Household items that are poisonous for your pet

Our beloved pets are so integral to our lives, so much a part of our families, that it can be difficult to remember that a lot of what is normal to us is poisonous to them. Sure, we all know dogs cannot eat chocolate, but did you know your diffuser could be poisoning them? There is a whole list of things out there that can harm your pet and it pays to be vigilant.

In Pets and Indoor Plants: Part I, we covered a list of indoor plants that could be poisonous for your pet. If you’re wondering which green babies you can bring home and which ones you can’t, go check it out!

In this blog, we’ll talk about other everyday items that are toxic to pets and that could endanger their health.

Essential oils

Looking to freshen up your home with a diffuser and some nice-smelling essential oils? Make sure you don’t choose any that can be toxic for your pet. Essential oils are the essence of plants; just like certain plants can be harmful for your pet, certain essential oils can be as well. Essential oils are also strong, which means they have a stronger reaction with your pets.

This means that if these oils rub against your pet’s skin or if your pet ingests or inhales them, there can be adverse effects. You’ll usually notice fatigue, drooling, difficulty breathing or walking, muscle tremors, and excessive pawing at their nose or eyes. Don’t take this lightly. If your pet inhales or ingests enough of the essential oil—and that can easily happen if you’re using it in your diffuser—it causes serious illness.

Here are some essential oils you need to watch out for cats and dogs:

Cats

· Clove

· Thyme

· Peppermint

· Cinnamon

· Sweet Birch

Dogs

· Juniper

· Yarrow

· Wintergreen

· Ylang Ylang

Mosquito repellent

There are very few places in India where mosquito repellent is unnecessary—we’d go as far as to say there are probably none. Mosquito repellent is a household staple and it has saved many of us on those hot summer nights where we have to keep the windows open. But it can also be harmful for your pet.

Mosquito repellent contains a high amount of DEET, which dogs especially can be very sensitive too. It can cause tremors or seizures in your pets. There are mosquito repellents on the market that are pet-safe though, so just ask your vet which one they recommend.

Cleaning products

We all know ingesting cleaning products can kill us, so it stands to reason they’re toxic for your pet too. But obvious as this point is, you’ll be surprised at the number of pet parents who don’t keep their cleaning products safely locked away. If you have a dog, then they are going to try to sample everything in your house at some point—and that includes your cleaning products. So keep your Harpic, Vim liquid refills, and phenol locked away or in an overhead cupboard so that your pet can’t reach them. These products are poisonous, and can cause serious illness.

Nicotine

If you smoke, vape or use a nicotine patch, then it is important to keep these as far away from your pet as possible. Nicotine is poisonous for pets, and too much can kill your pet. Effects include seizures, vomiting, decreased blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

The nicotine liquid you get for vaping devices is a particularly risky item here. These liquids can come flavored, which means dogs find it very hard to resist them. The liquids are also stored in small bottles and thus easy to leave lying around—you may be able to notice a the deep blue Harpic bottle on your living room table, but it will take more time for this nicotine bottle to stick out. Just be careful about where you leave it lying around.

The same goes for nicotine patches. Pets tend not to chew cigarettes through—thank god—but still, keeping them in a box and out of reach is always a good idea.

Soap!—well, fancy soap

You know those soaps that smell like bubble gum or strawberries or something else that sounds really nice? Do you remember when you unwrapped it and thought to yourself, man, it smells so good I could almost eat it!

Well, your dog has been thinking the same thing.

Make sure you don’t let your pet loose in the bathroom, or—if you do—that the soap and shampoos are out of reach. Anything is appetizing to a bored or hungry dog (and if you have a Labrador, they are always hungry). Eating soap can cause skin irritation, drooling, can clog up your pet’s bowels, and affect their kidney and liver.

[To be absolutely clear, normal soap is also harmful for your pet, not just fancy soap. It is just your pet is less likely to try and eat it.]

Alcohol

Alcohol is definitely harmful to your pet, so please make sure you keep those bottles out of reach. It’s not funny to see your dog tipsy—don’t give them a drink! And don’t leave it lying around. Alcohol can cause depression, lethargy, vomiting and retching for your pets. It’s not fun!

If your pet accidentally ingests any of these items, don’t panic. Take them to the vet immediately, and follow their instructions. Don’t try and home medicate—you don’t know severely the reaction is, and the vet will be able to give you a clear idea of the scale of the problem.