Beware of household hazards that could be toxic to your pet

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Common household hazards for pets

Many of the foods, plants, and products we encounter or use every day can actually be toxic to your pet’s health.

To help keep your furry friends safe and healthy, we’ve put together a list of common household items to keep away from your pet. These household hazards should be kept out of reach (or avoided altogether).

Foods to avoid

  • Alcohol
  • Avocados
  • Caffeine
  • Cherries
  • Chocolate
  • Currants
  • Garlic
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Milk
  • Moldy food
  • Mushrooms
  • Nuts
  • Onions, garlic, and chives
  • Pitted fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots
  • Salt and salty snack foods
  • Star fruit
  • Undercooked meat or eggs, bones
  • Xylitol, a sweetener commonly found in chewing gum, mints, toothpastes, even some peanut butters!
  • Yeast dough

Household products

  • Antifreeze
  • Chemicals and fertilizers used on lawns and gardens
  • Chip bags, snack bags, cereal bags, zip-locks (suffocation risk)
  • Cigarettes and tobacco products
  • Cleaning products
  • Cocoa mulch
  • De-icing salts used to melt snow and ice
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Insect and pest control products (like insecticides, baits, traps, and poisons)
  • Over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs

Plants hazardous to your pets

  • Aloe
  • Azalea
  • Baby’s Breath
  • Begonia
  • Carnation
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Daffodil
  • Daisy
  • Geranium
  • Hibiscus
  • Holly
  • Hosta
  • Hydrangea
  • Ivy
  • Lavender
  • Lily
  • Milkweed
  • Mint
  • Mistletoe
  • Morning Glory
  • Peony
  • Philodendron
  • Poinsettia
  • Rhododendron
  • Rhubarb
  • Tulip

For a full list of plants to avoid, check out our handy plant guide or read our article on toxic plants

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Did your pet just eat poison?

Take immediate action if you suspect your pet has come into contact with a household toxin. Contact your veterinarian or local emergency vet, or call one of the pet poison hotlines below.