Potts Point Vet Hospital Blog

Common Household Poisons

Posted by Dr. Miriam Meek on 29-Mar-2018 15:10:46

The common poisons (or “toxins”) which pets encounter at home can be divided into food, medications, insecticides, chemicals, and other. The list below is just a few of the more commonly encountered poisons.

If you think your pet has been poisoned, no matter what the cause, do not hesitate to call us for advice immediately on (02) 80970060.

1. Foods

  • Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is safe in humans but toxic in dogs. The amount of theobromine increase with the darkness of the chocolate. Dark cooking chocolate is the most toxic. If you are worried, ring us or for future reference download the free app “Animal Poison by ASPCA” onto your smart phone.grapes_on_white.jpg
  • Macadamia nuts cause paralysis in dogs if eaten
  • Grapes, raisins and sultanas, including those in cakes, fruit bread and Hot Cross Buns, can cause kidney failure.
  • Onions and garlic can both be extremely dangerous – causing anaemia and even death.
  • Artificial sweetener – xylitol - usually found in lollies and sugar free chewing gum, can cause liver failure in dogs.
  • Raw bread dough can cause abdomen distention and vomiting and in severe cases, coma and death.
  • Avocados can cause gastrointestinal upsets in both cats and dogs.

2. Medications

  • Aspirin - only one aspirin tablet can be toxic     
  • Paracetamol is extremely toxic to catsrogaine.png
  • Codeine is toxic to both dogs and cats.
  • Ibuprofen is also toxic and can cause kidney damage.
  • Any other human drug can be potentially dangerous check with your vet if your pet has ingested any kind of human medication (even if by licking your skin after you have applied a medication, for example Rogain hair cream is toxic to cats). 

3. Insecticides  

  • Snail bait (blue or green pellets) are toxic to all animals.
  • Dog flea chemicals accidentally put on a cat could kill it.
  • Organophosphate insecticides can be overdosed so be careful

4. Household Chemicals

  • Rat poisons are all toxic to all animals. Some poisons act as anticoaAntifreeze.jpggulant, causing internal bleeding. Others act by damaging the kidneys. No rat poison is safe in dogs or cats.
  • Antifreeze used in car radiators in winter contains ethylene glycol. It tastes sweet but is extremely toxic, causing irreversible kidney damage and death.
  • Herbicides (generally if eaten or drunk)
  • Cleaning fluids could be toxic on contact

5. Other

  • Lily flowers and plants are toxic to cats.
  • Here is a downloadable list of potential toxic plants your pet might encounter.     
  • Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy etc are all extremely toxic in dogs and catsmarihuana.jpg
  • Spider bite – cats are particularly susceptible to red back spider.
  • Snake bites if walking in parkland or bush on hot sunny days
  • Tetanus from wounds
  • Ticks, predominantly from September to March
  • Botulism from eating carrion (dead animals) or garbage

Generally, cats tend to be less adventurous than dogs with what they put into their mouths, however, also remember that sometimes a toy may be potentially dangerous, for example if a cat swallows a long piece of string or wool or a hair tie then that may act like a poison, causing a gut obstruction.

If you ever think your pet may have licked, chewed or swallowed anything that is not food and you are not sure if it is dangerous, do not hesitate to call us on (02) 8097 0060.

Topics: prevention, safety, pets, dogs, cat, poison, toxin