How to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe Around Your Home

With at least 10 recent dog and cat deaths being attributed to tainted pet food sold throughout North America, but seeming to be produced in Canada, people are starting to worry if the foods they are giving their beloved pets are safe. "Menu Foods said Saturday it is recalling dog food sold under 46 brands and cat food sold under 37 brands and distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico" according to WTOP News Radio. A complete list of the foods on the recall list can be obtained on the following web site: http://www.menufoods.com/recall. Or by calling (866) 895-2708.

However with all this worry, more pets will die or suffer this year because of other items we usually don't worry about. There are many poisonous substances around our homes which can be deadly to our pet dogs and cats. If you know what they are you can get rid of them or make them totally inaccessible to your furry companions. Some of these items will surprise you so read the list carefully.

Human Drugs Poisonous To Pets

Keep these human medications out of the reach of pets: calamine lotion, Tylenol or any of its generics (one maximum strength pill can kill a cat), ibuprofen (dogs just love to chew the bottle and eat all the contents), petroleum jelly compounds, folic acid, many homeopathic remedies, human hormone replacement preparations, antacids (even over the counter varieties), steroids, zinc oxide creams. Of course just about any prescription medicine which can be dangerous to us can also be dangerous to your pet. They don't follow the dose indications on the package and can easily crack open a plastic vial.

Human Foods and Products Dangerous To Pets

Chocolate can kill some dogs and the larger the dose the more dangerous it is. Coffee, onions, mushrooms, grapes, raisins can also be toxic. Garlic, vitamin capsules, artificial sweeteners, chalk, silica gel, wax candles, crayons, matches, adhesives can also cause injury or death. Antifreeze and many other items found in a workshop or garage are also deadly.

Other foods that can cause harm or death are Macadamia nuts, pear and apple pits and the large seeds from peaches, plums and apricots potato peelings, rhubarb leaves, yeast dough, hops, the green parts of a tomato plant and broccoli.

Of course cigarettes, tobacco products such as chewing tobacco or snuff, cigars and pipe tobacco are full of nicotinic acid with is poisonous to anything which will swallow enough of it.

Plants Dangerous to Pets

A single clematis leaf can kill. Many others are harmful or deadly if ingested. These include African violets, Amaryllis bulbs, Azaleas, Datura, Angel's trumpets, bluebells, Buttercups, Castor bean plants (which can easily kill us as well), Foxglove, dieffenbachia, Hemlock, Horse chestnuts, Holly berries, Mistletoe, Morning glory seeds and roots, Philodendron, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Sweet peas, Wisteria and Yew. Of course watch out for all kinds of mushrooms while you are walking your dog. Mine gobbled up one before I could get it away and got sick as a dog but luckily survived.

With a little sense and knowledge you can have your pet around a long time.