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Tips to keep your pet safe

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2008

A reader relayed a terrifying experience they had in the past week with the accidental poisoning of their pet. It is easy to overlook deadly items that are not dangerous to humans, but fatal to our pets.

In light of this sad loss, it is time to repeat the list of deadly household items that put our pets at risk. Please remember how tempting the smell and/or movement of these items can be to your pet and keep the out of reach of your best friend no matter how well trained you believe them to be. We all make mistakes, and so do they.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

- Alcoholic beverages

- Avocado

- Chocolate (all forms)

- Coffee (all forms)

- Fatty foods

- Macadamia nuts

- Moldy or spoiled foods

- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes

- Salt

- Yeast dough
- Garlic

- Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards

- Animal toxins-toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions

- Blue-green algae in ponds
- Citronella candles
- Cocoa mulch
- Compost piles Fertilizers

- Flea products

- Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
- Swimming-pool treatment supplies

- Fly baits containing methomyl

- Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication

Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:

- Pain killers

- Cold medicines
- Anti-cancer drugs

- Antidepressants

- Vitamins

- Diet Pills

Cold Weather Hazards

- Antifreeze

- Liquid potpourri
- Ice melting products

- Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards

- Fabric softener sheets
- Mothballs

- Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Holiday Hazards

- Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.

- Electrical cords

- Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction-most often occurs with kittens!)

- Batteries

- Glass ornaments

Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats

The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:

- Water-based paints

- Toilet bowl water

- Silica gel

- Poinsettia

- Cat litter

- Glue traps

- Glow jewelry

The above list is courtesy ofthe ASPCA poison control website.

Cut this article out and hang it on your refrigerator or near you pet food storage area. Remind yourself on a regular basis what you need to guard against for the safety of your pet. The old saying "An ounce of prevention..." has never been more applicable.

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