Keeping Your Pet Safe From Common Toxins

Being a pet parent can be stressful! Sometimes it feels like your pets look for any and everything dangerous they can find. Follow along for some common household toxins your pet should avoid, and a few tips in case they get into something toxic.

Please note that this is a small list of toxic items you may have around your house. You should always do your own research before introducing new plants, foods, or items into a space accessible to your pet. I am also not a vet, so always consult with your vet first.

Pet Toxins to Avoid

Common Plants

1. Tulips

2. Lillies - these are incredibly dangerous for cats!

3. Foxgloves

4. Sago Palm

5. Daffodils - as tempting as it is to brighten your house with the first blooms of Spring, these should be avoided!

Foods

1. Chocolate

2. Garlic and onions

3. Grapes

4. Alcohol

5. Caffeine - as much as you enjoy your morning cup of coffee, your pet should stick to a nice catnip tea.

Medications & Household Products

All cleaning and household products should be kept out of reach from your pet. Many of these products are not pet (or even people) friendly and should not be ingested.

You should also never give your pet any medication without first speaking to your vet. It is always better to check in with them first.

What To Do if Your Pet Gets Into Something Toxic?

1. Call your vet right away. They will always have the best advice and be able to tell you the next steps.

2. Call the pet poison hotline. Did you know this was a thing? Like poison control but for your pets (there is an $85 incident fee to be aware of)! They are a 24 hour hotline and a great option if you can’t immediately get in contact with your vet. They also have a lot of helpful information on their website and a comprehensive list of things that are toxic for pets.

3. If your cat has eaten a toxic plant, try to bring a sample of the plant to your vet along with your pet.

4. If they have gotten into a medication or a household product, bring it or the label to the vet with you.

Looking at a poison list can feel overwhelming, suddenly you start realizing just how many things you have laying around your house that could harm your pet. It is always a good idea to take inventory of what your pet has access to, keep an eye on them, have your vet’s and the pet poison hotline number on hand, and know where your closest emergency vets are. For many of us our pets are our children and it is important to keep them safe!