Protect Your Pets: Top Household Hazards to Avoid During National Poison Prevention Week
March 16-22 is National Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22), which means it’s time to start thinking about any potential hazards in your home. This guide will help you figure out the most poisonous hazards to pets that exist in your house.
Household Toxins
Most pet owners strive to establish and maintain a healthy, safe home environment for their pets. Of the many potentially toxic items kept at home, the following are routinely responsible for making pets very sick:
- Over-the-counter human medications, such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen or naproxen), cold/flu medications, and herbal supplements
- Prescription medication, including antidepressants, heart medications, birth control pills, and ADHD medication
- Veterinary medications, including parasite prevention medication, can taste good to pets and they may seek them out only to eat far more than prescribed.
- Recreational drugs, such as marijuana, can be harmful to pet well-being. Be sure to store all gummies, vapes, and loose products in a safe place.
Watch Out for Toxic Foods
Pets are curious, opportunistic, and as it happens, hungry most of the time. Be sure to keep the following foods out of the reach at all times:
- Chocolate
- Coffee and other caffeinated beverages
- Alcohol
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions
- Garlic
- Macadamia nuts
- Xylitol
- Raw yeast dough
The Garage, Yard and Garden Shed
Beautiful plants can have terrible health consequences for pets. Check out this guide to toxic plants for more information, and be sure to remove these plants from your property:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Azaleas
- Lilies
- Sago palms
Household hazards lurking in plain sight can include fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides, and more. Some yard and garden products contain blood or bone meal, ingredients sure to attract rodents and other pests. For safety, store these products in areas inaccessible to pets.
Antifreeze, or ethylene glycol, can have a sweet flavor that draws pets in but is highly dangerous. Clean up any leaks from under the car and store appropriately.
Safeguarding and Supervision
Symptoms of toxicity in pets vary and are largely dependent on the type of exposure.
- If something is consumed, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, changes to heart rate, and overall agitation.
- On the other hand, the inhalation of dangerous fumes or chemicals can lead to loss of consciousness or respiratory distress.
- If a pet’s skin and coat is exposed to a toxic substance, they may show signs of pain, itching, irritation and inflammation.
Changes to their appearance or behavior may be very subtle at first, and symptoms may not even become obvious for many hours after exposure. By the time help is provided, damage may already be done.
National Poison Prevention Week
If you have further questions about the ways to promote your pet’s health and safety at home, please call us at (530) 673-4744.