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Flush Pet Safety Hazards for National Pet Month

Pets are wonderful furry family members that easily improve our lives. Unfortunately, these curious, mischievous, adorable critters often don’t get along very well with home plumbing. Drains and fixtures can be hazardous to our pets, and our pets can be hazardous to them.

Fortunately, there are many easy ways to make sure our pets stay safe and to be certain they won’t cause expensive damage, too. Take this moment for National Pet Month to discover what you can do to make sure your beloved pet and your home plumbing continue to exist peacefully together.

Top Tips for Peace Between Pets and Plumbing

1 – Shut Your Toilet Lid

Does your dog – or cat – drink out of the toilet? It may seem funny (and a little gross), but this habit can be a hazard to your fuzzy friend’s health. A dirty toilet contains many different types of pathogens that can make your pet sick. A clean toilet contains residues from toxic cleaning products that can be poisonous to ingest. Stop your pet from consuming either one by simply keeping the lid shut. Make sure your pet’s water bowl is always full of clean water, instead.

2 – Don’t Dump Your Litter Box in Toilet

Kitty litter and plumbing are not compatible. You may think that dumping the litter box in the toilet is a convenient way to get rid of Fluffy’s mess. However, that clumping, expanding clay-like substance can easily fill your pipes where it will clump, solidify and create a block you won’t be able to remove on your own. You’ll risk causing extensive damage to your home if the pipes break or overflow.

If the damage has already been done, call our professional emergency plumbing services right away. We’ll make sure the issue is cleared out safely and efficiently. Otherwise, prevention is your best strategy.

3 – Keep Your Cleaning Products Safely Stored Away from Pets

It may seem convenient to tuck your toilet bowl cleaner behind the bowl itself, but a curious pet can easily reach it in that location. Remember that it doesn’t take much of a toilet cleaner, drain cleaner, or other toxic product to be deadly to your pet. Place all these products in a cabinet and keep the doors shut.

4 – Don’t Dump Dry Pet Food Down the Garbage Disposal

Dry pet foods expand when they become wet. Dumping unwanted dry pet food down the garbage disposal can fill it with a surprisingly large and gummy substance that will then harden as it dries. If it has already happened, our experienced plumbing technicians can fix the problem for you. If you’ve been lucky so far, it’s time to quit that habit and use a trash or compost bin, instead.

As you can see, these issues can be easily avoided with simple small changes. Have a look in your bathroom, laundry room, and even your kitchen and come up with your own ways to improve the safety of your home for your cat or dog in recognition of National Pet Month.

If you’re looking to put past mistakes behind you, no problem! Call McLoughlin Plumbing, Heating and Cooling’s 24-hour service at 610-624-8037 to arrange for an expert plumbing technician to clean out the problem and make sure everything is as it should be.