Keeping your pets safe at home

We all want our homes to be happy and safe places for our pets, but did you know they could be in danger from everyday household items? Here are the ones you might not have considered:

1. Over-the-counter medications – We might leave these laying out but to a dog or cat, a shiny pill with a sweet outer coating seems like a treat. It’s always good to keep these items stored safely away from pets.
2. Sugar-free gum, mints, and candy – While Xylitol is a great sugar substitute for humans, it can be deadly to dogs. It causes their insulin to spike and can cause damage very quickly. Keep an eye out for any items in your house continuing this compound and keep it far away from your pets’ reach. In addition to gum, mints, and candy, it can be found in other items such as toothpaste, vitamins, and mouthwash.
3. Grapes and raisins – Although it’s not specifically known why these are toxic to dogs, ingesting grapes or raisins in even small amounts can cause kidney failure.
4. Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine – These products contain a substance called methylxanthines, which can cause severe illness in dogs and cats. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and seizures are just a few of the symptoms it can cause.
5. Onions – Although we humans might use this to flavor our food, it can be life-threatening to dogs and cats, causing a condition called Heinz Body Anemia. This condition means your pet’s body is breaking down red blood cells faster than they can replace them.
6. Batteries – These can certainly cause a risk to your pet if ingested, but they can even cause problems when not ingested. If your dog or cat chews on a battery or a toy with a battery in it, they can puncture the battery and ingest toxic fluids.
7. Nuts – Many fatty nuts, such as macadamia, pecans, almonds, and walnuts, can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. It’s better to keep all snacks and treats with nuts in them away from your pets.
8. Plants – While many of us like to fill our homes with foliage, some of these house plants can be toxic to your pet. Lilies are the most dangerous, causing kidney failure in cats that come into contact with the flower’s pollen. Other plants that are dangerous are Dieffenbachia, English Ivy, Kalanchoe, Peace Lily, and Pothos. In order to protect your cat, keep plants up and away from them in your house. Outdoors, plants like Azaleas, Daffodils, and Chrysanthemums are toxic, so keep your dog far away.
9. Christmas items – The holidays can be especially dangerous for your pets. Water in Christmas tree stands can contain bacteria. Pets can choke on ribbons and tree needles. And treats we humans are enjoying contain many items toxic to pets.

If you fear your pet has gotten into any of these items, you can call your local vet or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If your pet is exhibiting signs of being around or ingesting any of these items, go to your nearest emergency vet and let them know what you think your pet ingested.

To keep our fluffy friends safe, it’s always good to have a plan. Keep your vet and the Poison Control number on hand and make sure you have your pet’s history accessible. Being aware is most important; paying attention to what’s around you can help save your pet’s life!