Maltese Puppy-proofing your home Maltese Puppies Teacup Maltese

You may think your home is perfectly safe, but it may not be - especially when viewed by your Maltese Puppy. To your Maltese Puppy the cleaning products in your cupboard may be especially interesting. And although they are stored in a cupboard, your Maltese Puppy may not find them very difficult to get to. Most Maltese Puppies are very adept at using their paws and muzzle to nudge things like cupboard doors open. Child-proof locks are a good idea for keeping household items that may be dangerous to your Maltese Puppy safely out of his reach. If you get a second Maltese Puppy, don't assume that because your first Maltese Puppy isn't curious about the floor wax your new Maltese Puppy will follow suit. In fact, your new Maltese Puppy is likely to be interested in everything in your home because it's all new to him. Take a tour through your home, looking at each room through a Maltese Puppy's eye view. The following article will give you an idea of what to look for.

Garbage receptacle: Make sure that your garbage receptacle has a tight fitting lid. Most Maltese Puppies love to nose around in garbage when they have the opportunity and items such as candy wrappers and chicken bones can be choking hazards. Chocolate can be poisonous to your Maltese Puppy, and food that has spoiled can make him very ill.

Electrical cords
Chewing behavior is common to most Maltese Puppies and cords can be very appealing. Cords should be coiled and tucked away, even if this means rearranging your furniture. A bit of careful thought about how to keep cords safely unavailable to your Maltese Puppy's teeth may prevent him from being electrocuted.

Cleaning supplies, disinfectants, shampoos and perfumes
These items may smell, and even taste, great to your Maltese Puppy but they should be kept safely out of his reach as they can make him very ill. Household cleaning supplies should be kept in a high cupboard that your Maltese Puppy can't reach, or in a cupboard protected by a child-proof lock. Shampoos shouldn't sit on the side of your tub where your Maltese Puppy might easily reach them. Instead use a shower caddy or a high cupboard or shelf to keep them away from curious canines.

Jewelry and loose change
Jewelry is often of the right size to be easily swallowed by most Maltese Puppies, and is dangerous to your Maltese Puppy as he may choke on it. The same goes for loose change that is left lying about. Some coins, for example pennies, contain zinc which can cause vomiting, anemia, or even death if ingested by your Maltese Puppy.

Garbage bags and nylons
Garbage bags can be very tempting to most Maltese Puppies but they are dangerous because it's easy for your Maltese Puppy to get tangled up in them, and this could lead to suffocation. Nylons are also very tempting toys and can obstruct your Maltese Puppy's intestine if swallowed.

Plants
Many are toxic in live or dried form. Ask your nursery for a complete reference on plants you want to purchase. When in doubt, keep the plants well out of your Maltese Puppy's reach.

Nails, screws, needles
These are small, easily overlooked objects in your home that are easily swallowed and very dangerous to your Maltese Puppy.

Medication
If your Maltese Puppy swallows your medication he will usually become ill. Ibuprofen can cause kidney damage or gastric ulcers in Maltese Puppies. To keep your Maltese Puppy safe, medication should never be within his reach.

The best rule of thumb when Maltese Puppy-proofing your home is to follow the same steps you would if you were child-proofing your home. Take a careful walk through each room and place any items that could harm your Maltese Puppy safely out of his reach.