Both dogs and cats can suffer accidents and injuries in and around the home. Here are a few tips that may help keep your pets safe from common household accidents.
Keep small, easily swallowed objects in containers or otherwise out of your pet’s reach. While both dogs and cats have been known to swallow items that no one would ever think possible, there are numerous objects that are commonly seen in surgical procedures to remove foreign bodies from pets:
Coins
Buttons
Batteries
Twist ties
Rubber bands
Cotton swabs
Hair pins
Hair ties
Jewelry
Paper clips
Plastic wrap
Plastic bags
Yarn
Ribbon
Needles
Thread
Dental floss
Candles
Socks
Nylons
Towels
Don’t leave your medications on low night stands or within pets’ reach. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handles more than 180,000 poisoning cases each year and the number one culprit is accidental ingestion of human medications. Particularly dangerous for pets are:
Ibuprofen
Aspirin
Acetaminophen
Cold and flu medications
Vitamins
Diet pills
Anti-cancer drugs
Antidepressants
Store cleaning products and pest control products in securely latched cabinets and keep lids on toilets and trash cans closed. Dangerous items include:
Detergents
Drain cleaners
Disinfectants
Bleach
Lime/scale remover
Bleach
Paint thinner
Oven cleaner
Rodent bait
Flea/tick products Mothballs
Ant bait
Potpourri
Keep food, especially candy and gum, out of reach. Harmful foods include:
Chocolate
Grapes
Raisins
Avocados
Onions
Garlic
Salt
Tea leaves
Coffee
Fatty foods
Raw yeast dough
Alcohol Spoiled food
Macadamia nuts
Xylitol (a sweetener often found in candy and gum)
Accidents do happen, but taking some steps to help keep dangerous items out of your pet’s reach can lessen the chances of an emergency. If you believe your pet has consumed something harmful, call your veterinarian or nearest pet emergency clinic immediately.
