Keeping Pets Safe From Common Household Toxins
Many common household items can be dangerous to your pets. Dogs, cats, and other animals are naturally curious and often explore their environment by licking or chewing, which can expose them to potential toxins. To ensure your pets' safety, it's crucial to store and handle harmful substances with care and be mindful of where they are kept.
What to Do if Your Pet is Poisoned
Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. This is the most reliable resource for any animal poison-related emergency, available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Tips to Prevent Pet Poisoning:
- Alcohol: Do not give your pets alcohol or let them lick up spilled drinks. Large amounts of alcohol can be deadly.
- Automotive Products: Store automotive products (car cleaners, antifreeze, windshield washer, etc.) in tightly closed containers kept out of the reach and sight of your pets. Make sure you clean up any spills or leaks immediately. When disposing of automotive products, follow the product label directions. Do not pour products into the street or your yard.
- Fertilizers: Keep your pets away from yards and gardens when using fertilizers. Your pets may get poisoned by licking their paws after walking on a newly fertilized lawn; keep them away until the lawn is completely dry.
- Flea and Tick Sprays: When using flea and tick products, always read the product label and follow the directions carefully. If your pet begins to act strangely, stop using the product. Wash your pet off with soap and water, and call Paumanok Veterinary Hospital or your veterinarian immediately. Never use products meant for dogs on cats or vice versa. Do not use household or yard products on your pets.
- Household Cleaners & Chemicals: Keep your pets out of rooms where cleaners are being used. Your pets can easily get into cleaners left in open buckets or spilled on the floor. Toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, dishwashing detergents, drain cleaners, pine oils, and other cleaning products can be deadly to your pets. Keep cleaners stored in tightly closed containers, out of the reach and sight of pets. Clean up any cleaning supply spills right away.
- Medicines and Vitamins: Never give medicine meant for one animal to another. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your pets any medicine. Make sure you follow directions when giving your pets medicine. Keep medicines stored out of the reach and sight of your pets at all times. Medicines and vitamins meant for people may not be safe for your pets; this includes over-the-counter medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, cough or cold medicines, and decongestants.
- Pesticides: Pesticides are chemicals used to kill weeds, bugs, rats, mice, and other rodents. They can also kill your pets. Before using any pesticide, read the product label and follow directions. If using baits or powders, place them where your pets cannot find them. Store pesticides in tightly closed containers, out of the reach and sight of your pets.
- Plants and Mushrooms: Many indoor and outdoor plants and mushrooms are poisonous to pets. Pets, especially cats, love to chew on plants. Keep poisonous plants away from your pets and make sure you know the names of your plants.
- Chocolate: Store all chocolate out of the reach and sight of your pets. Chocolate can be deadly to your pets.
- Grapes and Raisins: Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets, particularly dogs. Keep grapes and raisins away from your pets, as they can be extremely toxic.
