When you discover that your pet has ingested a toxic substance, remember to remain calm. Immediately call an animal poison control center to determine the severity of the situation and what you should do to help your pet. The sooner a dog or cat poisoning is diagnosed, the safer it is to treat your pet.
There are many items in your home that, if ingested by your pet, can cause them harm and may require medical attention. Some of these are less obvious than others. Here’s a list of some of the items you should keep away from your pets and why:
| Type | Examples | Symptoms | |
| Food | Grapes or Raisins | Kidney failure in dogs | |
| Sugar Free Candy or Gum (containing Xylitol) | Low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs | ||
| Chocolate (Dark Chocolate and Cocoa are the most dangerous) | Pancreatitis, elevated heart rate, seizure | ||
| Macadamia Nuts | Muscle weakness, tremors | ||
| Yeast Dough | Dough can rise once ingested and cause bloat | ||
| Medications | ANY human medication ingestion warrants a phone call to poison control. | ||
| Tylenol is toxic to dogs and cats | Dogs: Liver Toxic and Methemoglobinemia. Cats: Methemoglobinemia | ||
| Ibuprofen | GI upset, GI ulceration, kidney disease, and with high enough dosage, seizures and coma | ||
| Plants | Many can cause GI upset (vomit, diarrhea, hypersalivation) | ||
| Sago Palm | Liver failure in dogs | ||
| Lily Flowers (not including peace lily, calla lily or lily of the valley) | Kidney failure in cats | ||
| Household Cleaners | |||
| Detergent Packs | Vomiting, cough, lethargy, dyspnea, wheezing and respiratory irritation | ||
| Bleach | Local tissue damage like oral burns or lesions, burns to the face or body, and could lead to risk of infection if the skin becomes open and exposed | ||
| Liquid Potpourri | Pawing at the mouth, vomiting, retching, inappetence, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, organ damage | ||
| Rodenticide or Rat Bait | Dogs: Internal bleeding (anticoagulants such as brodifacoum and bromadiolone), brain swelling (bromethalin), or hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia with resultant organ damage (cholecalciferol). Cats: Brain swelling and fatal paralysis | ||
| Antifreeze | Drunkenness, excessive thirst or urination, vomiting, panting, sedation, halitosis, lethargy, coma, acute kidney failure, death |
Food
Grapes or Raisins
- Kidney failure in dogs
Sugar Free Candy or Gum (containing Xylitol)
- Low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs
Chocolate (Dark Chocolate and Cocoa are the most dangerous)
- Pancreatitis, elevated heart rate, seizure
Macadamia Nuts
- Muscle weakness, tremors
Yeast Dough
- Dough can rise once ingested and cause bloat
Medications
ANY human medication ingestion warrants a phone call to poison control
Tylenol is toxic to dogs and cats
- Dogs: Liver Toxic and Methemoglobinemia.
- Cats: Methemoglobinemia
Ibuprofen
- GI upset, GI ulceration, kidney disease, and with high enough dosage, seizures and coma
Plants
Many can cause GI upset (vomit, diarrhea, hypersalivation)
Sago Palm
- Liver failure in dogs
Lily Flowers (not including peace lily, calla lily or lily of the valley)
- Kidney failure in cats
Household Cleaners
Detergent Packs
- Vomiting, cough, lethargy, dyspnea, wheezing and respiratory irritation
Bleach
- Local tissue damage like oral burns or lesions, burns to the face or body, and could lead to risk of infection if the skin becomes open and exposed
Liquid Potpourri
- Pawing at the mouth, vomiting, retching, inappetence, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, organ damage
Rodenticide or Rat Bait
- Dogs: Internal bleeding (anticoagulants such as brodifacoum and bromadiolone), brain swelling (bromethalin), or hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia with resultant organ damage (cholecalciferol).
- Cats: Brain swelling and fatal paralysis
Antifreeze
- Drunkenness, excessive thirst or urination, vomiting, panting, sedation, halitosis, lethargy, coma, acute kidney failure, death
Poison Control Information:
ASPCA Poison Control
888.426.4435
$65 per case, paid by owner
Free if pet has a HomeAgain Microchip and pays for annual registration
Pet Poison Helpline
855.764.7661
$59 per case, paid by owner
