Could Your Home Pass a Pet Safety Test?

Our goal at PlayTime Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers is to keep your pets healthy and safe, whether in your care or ours. Check off your pet safety list with our following lists of common household dangers. 

Top Poisonous Plants for Pets

-Autumn Crocus, part of the Liliaceae family (Severe vomiting, GI bleeding, liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure)

-Azalea, in the same family as Rhododendrons. (Vomiting, diarrhea, can be fatal if untreated)

-Cyclamen, An especially dangerous seasonal flowering plant.  (Severe vomiting, can be fatal if untreated)

-Kalanchoe, a blooming succulent plant. (Vomiting, Diarhhea)

-Lilies (depending on the kind) Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies are especially toxic to cats (Kidney failure, irritation of the mouth and esophagus)

-Oleander, A popular outdoor shrub (Severe vomiting, slowing down of heart rate, can be fatal if untreated)

-Lily of The Valley, The Convallaria majalis plant, contains cardiac glycosides which causes symptoms similar to foxglove ingestion (vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures)

-Sago Palm, An indoor/outdoor plant. The seeds or “nuts” contain a large amount of toxins. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.

-Daffodils, These flowers contain lycorine, which triggers vomiting. (Ingestion can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression.)

-Tulips and Hyacinths; Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic aspect of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs. When ingested, it can result in tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus. The most common symptoms include profuse drooling, vomiting, or even diarrhea, depending on the amount consumed.

Find the Full List of Poisonous Plants for dogs here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Find the Full List of Poisonous Plants for cats here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

Common “People Foods” that can be highly dangerous 

-Alcohol: (Vomiting, Diarrhea, Central Nervous depression, etc.)

-Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine: (All contain Methylxanthines, which can cause various symptoms, and can be fatal if left untreated. Dark chocolate contains the highest amount of methylxanthines, whereas white chocolate contains the least.)

-Grapes and Raisins: (Kidney failure, especially fatal in dogs)

-Macadamia Nuts: (Depression, vomiting, hyperthermia, tremors and weakness)

-Milk and Dairy: (Some speciality food stores carry specifically formulated versions of Goat’s Milk, which can be very beneficial to your pet. However, use caution when pouring straight out of your milk carton.  Since our pets do not biologically carry large amounts of lactase (an enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products can cause them to have diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

-Products containing Xylitol: Xylitol is a chemical utilized in many sugar free products, most notably sugar free gum and mints. Read your labels! An overdose of this chemical can cause severe liver damage and dangerously low blood sugar.

-Onions, Garlic and Chives: The culprit here is thiosulphate, a substance that can cause trauma to red blood cells and cause severe anemia in large doses. Onions are the most hazardous, however garlic may be just as dangerous in large doses.

-Avocado: Not only does an avocado pit pose as a choking hazard, it also contains a substance called Persin. Persin can be highly dangerous to dogs, causing acute vomiting and diarrhea.

-Yeast Dough: Severe gastrointestinal upset, including cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting

The worst chemicals found in household cleaners

-Ammonia: (Found in many de-greasers) Ammonia can cause burns to mucous membranes, and can contribute to asthma in pets and humans

-Glycol Ethers: (Found in many glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, and spot removers). Glycol ethers can contribute to to lung damage, kidney damage, and can cause anemia. This chemical is dangerous to both pets and humans.

-Formaldehyde: (Found in some soaps, certain pet shampoos, certain laminate flooring, and other household items) Formaldehyde is a known carcinogenic, and can contribute to asthma)

-Chlorine: (Found in disinfectants, household cleaners, and dish detergent) Chlorine can cause dizziness, lethargy, vomiting, and fatal injuries.

The Top 10 Toxins For Pets

Pets are curious by nature…Keep them safe and healthy this year by keeping the following substances/medications locked up in a safe place.

-Topical Spot-On Insecticides

-Household Cleaners

-Antidepressants

-Lilies (refer to article Top Poisonous Plants for Pets)

-Insoluble Oxalate Plants (refer to article Top Poisonous Plants for Pets)

-Human and Veterinary Pain Relievers

-Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol)

-Glow Sticks 

-ADD/ADHD medications

-Mouse and Rat Poisons