Poison Prevention Awareness: What you need to know for the safety of your pet
Posted 18th Mar 2022
Poison Prevention Awareness: What you need to know for the safety of your pet
March is a month-long awareness for Poison Prevention. It’s not just about pets, however, we’re taking the opportunity to remind pet owners of what they need to be aware of as spring arrives and we head into summer. We don’t need to tell you the importance of this knowledge, so please find out the list of things to be aware of and share with someone who needs to be aware too!
Why do we need to be aware this month?
A pet inhaling or ingesting something poisonous can be fatal. Making sure that we know what natural occurring plants and things we frequently have in our homes could cause our pets harm ensures that our pets remain healthy or if something happens, we know what the cause was and how to treat it quickly and effectively.
Things in your home that are dangerous for your pet
There are many things we have in our home that are poisonous for our pets that we might not be aware of. Here is a list of things you want to be aware of to help keep your pets safe:
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados
Cherry pits
Candy (particularly chocolate or any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Chives
Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
Garlic
Grapes
Gum (can cause blockages and sugar-free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions, onion powder and onion flakes
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (because it contains caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
Yeast dough
Spring things you need to be aware of
As we head into spring, you’ll want to be aware of plants that might not be native to the UK, but grow in abundance:
Rhododendron
Yew
Hydrangea
Daffodil
Tulip
Choking hazards!
We also want to make a quick note on choking hazards. Your pet can suffocate or choke on items which could also be fatal. It's important that they are unable to reach things that are either poisonous or could cause a choking hazard. Pets are often interested in discarded food packaging and small things that we wouldn't even notice if they had them in their mouths. Prevention is best, so removing these things from spaces your pet can reach is the best option!
We hope that we’ve created enough of a list of the most popular things to help more pet owners be aware of poisons around daily life. If your pet does inhale or ingest something poisonous it's crucial that you get hold of an animal emergency helpline along with getting them to a vet asap. We advise looking up your veterinary practices protocol for poison so you know what to do in an emergency or if you see someone else in need of help in your area.
For an extended list of spring poisonous plants, find our other article here: Poison Prevention: Spring Plants you need to know! | Pets of the People