Pet Health Hazards in Your Home

Our homes contain a variety of everyday items that we use and substances that can be dangerous or even fatal if ingested by dogs and cats. You can protect your pet's health by being made aware of the most common health hazards found in many households.

Mothballs

These are a real danger for pets because if they contain an ingredient called paradichlorobenzene, which is an insecticide, then dogs and cats can get sick from eating just one but if the mothballs contain naphthalene, ingesting one mothball could kill your pet.

Batteries

The most common type of alkaline batteries contains corrosives which can burn your pet's mouth if they are chewing on the casing of a battery.

Chocolate:

I do know that chocolate is a no no for animals. They love it but this does pose a health threat if large amounts are ingested. Dark chocolate is even more toxic for pets.

Medications:

Prescription medication and over the counter medications can cause harm to our pets. Dogs can get hold of medicine bottles and chew on them and eventually release the contents inside.

Cats would be able to knock over open pill containers of the medicine are sitting on a cabinet and the cat jumps up on to it.

Play it safe for both kids and the family pets and keep all prescription and over the counter drugs such as antidepressants, cold medicines, pain killers and even diet pills locked away in a cabinet that is high enough for kids and pets not to be able to access them.

Mouse & Rat Poison

Cooler weather means mice & rodents will hunt warmer places to nest such as a garage & our homes. If you do set out rat poison place it in areas where pets cannot get into it to eat it. Rat poison obviously tastes good enough for rats to eat so the taste would be tempting to the family pets too. If an animal ingests rat poison this causes the blood to stop clotting so therefore the animal will bleed to death. There is a treatment for pets that have eaten rat poison if they are taken to the vet in time. As long as you actually see your dog or cat eating the poison, you usually have at least an hour afterwards of a pet ingesting rat poison to get the animal emergency help before the animal is in any kind of danger. The antidote is fairly effective in most cases but it is very expensive and will need to be administered for about 4 to 6 weeks.

Bath Toiletries
Bath and hand soaps, toothpaste and sun blocks should also be kept away from your pets. They can cause stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea. Keep toilet lids closed to prevent your pets from drinking the water if it is treated, which will irritate their digestive tract.

Antifreeze & Coolants

Even if a small amount is ingested can be fatal to both dogs and cats.

Pennies

The pennies that were manufactured from 1980 through today contain zinc and if a dog or cat ingests any, they can cause kidney failure and damage the red blood cells. A pet that ingests even one penny could become really ill and if the penny is not surgically removed, death could occur.

Dryer Sheets

Unused dryer sheets pose the most harm to our pets because they contain harmful detergents called cationics. If your dog or cat ingests several of the dryer sheets they can become very seriously ill. Immediate medical attention is needed.

Tobacco

Contains nicotine, which affects the nervous and digestive systems. If ingested by your pet, rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma and even death can occur.

Cleaning Products

If ingested, any type of cleaning and/or disinfecting product can be harmful to pets and make them very ill.

If you notice any sudden change in your pet's normal everyday behavior, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and/or seizures, contact your local vet immediately.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested anything, you can contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Be sure that you know how much of the product your pet could have ingested and keep the packaging handy too.

Write down your pet's age, weight, sex and breed and keep in an easy accessible place, which you can find quickly in the event of an emergency situation.

Take your pet immediately to the hospital if he becomes unconscious or begins to have trouble breathing or if he begins to have seizures.

Keep the number handy for a local 24 hour Animal Hospital just in case your regular vet is not available.

Sources:

I worked as a veterinary technician for 10 years & learned a lot of valuable information.

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a licensed vet but I did learn many useful tips and information during my years working for one. The above information is intended for educational purposes only and shall not take the place of seeking professional medical advice from a licensed veterinarian.