Wood Heat: Keeping your pets safe around fire
Few things in life feel as wonderful as sitting by a beautiful fire in the winter. And it’s not just us humans that enjoy the warmth and crackle. As most pet owners know, cats and dogs are bona fide experts at identifying heat sources during the colder months, and they won’t waste a moment getting as close to them as possible.
So don’t be surprised to find your pet lying in front of your wood-burning appliance next time you come to add new logs to the fire. And while there is no harm in your pets simply being there, we understand how you may be worried about their safety. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of simple, easy to implement tips that will keep you and your pets safe around the fire.
Use Clean-Burning Wood Fuels
To start off, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. If you use poor quality wood fuel, you’re exposing yourself, your children, and your pets to serious health risks.
Poor quality wood releases a lot of smoke as it burns. This smoke contains a multitude of harmful compounds, including creosote. The latter is a cancerogenic chemical long term exposure to which is incredibly harmful to both human and animal health. So next time you stock up on firewood or briquettes, make sure you choose a trusted online supplier like Lekto or a local supplier in your area with a stellar reputation for quality.
Are you on a tight budget and can’t afford premium firewood? That’s okay. Price isn’t always a determiner of quality. The main thing you need to look out for when choosing firewood is whether or not it has been certified as Ready to Burn. This Defra-approved certification scheme is aimed at verifying the quality of firewood and briquettes burned in UK households. If the firewood you’re buying is certified, you don’t have to worry about burning it.
Distance Is Key
Chances are your pets, dogs especially, will want to get as close to your wood-burning stove or open fire as possible to get the most heat. We hope we don’t have to explain that this is a bad thing.
While you may think that a smart animal would know to move away from the fire when they get too hot, this isn’t always the case. If your cat or dog falls asleep, they can stay too close to the fireplace for hours without moving. During this time, they can experience dehydration, overheating, and even serious burns. All without ever waking up.
So always be sure to keep them a safe distance away from the hearth. If you cannot monitor them 24/7, a simple solution is to purchase a simple fire safety fence. Just make sure it’s attached securely and your pet can’t find a way to bypass it.
No Games in Front of the Wood Burner
Whether it’s playing tug-o-war with a piece of rope, fetching a tennis ball, or chasing each other around the house, pets enjoy playing games. And we humans enjoy playing games with them.
This being said, if you want your pet to live a long and healthy life, it is best not to let them get too close to your wood-burning appliance during play. Otherwise, your wood-burning appliance may become associated with play. And that’s a problem you don’t want to deal with. So no throwing chew toys behind the wood burner, whether it’s currently burning or not.
Don’t Leave Your Pets Unattended in Front of the Fire
Even if your dog or cat is calmly sleeping in front of the fire, you should never leave them alone by a burning fire.
This is because even the tiniest movement from a wagging tail can cause irreparable damage. If you have to go to another room, it's best to simply take your pet with you. If they’re large, try coaxing them with a piece of tasty food. It never fails.
Train Your Pet to Stay Away From the Fire
Can’t spend every waking moment worrying about your pet burning themselves next to the fire? Then it’s best to train them to keep away from the fire.
By simply using a leash and a candle, you can teach your pet to keep away from all types of fires. Alternatively, use clicker training and practice around your appliance while it isn’t burning. This will require time, but it is the only surefire way to make sure your pets are nice and safe around the fire.
