How to Keep Children Healthy and Safe Around Pets

Contributor

By Melissa Maroff
eHow Contributing Writer

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(6 Ratings)

Pets are a wonderful addition to a child’s growing up experience and are wonderful for kids to be around in general. However, the following are some precautions to take to keep your child safe and healthy in the presence of pets—so that the experience is always wonderful.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Before getting a pet, research the types and breeds that are known to be kid-friendly. Of course, proper training and socialization can make just about any pet right for your family.
Step 2

Take into consideration any allergies your child may have when choosing a pet. It’s always best to verify the cause of the allergies with your child’s pediatrician or an allergist first. The allergy could be from a pet’s saliva or coat/dander—or may not even be caused by pets at all. If the allergy is due to a pet’s coat, for example, there are specific breeds of dogs and types of cats that have coats which tend to be less allergenic.
Step 3

Bring your new pet to the vet for a checkup before you bring him home. If you already have a pet, be sure to keep up with regular checkups and vaccinations. Certain diseases and infections can be passed on from pet to human.
Step 4

Supervise interactions between your child and pet. Make sure your child doesn’t play rough and knows the proper way to handle the pet. Rough play could easily harm your child or your pet.
Step 5

Make sure your child knows not to get too close or grab the bowl away while the pet is eating. There's always the chance of a pet getting possessive/aggressive when it comes to food.
Step 6

Teach your child not to touch the pet’s waste and wash his hands after playing with the pet.
Step 7

If a pet bites your child and the skin is broken, treat the area immediately. If the pet is not your own and and there is no proof of vaccinations and/or the wound seems to be deep, seek medical attention.
Step 8

Teach your child the proper way to greet a pet that’s not her own and not to touch any pet, unless you give permission (see Resources below for my article on how to greet dogs safely).

Comments

psychonurse said

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on 1/9/2009 Good advice! My 2 yr old thinks that all dogs are as tolerant of his antics, as our Golden Retriever! Right now, he's too young to ascertain the difference --and it's up to his parents to guide him.