We like to spoil our pets, and a few treats now and then are fine, but chocolate is toxic as are some other common household products. Let’s take a look.
Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic, but the problem is dogs love it! Cats will also eat creamy-smelling foods and birds, rabbits or hamsters will pick at anything placed in their cage.
You must get your pet to an emergency vet right away if they’ve eaten a large amount of chocolate.
Caffeine
A small lap of tea, coffee or energy drink probably won’t harm your pet, but larger doses will. Hyperactivity, seizures and collapse may follow. Diet pills can also contain caffeine so lock those away.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze can drip onto surfaces that our pets then walk over. It smells and tastes sweet, but it’s extremely poisonous.
Be careful where you spray antifreeze and certainly don’t use it to defrost birdbaths or ponds.
Fruits and Veggies
Grapes and raisins cause kidney failure, macadamia nuts and avocado can cause tremors, and onions, garlic and chives damage red blood cells. Don’t hand over your dinner remains no matter how intensively your pet begs.
Sprays and fumes
Teflon non-stick pans give off a toxic fume if they are burned which can kill birds. Birds are very sensitive to fumes including fly spray.
Plants
Many beautiful flowers are toxic to our pets.
Narcissus, hyacinth, rhododendrons and amaryllis are toxic to dogs and cats, so watch out for them chewing on bulbs or bark.
Cats don’t chew on many plants but lilies are particularly dangerous for them. If cats brush against lilies and lick off the pollen it can result in death.
Garden fertiliser
Fertiliser is often made from smelly stuff that dogs love, but it has added chemicals and insecticides that are harmful. Cats will walk and dig in fertilised ground before then licking their feet clean, so net any recently fertilised garden areas (but check daily for trapped hedgehogs or birds).
Money
Surprisingly, zinc from coins is toxic to pets. £1 and £2 coins have zinc levels which cause an upset stomach, anaemia and liver damage. Coins are often eaten by dogs who ‘investigate’ their owner’s purse.
Here are the signs of poisoning:
- Excessive thirst
- Panting
- Unsteadiness
- Salivating
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Hyperactivity or hunching over
- Collapse
What To Do
Save an emergency vet number in your mobile now, so you have it to hand. You’ll need to act quickly if your pet shows signs of poisoning but there’s a good survival rate if you seek medical help in time.
It’s a jungle out there! Stay safe – lock that chocolate away and buy some suitable pet treats in store.