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In 2006, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) fielded more than 116,000 calls to its Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) hotline, several of which involved seemingly innocuous household items, including plants. "While the reason is not clear, calls in virtually each of these categories seems to be on the rise," says Steven Hansen, D.V.M., veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, in press release.
Instead of putting your fluffy family members at risk, says Hansen, stay alert to the possibility of poisoning from these common household elements:
1. Be vigilant about the plants you have in your home and yard: Some plants such as sago palm, oleander, and rhododendron can be toxic to pets if ingested. Lilies, in particular, can be especially toxic to cats. (The ASPCA has a list of plants that should be avoided if you have cats and dogs padding about in your home.)
2. Keep pets away from areas where cleaning agents are being used or stored: Some cleaning agents may only cause a mild tummy upset, but others can result in severe burns of the tongue, mouth, and stomach. To avoid serious injury, be certain to check for warning labels and use non-toxic, all-natural cleaning supplies, wherever possible.3. Be careful when using rat and mouse baits: The most common active ingredients found in rat and mouse baits are anticoagulants, according to Hansen. Ingredients of this type, including warfarin, brodifacoum, bromadiaoline, difacinone, and strychnine, are designed to kill pests by shutting down critical body systems.
Because some baits also contain inactive ingredients meant to attract rodents, they can sometimes be attractive to your kitty and pooch, as well. Alternatively, avoid poisonous chemicals and opt for a humane mouse trap you can create yourself. Keeping a clean, hygienic home is also one of the best pest-prevention measures.
4. Read the label first: Always read the label before using flea products or any other pet products on or around Captain Fluffypants and Snookiepuss. Some flea products for dogs, for instance, can be deadly if given to cats.
5. Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of reach: Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins and diet pills are just some of the human medications that can be lethal to pets, even in minute doses. This is a good rule of thumb if you have children at home, as well.
6. Be aware of foods that are inappropriate for pets: Avoid feeding your animals food items that could be potentially hazardous to their health, including onions, onion powder, chocolate, products sweetened with xylitol (such as chewing gum), raisins and grapes, alcoholic beverages, yeast dough, coffee, tea, salt, macadamia nuts, hops (used in home beer brewing), tomato leaves and stems (green parts), rhubarb leaves, avocados (toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle, and dairy goats), and moldy or spoiled foods.
7. Scented household products can also be lethal to animals: Essential oils, when ingested, whether straight up or through grooming, can irritate or burn your pet's mouth, throat and gastrointestinal tract. Cats, according to Hansen, appear more sensitive to the effects of such exposure than dogs. Also, scented products, including air-freshener sprays and plug-ins, should not be used in close proximity to pets with sensitive respiratory tracts, such as birds.
8. Store automotive products such as gasoline, oil, and antifreeze in areas that are inaccessible to your pets: As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be lethal to a cat; less than one tablespoon can be deadly to a 20-pound dog.
9. Keep pets away from lawns or in gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, until they have dried completely: Better yet, ditch the poisons and go au naturale. Instead of using chemical fertilizers, choose nutrient-rich, all-organic compost. (Learn more about greening your gardening at TreeHugger.)
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