Are LED Strips Safe For Dogs?
As long as you’re sensible, there’s no reason you can’t add LED strip lights to your home if you’re a dog owner. There are a few things you just need to think about when you’re setting them up.
Firstly, where are you planning on installing them, and is it somewhere that your dog could easily reach?
One of the most popular places to add LED strip lights is the underside of kitchen cabinets, providing a stylish glow on the floor.
But with lights this low, your dog could quite quickly get hold of the LED strip lights and cause some damage.
Equally, the cable that powers these lights may not be completely flush against the wall and is likely to be accessible to at least larger dogs, and potentially smaller breeds, too, depending on how high your outlet is.
If a dog were to chew on an LED light strip or the cable that powered them, it is unlikely that they’d suffer fatal electrocution.
However, they could get a nasty burn on their mouth, and the current can then disrupt other bodily functions. This can cause further complications, including fluid build-ups in the lungs, which can have a survival rate as low as 40%, depending on the severity.
So, you simply have to make sure that your LED strip lights are appropriately secured.
Tuck them away and pin them to the cabinet or wall closely so that there are no loose sections. That way, your dog won’t be able to get hold of them and hurt themselves.
It’s not just about chewing, though. If you use a lot of long strips of LED lights, there’s always a hazard of your dog getting wrapped up in them and choking, particularly if they’re at home while you’re away.
Dogs are energetic and playful and will tug and pull on anything they can find, so again make sure that there are no parts of your LED strip lights where the dog might be able to get a grip and pull it away from the wall or cabinet.
Suppose you follow these simple, common-sense tips to ensure that your LED strip lights are secure. In that case, I am confident you don’t need to worry about whether your home is safe for your dog (or indeed even for children!)
Remember, too, it’s not just whether LED strip lights are safe for dogs – it’s whether dogs are safe for LED strip lights. I know that you wouldn’t want to invest in a beautiful LED set up just for your pet to wreak havoc and destroy it all! So make sure it is all neatly installed.
Can LED Strips Damage Dogs Eyes?
To the human eye, LED bulbs aren’t like the old filament bulbs that could occasionally flicker or give off a harsher light. However, some cheaper LED bulbs do flicker, actually – it’s just so fast that we can’t see it.
Dogs can see it though, and it can make them scared – imagine an artificial light constantly flickering in front of you.
I imagine you would be uncomfortable too. There may even be long-term effects on the quality of your dog’s eyesight.
So how do you get around this?
The best thing is to make sure that you buy high quality LED strip lights. The better the quality of light, the less likely they are to flicker – meaning your dog won’t get distressed.
And to be safe, I recommend that you completely switch off LED strip lights when you leave your home and unplug them entirely if possible.
You might not be able to do this if you have a connected smart home, but otherwise just ensure they are switched off when you aren’t around.
Led Strip Lights and Your Dog – Are Led Strips Safe for Dogs?
As long as you’re sensible, there’s no reason you can’t add LED strip lights to your home if you’re a dog owner. There are a few things you just need to think about when you’re setting them up.
Firstly, where are you planning on installing them, and is it somewhere that your dog could easily reach?
With the right safety measures in place, you should be able to add LED strip lights to your home even if you own a dog. However, you must think carefully about what area of your home is most ideal for your LED strip installation.
If the LED strip is installed in proximity to the ground, there’s a higher possibility that your dog could get hold of the LED strip lights.
It is common to find LED strip lights added to the underside of kitchen cabinets, which makes the area more attractive and stylish.
In addition, the electrical supply cables may not be completely flush against the wall, leaving them exposed to your curious dogs.
If a dog were to chew on an LED strip light or the cable that powered them, it is unlikely that it’ll suffer fatal electrocution.
However, they could get a nasty burn on their mouth, and the current can then disrupt other bodily functions.
The resulting effect could sometimes manifest within their lungs as fluid build-up, a condition with a survival rate as low as 40%, depending on the severity.
If you must add LED strips to your home, make sure they are properly installed.
Just like any other type of electrical cabling, LED strip lights should be tucked, and pinned to the cabinet to avoid loose sections. If you DIY your LED strip installation make sure you adhere to standard cabling guides.
Besides nasty burns, dogs can also get entangled in LED strips, especially if you use a lot of them. If they’re wrapped too tight, they can also choke and you may not be at home to salvage the situation.
Dogs are energetic and playful, so it is your responsibility to ensure there are no parts of your LED strip lights where your dog might pull and rip off the wall. Again, if you notice any loose sections, quickly tuck them away as mentioned earlier. Your dog’s safety depends on that.
Assuming you adhere religiously to these safety tips that ensure the proper installation of LED strip lights, you should have no worries about the safety of your dog (or indeed even for children!)
While our focus has been on whether LED strip lights are safe for dogs, it is also important to discuss whether dogs are safe for LED strip lights. Money doesn’t grow on trees, so you wouldn’t want to invest decently in LED strips only to come home to find them destroyed!.