Common Household Dangers for Pets.
Around the home there are many things that you may not be aware of that can be poisonous for dogs and cats. These dangers can be found in the kitchen, in the garage and the garden and also in your medicine cupboard.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate and cooking chocolate eaten by dogs can cause seizures (fits), heart irregularities and death. Milk chocolate is not dangerous as it does not contain the toxic ingredient in dark chocolate (theobromine). The toxic dose of cooking chocolate for a small dog is 20g and for a large dog is 120g.
Grapes and raisins are potentially toxic to some dogs (but not cats), they can cause damage to the kidneys and kidney failure.
Macadamia nuts (raw and cooked) are poisonous to dogs. This can be forgotten when they are in cookies or snacks.
Onions and garlic cause damage to dog’s red blood cells and a severe anaemia. Be careful not to feed dogs left overs like Chinese take away which may contain a lot of onions and garlic.
Xylitol is the ingredient in sugarless chewing gum, some sweets and some toothpaste and is poisonous to dogs and cats. It causes low blood sugar levels, which can result in weakness, seizures and coma.
Many human prescription medications are dangerous if ingested by pets. Paracetamol (panadol) is very toxic to cats. Cats are deficient in a particular enzyme making them susceptible to liver damage and potential death if they ingest panadol.
Cats are also susceptible to poisoning and kidney failure if they eat lilies (this includes the flowers and the leaves of lily plants in the garden or in flower arrangements). The varieties of toxic lilies include Easter lily, Asiatic hybrid lily, Tiger lily and Day lily. Poisoning causes seizures, vomiting and collapse due to acute kidney failure.
Other more obvious poisons to dogs and cats to be aware of are rodenticides (rat and mice baits) and snail baits. Animals seem to be attracted to these and they are very poisonous to dogs and cats.
Garbage and compost can cause poisoning if eaten and once again, animals seem to be attracted to this.
Marijuana is sometimes injested by pets. It causes behaviour change, a slow heart rate, seizures, coma and cardiac rest.
Please take precautions and keep your best friends safe from dangers in your home.
