Treating our companions to some of the foods we relish can be very dangerous to pets. This is a guide to some of the common dangers in a household including a list of toxic foodstuffs, human medication, poisons and plants.

There are a number of things every pet owner can do to protect their pet, here are a few pointers:

*Ensure all household chemicals are stored in a safe place and out of reach from pets.

*Be wary of pets that scavenge food and items from your household bin, making sure

 you safely dispose of medicine, chemicals and food.

*If you are using poisons in the house or garden, prevent your pet from entering the

  contaminated area.

*Use alternatives to rat and snail baits. If you must use baits keep them well out of reach

 from pets.

*Only give your pet medication that is recommended by your vet.

*Feed your pet a nutritionally balanced diet.

*A pet doesn't have to directly eat or drink a toxin to become poisoned. For example if a

 cat lies in a garden that has been sprayed with insecticide or weed killer traces can get

 on the cat, which the cat will then ingest during grooming.

Human Medicines

Human drugs including common pain killers can cause severe complications in pets. Please ask your vet before giving your pet any medication or drugs. Cats are extremely sensitive to both aspirin and acetamaminophen (such as Panadol) and can be poisoned by human sized doses. Two regular acetaminophen tablets could kill a cat. Aspirin poisoning may take longer but can also be fatal.

Milk

Cats and dogs are frequently lactose intolerant, so avoid feeding them cow's milk and other dairy products. Although your pet might like eating these foods, they could result in digestive distress.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a pet can become excited and hyperactive. Theobromine will either increase the dog's heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.

After a pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within 24 hours.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10kg dog can be seriously affected if it eats a half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a pet unwell.

This includes cakes with the above ingredients especially mud cakes.

Onion & Garlic

Onions and garlic contain a toxic ingredient called thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger. Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the red blood cells burst apart while circulating in the body.

At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food and they will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal's urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.

Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeat meals containing small amount of onion.

Poisonous Plants

Your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant resulting in toxicity. Always contact your vet immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant.

Snail Baits

Various manufacturers claim their snail baits are pet friendly. They make this claim on the basis that the bait includes a bittering agent. Bittering agents only act as a deterrent. There are some pets that will still eat the baits which are extremely toxic. We recommend that these products are used with great caution. If your pet does ingest these baits please contact us immediately.

Parasite Control Products

Please read the instructions carefully on all parasite control products. Some common supermarket flea treatments for dogs are toxic to cats.

(Please note that this is not a complete list of items that may be toxic to your pet)

Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)
Alcohol
Antifreeze
Aromatherapy oils
Aspirin
Avocado flesh & pip
Bleach
Boric Acid
Broccoli (large amounts)
Brake Fluid
Cleaning Fluid
Chocolate
Cigarette, tobacco, cigars
Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
Deodorants and deodorizers
Detergent
Disinfectants
Dye
Furniture Polish
Fungicides
Garlic
Herbicides
Hops (used in home brewing)
Insecticides
Laxatives
Lead
Macadamia nuts
Marijuana
Metal Polish
Mineral Spirits
Mouldy /spoiled foods
Mothballs
Nail Polish & Remover
Paint
Paint Remover Preservatives
Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches & apricots, apple core pips (contains cyanogenic glysides resulting in cyanide poisoning)
Petrol
Potato peeling & green looking potatoes
Raisins & grapes
Rat and Ant poison
Rhubarb leaves
Rubbing Alcohol
Shoe polish
Snail/slug bait
Suntan Lotion
Tar
Téflon
Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
Weed killer
Windshield washer fluid
Wood
Yeast dough
Zinc
Xylitol

If you suspect your pet is acting different or may have had access to a potential toxin do not delay in seeking vet attention.

There are several signs of poisoning but these also vary on the type of toxin involved. Here are just some of the signs that indicate toxicity:

Vomiting.

Diarrhoea.

Increased urination.

Restlessness.

Hyperactivity.

Muscle twitching or shaking.

Seizures.

Hypersalivation.

If your pet is showing any of these signs - do not delay in seeking vet attention!

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