If you are a pet owner and lover, you know they are much more than “a pet,” they are family. And just like the children we raise, our pets are curious, energetic, and completely unaware of the dangers hiding in everyday places. Maybe you have a puppy who you’ve caught gnawing on an electrical cord or a kitty playing behind your TV stand. No matter the situation, it doesn’t take much to turn a playful moment into a serious emergency. As pet parents, it is our responsibility to keep our animals safe.
Electrical hazards are one of the most overlooked risks in pet homes, yet they can lead to serious injury, fires, or even death. Being responsible pet owners, we can create a space that is not only comfortable and loving but also safe. We’ve created this guide to uncover the hidden electrical hazards our four-legged friends face, educate about the most common types of injuries, and offer safety tips to help keep our family pets happy, healthy, and injury-free. With the right knowledge and know-how, you can prevent and protect your pets from the serious dangers of electricity. Let’s take a look at why pets and electricity do not mix.
Why Pets and Electricity Don’t Mix
Our sweet little fur babies can innocently and easily get themselves into trouble. Most of us know that living creatures and electricity are a dangerous combination, and our pets’ behaviors can quickly lead to dangerous situations with electrical components. Curious puppies and playful kittens love to chew on cords, while grown cats may claw at wires or hide behind appliances, finding frayed wires or live connections. Dogs might dig near outdoor lighting or power tools in garages, risking contact with live wires.
Electrical accidents often occur in common household places, such as behind TVs, under beds, or near extension cords. Outdoors, pets can also unknowingly interact with electrical hazards, such as near a utility box. Even with supervision, these accidents can happen in an instant, as a puppy is teething or a pet tugs playfully at a dangling object, turning a moment of curiosity into a serious emergency, potentially causing burns, shocks, or fires. These potentially deadly dangers highlight the urgent need for pet owners to secure electrical systems to keep their furry companions safe.
Now that you have a clear understanding of why pets and electricity do not play well together, let’s look closer at the most common electrical hazards in and around your home. Being aware of these dangers and knowing what can happen is the first step in protecting your pets.
Electrical Hazards for Pets and Where to Find Them
Those of us who love pets do everything we can to ensure their health and happiness. From providing nutritious food to regular vet visits, daily exercise to playtime, and of course, lots of love, pet owners go above and beyond to make sure their pets are healthy and happy. However, electrical hazards in the home can be overlooked if we remain unaware of what they are.
Electrical hazards in the home create a serious threat to curious pets, turning everyday spaces into potential danger zones. Exposed or frayed cords, dangling extension cords, or cords behind furniture tempt puppies to chew, risking shocks and fires. Unsecured outlets can attract cats to climb or bat at them, again, risking shock, burns, electrocution, and fire. Upon inspection, you can find electrical hazards virtually anywhere in the home, such as:
- Living Rooms
- Kitchens
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Home Offices
- Garages
- Basements
- Laundry Rooms
- Outdoors
To inspect, look for frayed, chewed, or cracked cords on appliances, chargers, lamps, and extension cords. Note any low-lying or unused outlets that pets might lick or paw at. Hanging wires around desks, entertainment centers, or kitchen counters can tempt pets to tug or chew. Overstacked power strips can be knocked loose by pets or cause sparks by disrupting them. Outdoors, inspect for exposed wires in the yard, garage, and around your property. The fact is, there are electrical hazards almost anywhere you look.
Now that you’re aware of what these hazards are and where they can be found, it’s important to understand the types of injuries pets can suffer from when they come into contact with these dangers.
Types of Electrical Injuries Pets Can Sustain
Burns: Pets are vulnerable to electrical burns throughout the home. It is even possible to sustain burns without electrical current flowing through the body, known as shock. The most common ways a pet may receive electrical burns are by chewing on live wires, getting too close to overheated appliances, or being near an electrical arc that generates heat. Burns may occur on the mouth, paws, or skin and can even happen without direct contact with a current.
Electrical Shock: An electrical shock happens when an electrical current passes through the body of a living object, in this case, our beloved pets. Pets most commonly come into contact with an electrical current by chewing on live wires or poking their noses, paws, or beaks into exposed outlets. When this happens, the electrical current passes through their body, potentially disrupting nerve and muscle function. Mild shocks can result in temporary pain, twitching, or fear responses, while more severe shocks can cause muscle contractions, breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, or even unconsciousness. Even if a pet seems fine afterward, internal damage (burns) could have occurred, making immediate veterinary care critical.
