Create a pet-friendly home

• Hide your shoes and slippers in your cupboard – unless you want them chewed
• If you have any allergies, keep your pets out of your room – their dander (dead skin) can make your symptoms worse and cause allergic reactions
• Keep your small change somewhere safe – coins made of zinc can be toxic to pets
• Small toys are a common choking hazard for pets, so make sure you tidy them away and keep your floors clutter-free

• Keep medicines on a high shelf or locked away to protect your pet from swallowing potentially poisonous pills
• Lock all cleaning products away out of reach – these can be extremely dangerous to pets
• Toilet cleaners can be toxic, so always keep the toilet lid closed when it’s not in use

• Hide electrical cables behind furniture or tape them to your skirting board to stop them getting damaged
• Keep CDs and DVDs out of reach – discs can be quickly chewed and broken into dangerous, sharp pieces
• Keep toxic houseplants and flowers away from your home – there are plenty of pet-safe plants to choose from
• Try pet repellent sprays on furniture to stop your pesky pet from chewing on your couch
• Unplug your TV and other electronic devices when they’re not in use to protect your pet from nasty shocks
• Covering wires with plastic sleeves or tubing will go a long way to rabbit proofing your home

• Avoid toxic and poisonous outdoor plants like azaleas, daffodils, foxgloves and tomato plants
• Check for gaps under and between your gates and fences for rabbits, smaller dogs, house cats and other potential escape artists
• Make sure your rabbit’s hutch or enclosure is safe and secure and protected from the conditions and other animals
• Make sure your gates and fences are sturdy, secure and high enough that your pet can’t escape
• Mulch your garden using traditional shredded mulch or bark instead of cocoa mulch – this can be extremely toxic to pets
• Use only pet-safe slug pellets, pesticides and fertilisers

Some common cleaning products can be terribly toxic to pets. Try and get your chores done while they're not around – and make sure the following products are safely stored out of harm’s way:

• Bleach
• Dishwasher tablets
• Laundry detergents
• Oven cleaner

Not all cleaning products will put your four-legged friend in danger. There are plenty of pet-safe cleaning products and brands available from most large supermarkets.

And you could also give natural and homemade cleaning products a go, for example:

• Castile soap
• Lemon juice
• White vinegar

You could also use bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) if you’ve only got cats or dogs – but this can be dangerous for rabbits.

Looking to spruce up your garden or home with Instagrammable plants and flowers? Tread carefully – there are lots of plants that are poisonous to pets, including:

• Azaleas
• Daffodils
• Dieffenbachia (dumb canes)
• Foxgloves
• Hydrangeas
• Lilies
• Philodendrons
• Poinsettias
• Tomato plants
• Yew

Don’t worry. It’s not all doom and gloom if you’re looking to brighten up your home. The following indoor houseplants are gorgeous, low maintenance and – most importantly – non toxic for pets:

• Bamboo and parlour palms
• Boston ferns
• Hoya or wax plants
• Money trees
• Prayer plants
• Spider plants