ninasupport 
If you didn’t know already, March 20th sees the start of National Poison Prevention Week. It is a great opportunity to raise awareness of potential hazards that could be lurking in your home and some of them can be surprising.
Common household products
Below is just a small sample of foods that can be toxic to your pets:
Caffeine
Alcohol
Chocolate
Antifreeze
Grapes/raisins
Onions
Garlic
Macadamia nuts
Human medicines
It is a well-known secret that some human medicines can be used on our cats and dogs, but overall, they can cause devastating effects if ingested by our pets and cause significant side effects and some can prove fatal.
It is therefore suggested that you keep your medications safely stored away out of reach, where your pets cannot reach them.
Veterinary prescription drugs
A lot of veterinary prescription drugs are often flavoured, extremely palatable, and can therefore be mistaken for treats by inquisitive pets, so please be aware and keep them well away, preferably in a locked cupboard.
Kitchen bins
Bins can be irresistible to both dogs and cats and in particular, unsecured bins can be an accident waiting to happen.
If your cat or dog can get their faces inside to consume rotting food, sharp bones, and metal cans, they could be in serious trouble, so you may need to secure the lid or better still, do not leave your pet alone in the kitchen.
Plants
There are so many people who bring plants/flowers into their home not knowing how toxic they can be to your pet.
Below are just a sample of those little nasties that can cause a severe reaction and in worse case scenarios, death, so please, if you have one in your home, remove them now.
- Lilies
- Tulips
- Cyclamen
- Azalia
- African violet
- Crocus
- Elephants’ ears
Please note that the above is just a small sample, and a full list can be found on a google search. Your pet may also have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant or flower that is not listed, so please check with your vet if in any doubt.
Household items
Even the most unexpected items could necessitate a visit to your vets, such as cleaning products, hand creams, make-up, ointment, and even a dog toy! Take a sock, for example, a harmless game that unsupervised, can become a real choking hazard!
No matter how hard we try, we cannot prepare for the unexpected, but we can, with a little knowledge and know-how, remove harmful items to ensure that your dog and cat remain safe and happy in our homes.
