The holidays usually mean houseguests, travel, lots of food and special treats. With all the hubbub, it’s easy to forget that our furry and feathered friends may come into contact with items that could be dangerous to them.
Most of us know by now not to give chocolate to a dog or let your cat chew on lilies. But it’s important to review some of the more common — and less common — pet poisons out there. Some, like the aforementioned chocolate, are infamous. Others appear so harmless that we underestimate the danger they pose to our beloved companions.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, the most common dog poisons include medication for people (ibuprofen, Tylenol and other anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as prescription medication like antidepressants), chocolate and rodenticides (mouse and rat poisons).
You may have also heard that xylitol, a common ingredient in chewing gum, is dangerous to dogs. And while you wouldn’t dream of sharing gum with your furry friend, some brands of peanut butter now contain the popular sugar substitute as well. Always check the ingredients on the jar before giving peanut butter to your dog.
With its legalization in various states across the country, marijuana can now be found more commonly in households. In fact, over the past six years, the Pet Poison Helpline has experienced a 448% increase in marijuana cases. Common symptoms of marijuana toxicity include sedation and lethargy, dilated pupils, vomiting and difficulty walking.
Some common household plants, including the aforementioned lilies, are extremely toxic to cats. Even just a tiny nibble of a leaf or flower, or a lick of some pollen that’s fallen on a cat’s fur could cause severe kidney failure.
Due to their recent rise in popularity, essential oils are also frequently reported to be harmful to pets. Some are considered toxic, and others can be dangerous if they’re too highly concentrated. VCA Animal Hospitals lists cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen and ylang ylang as being toxic to both dogs and cats, whether they ingest it or simply get it on their skin.
Another wellness trend that may pose a threat to your kitty is the Himalayan salt lamp. Seemingly harmless, they can pose a risk to cats that lick them. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, “salt poisoning in dogs and cats results in vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, excessive thirst or urination, potential injury to the kidneys, tremors, coma and even death when untreated.”
When keeping our pets safe, it’s important to consider our feathery friends as well. Keep them away from harmful foods like avocado, caffeine, tomato leaves, chocolate, onions and fruit pits or apple seeds.
Also be sure to banish toxic plants like poinsettias, ivy, daffodils and jasmine.
Particular care is needed when dealing with any kind of fumes. Birds are extremely sensitive to smoke and other aerosols, as their airways inhale and exhale simultaneously with every breath.
Hazards include common household items like:
• Cookware with nonstick coating (Teflon/PTFE)
• Cleaning supplies, especially bleach and ammonia
• Space heaters and ceramic stoves
• Perfumes, nail polish, hair spray, permanent markers and scented candles
Some simple preventative steps can help keep our furry or feathery friends safe. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, don’t delay — call your veterinarian immediately or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
Carina DeVera is the digital marketing manager for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, email lbloch@marinhumane.org, or find us social media @marinhumane.
