Even the most meticulously tidy people may not be aware of the dangers that cats and dogs face in a human home. While some hazards might be obvious, there are many items, products and even plants that pose a threat to canine and feline lives. It is better to be safe than sorry; review the list below to ensure that your house is free from anything that could be a threat to your pet.
Household Items
- Acids
- Batteries
- Coins
- Detergents
- Fire starter logs
- Fluorides
- Glow paste
- Gorilla Glue/Super Glue
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Warmers
- Iron
- Lead
- Matches
- Mothballs
- Paintballs
- Tinsel
- Zinc Tablets/Lozenges
Medications
- Antibiotics
- Camphor
- Ambien
- Antidepressants
- Aspirin
- Antihistimines
- Asthma Inhaler/medication
- Acetaminphen
- Beta-blockers
- Calicium supplements
- Carprofen
- Cough Medicines/Decongestants
- Diuretics/Laxatives of any kind
- Flea Collars/ Flea & Tick Medication
- Ibuprofen
- Nicotine
- Sleep medication/Sleep aids
- Thyroid Medications
- Vitamins
Garage items
- Antifreeze
- Bromethalin
- Carbamates
- Cholecalciferol
- Gasoline
- Hydrocarbons
- Kerosene
- Rodent poison
- Pesticides
- Petroleum Distillates
- Phosphides
- Propylene Glycol
- Windshield Wiper fluid
Herbal Items
- Tea Tree Oil
- Pennyroyal Oil
- Ephedra
- Pine Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil
Yard items
- Fertilizers of bone meal & blood meal
- Herbicides
- Paraquat
- Insecticides
Common Household/Garden Plants (For a full list of poisonous plants, see link below).
- Aloe Vera
- Amarylis
- Azalea
- Asparagus
- Baby’s Breath
- Bird of Paradise
- Belladonna
- Bleeding hearts
- Bluebonnet
- Buttercups
- Blue-green Algae
- Chives
- Chrysanthemum
- Cornflower
- Corn (crop)
- Daffodils
- Delphiniums
- Easter Lily
- Eucalyptus
- Ferns
- Foxglove
- Geraniums
- Holly
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Lillies
- Leeks
- Marigold
- Morning Glory
- Misteltoe
- Nightshade
- Oleander
- Peony
- Poinsettia
- Poison Ivy/Poison Oak
- Poppy
- Primrose
- Rhododendrons
- Rhubarb
- Shamrock
- Snowdrops
- Sweet Pea
- Skunk Cabbage
- Taro Vine
- Tobacco
- Tomato
- Tulip
- Wisteria
NOTE: Like humans, pets are also affected by toxic gases like carbon monoxide and cigarette smoke.
For more details, check out our list of poisonous foods that you should keep away from your pets. If your dog or cat has accidently ingested or been exposed to any of the items above, contact the 24-hour Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661; or for an exhaustive list of poisonous medications/items, refer to the Pet Poison Helpline website for instructions on how to protect your pet.