Electrocution: Like shock, electrocution happens when a pet is exposed to a high level of electrical current. However, electrocution causes fatal or near-fatal harm. Unlike a mild shock, electrocution can stop the heart, cause severe internal burns, or lead to respiratory failure. This typically happens when a pet bites into a high-voltage wire or encounters a powerful outdoor electrical source, such as a downed power line. Electrocution is a medical emergency, and if a pet survives the initial incident, they will need immediate veterinary care.
Other Injuries: These electrical hazards, if not fatal, have the potential to cause your pet lifelong damage. Neurological damage, mouth pain, trouble eating, increased drooling, fractured teeth, internal organ damage, and weakness are some of the serious injuries a pet can sustain when coming into contact with a live electrical current.
Let’s take a look at the statistics surrounding electrical-related pet injuries.
Statistics Surrounding Pets and Electrical Accidents
Accurate and comprehensive data isn’t readily available in national surveys or veterinary studies regarding electrical accidents because these incidents are not specifically tracked, and they are often underreported. However, based on related reporting, we can estimate some general statistics.
- Approximately 1500 stray voltage accidents happen annually in the U.S., injuring or killing pets. In three states from 2017 to 2022, there were 417 documented pet injuries or deaths, suggesting thousands more nationwide.
- Approximately 10% of pet electrocutions at home are attributed to pets chewing on electrical cords (40 out of 400 annually).
- In urban cities like Boston, stray voltage has caused pet electrocutions to go up, with an annual number of up to 1500.
- From 2014 to 2018, Massachusetts reported 1,387 electrical fires, some linked to faulty wiring, creating risks to pets. This is an increased risk for homes without professional installation that are not aware of safety regulations and standards.
- Electrical injuries can cost pet owners anywhere between $500 to $3000 in veterinary care after an electrical accident.
While the statistics point out how common and serious injuries can be for pets, the good news is that many of these accidents can be prevented. With a few simple precautions, you can create a safer, hazard-free space for your furry friends.
How to Create a Pet-Safe Electrical Environment
Earlier, we learned that pretty much every room inside your home has the potential to contain electrical hazards. Let’s look at what we can do to make these indoor spaces safer.
- Hide or secure any electrical cords by using cord protectors or hiding cords behind furniture that your pets can’t get behind.
- Cover unused outlets that are at pet level with safety caps or install tamper-resistant outlets.
- Block off the backside of all appliances and behind and under beds.
- Use GFCI outlets in the areas that your pet frequents to cut power when the grounding faults.
- Use pet-deterrent sprays for areas you want them to avoid.
- Hire a Northborough local electrician to inspect wiring, outlets, and panels, making sure your home is safe and compliant with Massachusetts’ electrical codes.
- Schedule regular maintenance with your local electrician to fix frayed wires or outdated systems that increase these electrical risks.
- Designate a “pet-safe” zone inside, without any electrical hazards, for unsupervised time.
Creating a pet-safe outdoor environment is equally important as protecting them indoors. Here are some things you can do to help reduce electrical hazards in your yard, garden, or during neighborhood walks.
- Block off unsafe areas in your yard. This includes keeping your pet away from the utility box.
- Check your yard for exposed wires, especially after storms, and report downed lines to authorities immediately.
- Keep your pets away from outdoor extension cords and landscape lighting, such as string lights.
- Never leave your pet unsupervised in the yard if you cannot block off hazardous areas.
- Avoid walking through puddles and lead pets around metal surfaces when out for a walk. You can even invest in rubber booties if your pet will comply.
Now that you know how to create the safest possible environment for your pet indoors and outdoors, let’s discuss some general safety tips surrounding electrical hazards.
- Always supervise young pets, especially when they are in new environments.
- Have emergency numbers and pet first aid knowledge handy.
- Know what to do in case of an emergency!
- Never touch your pet that is in contact with a live current.
- Turn off the power source or use a non-conductive object (wooden stick) to move your pet away from the source of electricity.
- Perform CPR if needed.
- Get your pet to the vet immediately, even if you think they are ok.
Act Today, Protect Your Pet Tomorrow
As pet parents, we cherish the limitless energy and curiosity of our furry family members, but the hidden electrical hazards in our homes and neighborhoods can turn playful moments into heartbreaking emergencies. This guide uncovered the serious risks pets face, from burns and shocks to fatal electrocutions, backed by alarming statistics that estimate thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths annually. By understanding these dangers and taking proactive steps like securing cords, using safety outlets, and hiring a licensed local electrician to ensure compliance and safety, you can create a shock-free sanctuary for your pets. Whether it’s blocking off risky areas or keeping emergency vet numbers handy, every precaution counts in keeping those tails wagging. Don’t let a moment of oversight turn into tragedy. Prioritize your pet’s safety today by pet-proofing your home, consulting professionals for electrical work, and staying aware, making sure your pet friends thrive in a loving, hazard-free environment.