Household Pet Toxins You Might Not Know You Have At Home

Did you know that there are many different household toxins that our pets can be exposed to? And that some of these toxins can be very harmful, even deadly? Pets are curious by nature and will often explore their surroundings with their mouths, so it's important to be aware of the dangers these items pose to them. In this article, we'll discuss some household pet toxins that can harm or even kill our pets that you might not know of and some tips on how to protect them from these dangers.

Here's everything you need to know about household pet toxins you might not know you have at home: 

Contrary to popular belief, not all people food is safe for pets. Many common foods that are perfectly safe for humans can be toxic and even deadly for animals. Some of the most dangerous include Chocolate, Grapes & Raisins, Mushroom, Bread Dough, Macadamia Nuts, Onions, Garlic, Coffee, Coconut, Citrus, Milk & Dairy, Salty Snacks, Avocado, Candy, Tea, Raw Meat and Bones, & Moldy Food. Be sure to keep this out of your pet's reach!

You can also read 7 Foods that are Toxic for Dogs, 10 Fruits to Avoid Feeding your Pet, & 13 Dangerous food that your pet should avoid! to learn more!

Pets rummaging through the garbage is not only a messy habit, but it can also be dangerous! Their sense of smell is too strong it can be really tempting for them to go to the trash and rummage through it. Examples of trash that could harm them are food scraps, tissue papers, batteries, broken glass, bubble gum, etc. To prevent your pet from getting into the garbage, keep trash cans out of reach or invest in a lidded can. Be especially careful with these as it can poison or wound your fur babies!

It is already a common knowledge that cleaning supplies can be dangerous when ingested. So when you clean a part of your house, make sure you avoid your pet from going in that area as they can lick or smell the place and get poisoned. Products like toilet bowl cleaners, oven cleaners, bleach, fabric softener, laundry soap and drain cleaners often contain corrosive chemicals that can cause burns on the skin and in the mouth. If ingested, these cleaners can also cause gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding. If you use any of these products in your home, be sure to keep them out of reach of pets and ventilate the area well.

Just like the cleaning supplies, those things that are often in the bathroom in which we use to clean our bodies like shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. must not be of your pet's reach especially those that has food/flower scent on them. Also, some pets also drink from the toilet bowl and we might think this is okay but be mindful that besides us putting in our wastes in the toilet bowl which is obviously dirty, we also use cleaning materials that could mix with the water that can poison your fur babies as well.

Whether it is human medication or you pet's medication, intake of high dosage medication will always have bad effects to the body! Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, Acetaminophen, Diet Pills/Vitamins, Cold Medicines, Antihistamines, Prescription Drugs, & Antidepressants must be out of your pet's reach! Never give them any medication unless directed by a veterinarian.

Art supplies have a wide range of chemicals in them! Even non-toxic art supplies made for children can still be poisonous to your precious pets. Some common art supplies that can pose a danger to your fur babies are paint, paint brushes, paper, glue, crayons, markers, pencils, etc. These art supplies could either poison your fur babies or would them as some are known to sharp and pointed. Don't leave your art supplies hanging around after you use them so your precious pets won't have a chance to play with them!

While many plants and flowers are safe for pets, there are some common household plants and flowers that can be poisonous to pets when inhaled and ingested. Lilies, for example, are very toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. Sago palms and yew bushes are also poisonous to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal distress. Other plants include Amaryllis, Caster Bean, Chrysanthemum, Cyclamen, Corn Plant, Daphne, Daylily and True Lily, Dogbane, Hibiscus, Hyacinth and Tulip (especially the bulbs), Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, etc. Be sure to do your research first before bringing any plant near your fur babies.

As pesticides are obviously made to kill pests, these will surely be poisonous to your pets as well! Some pesticides are often left in one place like mosquito repellent, rodent poison, slug bait, & mothballs. Don't ever put these close to your pets. Even the mosquito repellent can be poisonous to your pets as they inhale them. If you use these products around your home, make sure to keep them out of reach of your pets or better yet use other alternatives to catch those pests inside your house.

After a long hard day of work, we usually want to cuddle with our fur babies and let them give us some kisses/licks. But ladies, be careful as your fur babies can ingest the cosmetics that you are wearing which can be poisonous to them! Be sure to wash your face first and avoid using products that contain potentially harmful chemicals around them. Some cosmetics can cause skin irritation or other health problems if your pet comes into contact with them. So as much as how fun it might be to put some on them, let's just avoid doing that. Better safe than sorry! Keep all cosmetics out of their reach as well.

As how alcohol and cigarettes already have bad effects to us humans, can you imagine how bad can it be to pets? Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, and even death in dogs and cats. And while we all know that smoking is bad for our health, it’s also bad for our pets. Cigarettes contain nicotine that are toxic to pets. As you smoke around them, they could also inhale the nicotine in your cigarette and it will slowly have bad effects on their respiratory system. Secondhand smoke can irritate a pet’s respiratory system and cause cancer. So if you have a pet, it’s best to keep these items out of reach. 

It’s important to be aware of the household items that can be poisonous to your precious pets. By knowing what these items are, you can take steps to keep them out of reach of your fur babies. If you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous, it is important to act quickly and get help and bring them to a veterinarian right away. Time is of the essence when it comes to dealing with toxic substances—the sooner you get help, the better chance your precious pet has of making a full recovery!

Share this with your fellow pet owners and you can also leave a comment down below about how you avoid household pet toxins for your precious pet's health, we would also love to read them!

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