Pet Safety

• Keep electrical wires out of reach or use a pet repellent spray. Even telephone wires can cause damage if chewed.
• Keep chocolate out of reach. Even small amounts of chocolate can be dangerous due to theobromine, a powerful stimulant. The darker the chocolate the more theobromine it will contain. If ingestion occurs, you should induce vomiting as soon as possible.
• Sugarless gum and sweets that contain xylitol can be very toxic to dogs. The artificial sweetener causes liver damage and possibly life threatening low blood sugar.
• Household cleaners, like bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, potpourri, scented oils and candles, paint, paint thinner, gasoline and rat poison are toxic. Keep these out of reach and keep pets out of the area when these products are used. Never apply petroleum distillates to an animal’s skin, like paint thinner. It will be absorbed through the skin very easily. The fumes from some of these are much more likely to cause problems in animals, because they are usually closer to the floor.
• Antifreeze is a particularly hazardous chemical and deserves exceptionally careful handling. It contains a chemical called ethylene glycol that causes permanent kidney failure. Pets may be attracted to the sweet odor and taste, and very small amounts will cause death. Keep antifreeze and windshield solution sealed and stored well out of reach. Do not forget to wipe up any spills completely, and never flush a radiator into the sewer or on to the street. When possible, purchase the type that has a bitter tasting additive to deter ingestion by pets.
• Holiday decorations like tinsel and garlands and dried flower arrangements often look like novel toys to pets. Supervise your pets closely to avoid ingestion, or just don’t have these items in your house.
• Many household plants are toxic or, at least, very irritating to the digestive tract. The list includes, but is not limited to: lilies, philodendron, dieffenbachia, elephant ear, eucalyptus, spider plants, azalea, ivy, amaryllis, mistletoe, holly, pyracantha, oleander, boxwood, Jerusalem cherry, castor bean and plant bulbs.
• Lawn chemicals can be toxic or irritating. Please follow all manufacturer safety guidelines regarding application and how long to wait until people or pets can walk on it. Often products need to have a good rain or sprinkling before they are safe.
• Table food, rawhides and bones of any kind can cause blockages, perforations, or bacterial infections like salmonella and clostridium. The result can be vomiting, diarrhea, exploratory surgery, or even death.
• Inappropriate sizes of toys, collars, or harnesses can cause injury. Check collars and harnesses frequently on growing animals. You should be able to put one finger between the collar and the neck, and there should be no irritation to the skin. Flea collars simply should not be used. They are not effective and can be toxic to your pet and your children. Toys should be big enough that they do not fit inside the mouth. Some dogs are too large to safely play with tennis balls.
• Garbage bags, food storage bags, and even food packages can and do cause death. The animals often sniff into the corners of the bags for the crumbs, the nose gets stuck in the corner, and the poor dog can suffocate very quickly. Other hazards for ingestion, or attempted ingestion, include string, balloons, sewing needles, thread, string, ribbons, audiotape, socks, pantyhose and even the elastic parts in undergarments. Pennies cause zinc toxicity that can be fatal, because the stomach acid leaches out the zinc which causes anemia.
• Drowning hazards may be overlooked, because people think that the animal can swim. Slippery pool covers and side walls may prevent the pet from escaping and, after exhaustion sets in, they drown. Small animals can drown in tubs, toilets, fish tanks, even buckets of water. Dogs that boat in open water with their owners should wear life jackets and be trained to get into the boat. Again, if the dog goes overboard in a large body of water without a life jacket, it is unlikely that it will be able to swim to shore before becoming exhausted.
• Heat sources should always be kept from pets. Fireplace screens should be kept closed, hot irons and coffee pots, and even curling irons and stove top burners, can cause serious injury.
• Medications of all kinds can be deadly. Dogs do not have problems opening child proof containers, and many accidental ingestions occur when people leave their medications out on a counter or table to be taken later. Over the counter products can be just as dangerous to pets. Every species has a different way of processing chemicals in their bodies. Acetaminophen causes damage to the protein hemoglobin that carries oxygen in cat red blood cells. Ibuprofen, naproxen, and even aspirin have much smaller ranges of safety in dogs and are not at all safe in cats. These generally cause ulcers that may perforate and cause permanent kidney damage. One of the most common accidental overdoses in pets is that of dogs eating a whole bottle of their chewable arthritis pain medicine. Keep any and all medications safely out of reach of your pets.

IF YOUR PETS INGESTS A POTENTIALLY TOXIC SUBSTANCE DO NOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. Call your veterinarian OR PET POISON HELPLINE for advice on immediate actions. Keep the package of the substance handy for accurate advice, and bring it with you if you take your pet to the emergency hospital or clinic. Prompt medical attention gives you the best chance at preventing long term damage or death.