Most Common Poisons in Pets Around the Home

When my dog was a mere pup, she got into a box of rat poison and ate the entire thing. Luckily, I was able to get her to the vet before she had digested the turqoise pellets, but many dogs aren't that lucky. Learn the most common (and even unexpected) poisons in our homes that can prove fatal for our beloved furry pals. It goes way beyond just keeping them out of the anti-freeze.

Just because it doesn't look tasty is not a guarantee that your pet will stay out of it. So, yes, with those rat poisons (or ant baits- my dog ate one of those too) can be a tasty morsel for your pets. Keep these out of reach of all your pets and use non-poison methods for getting rid of mice and rats to keep your pets (and kids) safe. See Repelling Mice: Natural Mouse Repellent for safe ways to get rid of rodents without poison.

Raisins can shut down a dog's kidneys in no time. Keep your dogs away from grapes and raisins to ensure that they don't run into issues. While it may seem like chocolate is the real dog poison food in the home, it's actually grapes that can prove to be fatal. If you think that your dog won't munch on a box of raisins, guess again. A single serving of raisins can kill a large dog in a matter of hours. Also keep your dog away from garlic.

Houseplants can be a nasty treat for cats, dogs, and other pets who like to chew. Keep houseplants out of reach of pets (and young children) to avoid inadvertently poisoning them. Signs of pets being poisoned by a plant include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, drinking excessive water, and anxiety. If you are unsure of plants that are poisonous for pets, call your vet to see if your plants are safe. And all those bouquets of flowers you're getting near the holidays? Keep those out of reach as well- they may be poisonous to your curious pets.

People and pet medication can be poisonous to pets. Many people will give their cats or dogs baby aspirin or allergy tablets to ease their woes, but this should only be done under a vet's supervision. A pet's kidneys can shut down quickly when pet or people medication is abused. Even pet medication can be used incorrectly or with other medications that can create a lethal dose. If you don't know what dosage to give your pets, don't hesitate to call your vet.

It's not just anti-freeze that you have to worry about. Pets can also ingest snow melts and become poisoned by them. While most cats and dogs will ignore the gritty salty substance, a puppy or curious kitten might not be so wise and take a taste. While melting snow, kitty litter is your more humane method rather than potentially poisonous substances.

Simple items you wouldn't even think about can poison your curious pets as well. According to the ASPCA, batteries and liquid potpourri are among the most common pet poisons within the home. Puppies, dogs, and curious cats and other furry friends can be attracted to these acid-based items and make a fatal mistake. Keep anything you wouldn't want a toddler getting into out of reach of your pets.

note: do you know the poison hotline for pets? Keep the number handy on your fridge: 1-(888) 426-4435, tollfree, available 24/7.

Sources:

my vet (personal experience)

ASPCA.org