PetCareHousehold safety
Pet Poison Safety at Home: Common Hazards and What to Do
Most pet poisonings happen at home, with things people consider harmless: a dropped pill, a snack on the counter, a bouquet on the table. A short list of hazards, a few habits and one number saved in your phone are enough to respond calmly.
Common hazards by room
| Where | Hazards |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | Chocolate, xylitol (in some sugar-free gum, sweets, baked goods and peanut butters), grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, unbaked yeast dough |
| Bathroom and bedroom | Human medications, especially painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol/acetaminophen, antidepressants, sleep aids and vitamins |
| Living room and garden | Lilies (extremely dangerous to cats), sago palm, some spring bulbs, certain mushrooms, slug bait, fertiliser, ice-melt products |
| Garage | Antifreeze (ethylene glycol), rodent poison, pesticides, cleaning products |
The ASPCA maintains searchable lists of toxic and non-toxic plants; check before bringing a new plant or bouquet home, particularly if you have a cat.
Pet-proofing habits
- Keep all medicines, including your own, in closed cabinets, not on bedside tables or in bags left on the floor.
- Use bins with lids; food waste is a common source of trouble.
- Never give human medicine or supplements without your vet's instruction.
- Store flea and tick products for dogs away from cats; some dog products are dangerous to cats.
- Ask visitors and children not to feed your pet from the table.
If you think your pet ate something harmful
- Stay calm and remove the pet from the source. Take away what is left.
- Call your vet, an emergency clinic or animal poison control immediately. Do not wait for symptoms; some poisons show effects only after hours or days.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to; it can be harmful with some substances.
- Have the details ready: the substance and packaging, the amount, the time, your pet's weight and any medication it takes.
- Follow the advice you are given, and go to the clinic if instructed.
Save it before you need it. Put the poison control number and your emergency clinic in your pet's profile. PetCare Offline keeps contacts, allergies, medications and a recent weight in one place on the device, working without signal. See pet emergency contacts for what to store.
Signs that can mean poisoning
Vomiting or drooling, tremors, seizures, unusual lethargy, wobbling, fast or laboured breathing, pale gums, or sudden changes in behaviour. Any of these needs a call to a vet without delay. See also the first aid kit checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common food poison for dogs?
Chocolate and xylitol-containing products are among the best known, along with grapes and raisins. Severity depends on the amount and the dog's size, so call for advice rather than guessing.
Should I make my pet vomit after they eat something toxic?
Only if a vet or poison control tells you to. For some substances it can make things worse.
Is poison control free?
Not always. Some services charge a consultation fee, which is small compared with treating a poisoning that was not caught early.
Sources and further reading
How this article was created
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