Your Pet And Electricity: Avoiding And Treating Electrocution

Pets and electricity don't mix and your home probably has a lot of temptations which can put your pet at risk for electrocution. Our pets are a lot like children and they don't always know what's good for them, so they sometimes chew or touch things which can be harmful. If your pet has accidentally been electrocuted, or you want to prevent this from happening, then here are a few things to do to help and protect them.

Baby-proof your home

Make sure all electrical sockets, wires, appliances, and electronics are protected much in the same way you protect young children. Get outlet caps, or cover entire plugs with special covers. You can also hide or reroute cables under mats or behind furniture. There are even clips you can buy to keep wires high up away from an animal's reach. Special cable covers are available on the market which are specifically designed to resist chewing.

Watch your pet carefully

Always know what your pet is doing and keep him away from licking or chewing on outlets and wires. It's also a good idea to keep your pet away from electric fences or outdoor wires as well. There's even records of dogs getting an electric shock by peeing on an electric fence, but that's rare. Puppies, especially, should never be left alone to roam around unsupervised as they especially are prone to chewing. Like humans, pets, also, should be sheltered from an electrical storm and kept away from certain electronics during that time.

Signs of electrocution in pets

The most common signs your pet has had a serious electrical shock are burns around the mouth, mostly from chewing the wires. They may show signs of muscle twitching, heavy breathing and exhaustion. . If your pet is lying unconscious and still, then he may still be connected to the current. Be very careful when dealing with these issues as you can end up in the same way. Turn off the current at the source, if possible. Take a wooden broom or other all-wooden item and push or pull your pet away from the area before giving treatment.

Veterinary treatment

Even if your pet seems to have recovered from being electrocuted, take him into your veterinarian's office. Electrical currents can wreak havoc on internal organs. Your pet may look OK and appear to be healing, but there could be severe damage in the lungs and to the heart which may manifest themselves later. Your veterinarian, such as Metzger Animal Hospital, will give your pet a thorough checkup to treat and rule out future problems.