Pet poisons that may be lurking in your home
One of the best things prospective pet owners can do before welcoming new pets into their families is to conduct a poison audit throughout their homes. Pets are often vulnerable to common household items that may not pose a threat to adults. That’s especially true for curious pets anxious to explore their new surroundings.
The Pet Poison Helpline, a licensed animal poison control center dedicated to preventing poison-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities to pets, offers this room-by-room breakdown to help existing and potential pet owners find items around the house that could pose a threat to their furry friends.
Attics and basements
■ Mothballs
■ Rodenticides
■ Insecticides
■ Paint
Laundry rooms
■ Fabric softener
■ Bleach
■ Detergents, including detergent pods
■ Dryer sheets
Bathrooms
■ Medications, including prescription drugs and over-thecounter drugs
■ Caffeine pills
■ Drain and toilet cleaners
■ Ammonia
■ Bleach
■ Inhalers
■ Lime and rust removers
■ Cough drops
Living room
■ Plants
■ Liquid potpourri
■ Devices, including smartphones
■ Batteries, such as those inside remote controls
Garages and garden sheds
■ Automotive fluids, including antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, motor oil, and gasoline
■ Ice melt products
■ Lawn and garden products, including weed killer, grub and snail bait and rodenticides
■ Paint
■ Glue
■ Mothballs
■ Fertilizers
■ Bone, blood and feather meal
■ Plants
■ Insecticides
■ Compost
Kitchen
■ Chocolate
■ Macadamia nuts
■ Grapes, raisins and currants
■ Onions, garlic and chives
■ Caffeinated products, such as coffee and tea
■ Chicken bones
■ Fatty scraps
■ Unbaked yeast bread dough
■ Alcohol
■ Table salt
■ Kitchen cleaning products