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Poisons

Keeping your pets safe from potential toxins and poisons is an incredibly important part of responsible pet ownership. Many dog owners are unaware of several common poisons that lurk in their home and yard.

Outdoor Poisons and Toxins:

Antifreeze. Because of its sweet taste, antifreeze is a dangerous attractant to dogs. It can be deadly to both dogs and cats even in quantities as small as one teaspoon. Pet owners should choose antifreeze that contains propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
Fertilizer and lawn chemicals. Always monitor what your dog is doing outside. Chemicals used in lawns and gardens can be fatal if ingested by your pet.
Cocoa mulch. This is a type of mulch commonly sold home and garden improvement stores, and its chocolate scent can make it dangerously appealing to pets. It can be fatal if ingested.
Rodent traps and poisons. Traps meant for rodents can often cause injury and illness to pets. If you use rodent traps or poisons, make sure they are far out of reach of any pets.
De-icing salt. On cold, snowy days make sure that you wash and dry your dogs’ paws immediately when they come inside. If your dog gets de-icing salt on its paws and then licks it off, he could be susceptible to poisoning.

Indoor Poisons and Toxins:

Human medications. Never give your dog any type of human medication without first consulting your veterinarian. Medications like aspirin, cold medicine, vitamins, and diet pills can all be highly dangerous to your pets.
Holiday decorations. Many pet owners love to decorate for the holidays, but it’s important to be mindful of your pets’ interactions with these items. Holiday lights especially can pose a risk to both dogs and cats.
Chocolate. It is commonly known that chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats. Baking chocolate and semisweet chocolate carry the highest risk of toxicity to your dog.
Meat bones. It is common for dog owners to want to “throw their dog a bone,” but eating leftover bones can pose an extreme health hazard to your dogs. These bones are prone to shattering and ingestion can be fatal in some cases.
Human food. Some other human food items to keep away from your dog include grapes or raisins, alcohol, macadamia nuts, onions, and onion powder.