory problems, discuss how pets might affect them before deciding whether or not they should get one. You may want to consider getting another type of animal that doesn’t trigger allergic reactions in order for everyone involved (including Fido) to be as happy as possible!
Make sure kids understand how to interact with pets safely
Teach kids how to approach a dog: Ask the owner if it’s okay before petting a dog. If there aren’t any adults around, ask someone who is responsible for the animal (such as an adult sibling).
Teach kids how to pet a dog: When you’re ready to start petting your furry friend, kneel down so that your face is level with theirs and place one hand on their back or side while holding their leash with another hand in case they try running away from you! Then just give him/her lots of love by rubbing behind his ears or under his chin!
Teach kids how to leave alone dogs that don’t want human interaction: Sometimes dogs just need some space when they are resting. Don’t worry if yours doesn’t want any attention right now–just let her know next time will be better 🙂
Don’t leave a pet unattended with a child
As a pet owner, you know your pet better than anyone. You know what they like to eat and drink, what toys they prefer, how much exercise they need, and how often they like to be brushed or bathed. But you may not realize that certain things about your animal could be dangerous for children – and vice versa!
Pets can be unpredictable:
Pets often have impulses that we don’t understand as humans. They might bite or scratch without warning as part of their playful nature; some even bite because they’re frightened by something unexpected (like a loud noise). If this happens while your child is holding onto the leash or carrying around food in his or her handbag (yes – we’ve seen it), then both parties could get hurt.
Kids can also be unpredictable:
Kids are still developing their motor skills and learning how their bodies work together with gravity; this means that if something falls from their hands onto an unaware pet below them on the floor below them at just the wrong moment…well…you know where this is going!
Always keep an eye on the dog during playtime
Always keep an eye on the dog during playtime, even if they seem friendly. Dogs can be unpredictable, especially if they don’t know you or your child well. It is important to ensure that any interactions between your child and dog are supervised by an adult who can help prevent accidents.
- Do not leave a dog alone with children under any circumstances! Even if the dog seems like it would never hurt anyone. There is always a chance that something could happen when you aren’t looking. Even when the animal is sleeping or eating food off the floor (both of which have been known to provoke aggression). If you notice that someone else’s pet looks unhappy about being approached by children, then politely ask them whether it would be okay if their child played with yours instead. This way, everyone can have fun without worrying about pet safety issues later on down the road!
Check pets for fleas before bringing them inside
It’s important for pet safety to check them for fleas before bringing them inside your home. Or letting them near children and other pets. Fleas can cause skin irritation, spread diseases such as tapeworms and plague, and bite humans. They’re difficult to see, so you’ll need to look for signs of fleas on your pet’s fur:
- Small black or brown insects crawling on the animal’s body or around its head
- Small white eggs attached to the fur (these hatch into more fleas)
Talk with a veterinarian if you find any of these things on your dog or cat. They will tell you how best to treat it before bringing him into contact with anyone else in the house.
Conclusion
When deciding if your child is ready for a pet and how to interact with them safely, there are many things to consider. If you have any questions about this pet safety around children, please talk with your doctor or another healthcare professional.