Be Prepared for a Poison Emergency
Your animal may become poisoned in spite of your best efforts to secure your home. Because of this, we urge you to be prepared. Your animal companion should regularly be seen by a local veterinarian to maintain overall health. You should know the veterinarian's procedures for emergency situations, especially ones that occur after usual business hours. You should keep the telephone numbers for the veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and a local emergency veterinary service in a convenient location.
Poison Safety Kit
Keep a pet safety kit on hand for emergencies. Such a kit should contain:
A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP)
Can of soft dog or cat food, as appropriate.
Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medical syringe.
Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants.
Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing.
Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid for the animal after skin contamination.
Rubber gloves.
Forceps to remove stingers.
Muzzle. An excited animal may harm you.
Pet carrier.
Calling the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435
A $45 consultation fee may apply. When you call the center, be ready to provide:
Your name, address and telephone number.
Information concerning the exposure (the amount of agent, the time since exposure, etc.). For various reasons, it is important to know exactly what poison the animal was exposed to. Have the product container/packaging available for reference.
The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
The symptoms your animal(s) is(are) experiencing.
Foods to Avoid Feeding to Your Pet
Alcoholic beverages
Avocado
Chocolate (all forms of chocolate)
Coffee (all forms of coffee)
Fatty foods
Macadamia nuts
Moldy or spoiled foods
Onions, onion powder
Raisins and grapes
Salt
Yeast dough
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
Pesticide Hazards
When using herbicides or insecticides in or around you home:
Always use pesticides in accordance with label instructions.
Keep pets away from treated areas for the label recommended amount of time.
Store unused products in areas that will always be inaccessible to pets.
Be aware that fly baits containing methomyl and slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde are particularly dangerous.
Medication Precautions
Keep all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs out of the reach of your pets, preferably in closed cabinets.
Remind guests to store their medications safely as well.
Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medication that could be potentially lethal even in small dosages.
One regular-strength ibuprofen tablet (200mg) can cause stomach ulcers in a 10-pound dog.
Cold Weather Hazards
Antifreeze: If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian right away.
Liquid potpourris: Exposure to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage.
Ice melting products can be irritating to skin and mouth.
Rat and mouse bait - place these products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.
Christmas Tree Hazards
Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
Electrical cords - Avoid animal exposure to electrical cords. If they are chewed they could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide electrical cords and never let your pet chew on them.
Ribbons or tinsel can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction. This is a very common situation for kittens!
Batteries contain corrosives, and if ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
Glass ornaments can cause internal laceration when ingested.
Plants that can harm your dog
[A]
Aloe
Amaryllis
Andromeda Japonica
Asian Lily (Liliaceae)
Asparagus Fern
Australian Nut
Autumn Crocus
Avocado
Azalea
[B]
Bird of Paradise
American Bittersweet
European Bittersweet
Branching Ivy
Buckeye
Buddist Pine
[C]
Caladium
Calla Lily
Castor Bean
Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron)
Charming Diffenbachia
Chinaberry Tree
Chinese Evergreen
Christmas Rose
Clematis
Cordatum
Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant)
Cornstalk Plant (aka Corn Plant)
Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman)
Cycads
Cyclamen
[D]
Daffodil
Day Lily
Devil's Ivy
Dumb Cane
Deadly Nightshade (See Nightshade)
[E]
Easter Lily
Elephant Ears
Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern)
Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather)
English Ivy
[F]
Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron
Flamingo Plant
Florida Beauty
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant
[G]
Glacier Ivy
Gladiolas
Glory Lily
Gold Dieffenbachia
Gold Dust Dracaena
Golden Pothos
Green Gold Nephthysis
[H]
Hahn's self branching English Ivy
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heavenly Bamboo
Holly
Horsehead Philodendron
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
[I]
Iris
[J]
Japanese Show Lily
Japanese Yew (aka Yew)
Jerusalem Cherry
[K]
Kalanchoe
[L]
Lace Fern
Lacy Tree
Lily of the Valley
[M]
Macadamia Nut
Madagascar Dragon Tree
Marble Queen
Marijuana
Mauna Loa Peace Lily (aka Peace Lily)
Mexican Breadfruit
Mistletoe "American"
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law
[N]
Narcissus
Needlepoint Ivy
Nephthytis
Nightshade
[O]
Oleander
Onion
Orange Day Lily
[P]
Panda
Peace Lily (aka Maana Loa Peace Lily)
Philodendron Pertusum
Plumosa Fern
Poinsettia
Precatory Bean
[Q]
Queensland Nut
[R]
Red Emerald
Red Lily
Red-Margined Dracaena (aka Straight-Margined Dracaena)
Red Princess
Rhododendron
Ribbon Plant
Rubrum Lily
[S]
Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Sago Palm
Satin Pothos
Schefflera
Spotted Dumb Cane
Stargazer Lily
Striped Dracaena
Sweetheart Ivy
Swiss Cheese Plant
[T]
Taro Vine
Tiger Lily
Tomato Plant
Tree Philodendron
Tropic Snow Dumbcane
Tulip
[V]
Variable Dieffenbachia
Variegated Philodendron
[W]
Warneckei Dracaena
Wood Lily
[Y]
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Yew (aka Japanese Yew)
Yucca