If you have a four-legged friend in the house, you would be familiar with their curious nature. Pets love to explore and try tasting anything and everything they come across. But, this curiosity exposes pets to the danger of getting poisoned as not everything around is safe for their consumption. In fact, poisoning is one of the pre-eminent causes of injury and death in pets. So, how can you protect your pet from poisoning? Let us find out.
Keep reading to learn about the different items that are toxic to pets along with the tips to prevent poisoning in pets.
Toxic substances for pets
Food products
Dogs and cats love to eat what their humans eat. However, some foods humans savor are extremely dangerous for pets and must not be fed to them. Here is a list of foods that are toxic to pets:
- Alcohol: Beverages and food items that contain alcohol can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, coma, and even death.
- Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine and methylxanthine. When ingested, they can cause diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst & urination, hyperactivity, seizures, and death.
- Grapes & raisins: The cause of the toxicity of grapes and raisins in pets is not clear. But, they contain tartaric acid that pets are not able to process. Consumption of grapes/raisins can lead to kidney damage.
- Onions, garlic & chives: These are members of the Allium species of vegetables known for causing gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage, leading to anemia.
- Yeast/rising dough: Yeast dough can rise inside the stomach, causing bloating and painful twisting in the stomach. Its consumption can result in a life-threatening emergency.
Plants
The plants that bring nature closer and beautify your house can be troublesome for your fur friend. Check out the list of some plants that are toxic to pets.
- Lilies: Ingestion of lilies can cause kidney damage.
- Oleander: It contains cardiac glycosides that can cause gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, and death.
- Tulips: Consumption of a tulip bulb can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
- Azalea: It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and cardiovascular collapse leading to coma/death.
- Peace lily: The calcium oxalate crystals in peace lilies can cause excessive drooling, vomiting, and oral irritation.
- Household products
Household items like cleaning supplies, rodenticides, antifreeze products, etc. contain harsh chemicals that can cause various health problems to pets including stomach upsets, internal bleeding, neurological issues, and even death. - Human treatments & personal care products
Human treatments (prescription and over-the-counter) contain ingredients that can cause various health issues to pets including bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, renal failure, seizures and death in the worst cases. Similarly, human personal care products may contain essential oils that can cause vomiting, tremors, and neurological damage in pets when consumed accidentally.
Tips to prevent poisoning in pets
Poisoning in pets can prove to be fatal in severe cases. And when the danger is real, prevention is the best strategy. Here are some simple tips to prevent the possibility of poisoning in pets:
- Bring pet-safe houseplants: Research thoroughly while selecting houseplants and get familiar with the ones that are toxic to pets. Avoid bringing the plants that can cause poisoning in your fur baby.
- Secure the kitchen: Pets have sweet tooth just like humans and love feasting on delicious food. Sure, they cannot differentiate between good and bad food, but we can. Keep the kitchen free of foods that are harmful to pets or keep them at places that are out of your pet’s reach.
- Store treatments & household products in safe places: Pet-proof your house just the way you baby-proof it. Make sure that you store the treatments and other hazardous items in places that are not accessible to your pet. If required, secure the drawers where you store them with child locks.
- Watch your pet when outdoors: Be vigilant when you take your pet outside. Keep them away from trash cans, toxic outdoor plants and supplies like fertilizers or insecticides you use in your lawn.
- Be prepared for emergencies: No matter how hard you try, accidents can happen. Be prepared for emergencies so that you can provide the required care to your pet immediately in case of accidental consumption of toxic substances. Keep the contact number of the poison control center handy to get the emergency care guidance, right on time.
Parting notes
Pets, just like human kids, are curious and can put themselves in danger by accidentally ingesting toxic items while exploring their surroundings. By keeping toxic items away from pets and following the tips listed above, you can prevent poisoning in your furry companions and keep them safe, healthy and happy.