1 Foods
Certain foods that seem very tasty to people are quite poisonous to pets. In fact, one of the most common household items that can poison your pets is chocolate. The chemical theobromine that is found in chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. Although all chocolate is toxic, chocolate with high concentrations of cacao is especially poisonous. Aside from chocolate, there are other foods that can be also be problematic for pets. A sugar substitute that is often found in sugarless gums and candies, xylitol is also toxic for pets. Additionally, you should keep raisins and grapes away from dogs because they can cause kidney failure. As far as food is concerned, I always keep people food away from pets since they tend to overeat it and can possibly consume something that is bad for them.
Animals do not respond to medicine the same way people do; they can have life threatening reactions to common human medications. Anti-inflammatory medications like Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, and Tylenol can be very poisonous to pets. Aspirin is one medication that you should be very careful with around pets. I had a neighbor accidentally kill their cat by giving it Aspirin. It was very sad, and very preventable. Some vets will recommend anti-inflammatories for pets, but the dosage is very different. Only give these medications to your pets under the supervision of a vet. In addition to anti-inflammatories, you also need to keep your pets away from antidepressants. Medications like Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor can all cause neurological problems such as seizures in animals. With all medications, it is best to keep them in a place where pets can’t get to them, and always make sure you pick up dropped pills.
Acidic and alkaline cleaners are very corrosive and can be highly toxic. Even cleaners that say they are natural are not safe. When you are cleaning, you want to be very careful about keeping your pets out of the cleaners. Usually, this is not a problem because they run when the vacuum is turned on. However, it is always best to be safe. I always store my cleaners where my pets cannot get to them, and since they do hide I have no worries when I am cleaning.
Some plants that are beautiful to look at are very toxic to pets. Usually, you have to worry more about cats getting into plants, but you should be careful with dogs too. Poinsettias are well known for being poisonous to cats, and since my cats do tend to eat the leaves on plants I stick to fake poinsettias at Christmas. Lilies are another plant that you need keep your pets away from. They can cause kidney failure in cats. Lilies of the Valley are especially poisonous as they cause heart rhythm problems in dogs and cats that can lead to death. Whenever I get flowers or plants, I always put them in a place where my pets can’t get to.
I have never used mothballs, but I know plenty of people who do. If you use mothballs, you should be aware that they are very bad for pets. Mothballs with naphthalene are particularly problematic. Naphthalene can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. It is a chemical that can be life threatening when consumed by pets. When using mothballs to store clothes, always place them in an area where you are sure your pets can’t get to.