Dogs are notorious for consuming a series of things they shouldn’t. After all, for them, the math is simple: if it smells good, it automatically tastes good, right? Well, even things that taste good to your dog can be quite bad for them.
As a matter of fact, some of the seemingly harmless things in your house can oftentimes be poisonous to dogs. Well, being aware of the risks is definitely the first step, and preventing your dog from getting into potentially harmful substances is definitely the second.
Puppy-proofing (even with your dog as an adult, now) is very important, but you should also come up with a plan to enact in case your dog comes into contact with a toxic substance. We discussed a series of veterinary experts about a series of things that are considered to be poisonous to dogs. Below, you will find a list of some of the most dangerous things, listed in categories. We will soon review as well what you need to do if your dog eats something that’s toxic.
According to certain veterinary experts, here’s a list of things that you should be especially aware of:
Dangerous foods for dogs
The majority of dog parents are aware that chocolate is very harmful to dogs. However, everyday things you might eat or cook with can be just as poisonous to dogs, too. Here’s a rapid list of some of the most toxic choices for your dog: alcohol, bread dough, chocolate, coffee, cooked bones, fruit seeds and pits, garlic, grapes, Macadamia nuts, onions, raw meat, salt, and seasoning.
For some of the products we just enlisted, such as avocado and other fruits, only the peel, seeds, and pits have toxins. Recent research, as a matter of fact, has proven that tartaric acid might be the one to blame for the toxicity of grapes.
However, the toxin in macadamia nuts hasn’t yet been found. Moreover, all onion-family foods, such as chives, garlic, or leeks, can also cause a dangerous form of anemia, particularly when ingested in sufficient doses.
For some of the foods on this list, it makes a huge difference whether the food is well-cooked or not. Raw bread dough, for instance, has yeast that produces ethanol, which can also cause a toxic reaction in some dogs.
Moreover, fish, eggs, poultry, and meat are also the safest for dogs, especially if cooked, but the bones are definitely not. Cooked bones can also splinter or form a painful obstruction in your dog’s digestive tract. Raw, meaty bones could be much safer to chew.
How can you protect your dog?
The secret to protecting your little pup from potentially harmful foods is eliminating access to them. For example, if you keep anything within reach, such as low cupboards or on open shelving, then it might be time to reorganize.
All food should be 100% stored in covered containers in specific spots around the house where your dog doesn’t have access. Moreover, if you have parties or even events where food sits out, then it has to be high enough to keep your dog from temptation.
This could also imply changes for the holidays, as well as your average dinner routine. You also want to make sure guests know all the house rules before caving to those pleading dog eyes and feeding them something that could make them sick.
Household cleaning products toxic to dogs
Well, the same products you need to keep your house squeaky clean, and safe could prove to be harmful to your pets. Here’s an efficient list of cleaning products and common household things that could prove to be poisonous to dogs: Ammonia, all-purpose cleaners, artificial fragrances, bleach and chlorine, detergents, fabric softeners, floor cleaners, disinfectants, isopropyl alcohol, phenols, stain removers, toilet bowl cleaners.
All these cleaning products are made with chemicals such as bleach, chlorine, and phenols, which means they can have quite a corrosive effect on your dog’s skin, eyes, as well as lungs. Artificial fragrances such as phthalates can also irritate your dog’s lungs, as well as certain essential oils used to scent natural cleaning products.
Cleaning products that are rich in alcohol can also pose quite a danger, especially if ingested. So many of these cleaning products and other household chemicals are toxic to dogs for exactly the same reasons they are very dangerous for children.
As you might know, dogs are much smaller than any average adult. It doesn’t require a high dose to cause toxicity. Besides, dogs can absorb toxins through their paw pads, or even ingest them when licking themselves, their toys, as well as their bedding.
House plants that are dangerous to dogs
The same set of plants that breathe life into your space could easily put your dog’s health in jeopardy. Some are, in fact, deadly, and others cause oral irritation and digestive upset when eaten. Here’s a rapid list of some of the most dangerous houseplants for pets:
- Aloe vera
- Caladium (elephant ear)
- Cyclamen
- Desert rose
- Dieffenbachia
- Peace lilies
- Philodendron
- Ponsettia
- Pothos
- Sago palm
- Schefflera
Swap out poisonous plants
Houseplants, as a general rule, aren’t as harmful to dogs unless they eat them. That’s why it is very wise to keep anything that might be toxic well out of your dog’s reach. Better yet, you should consider replacing poisonous houseplants with another set of plants that are safe for dogs. For instance, you can swap pothos for spider plants, peperomia for caladium, and easter lily for peace lily, as well as orchids in place of desert rose.
Also, don’t forget to check the plants in your yard or garden, too. Blooming beauties such as autumn crocus, tulips, daffodils, and lilies of the valley are known to be toxic to dogs. In fact, even more toxic are shrubs such as oleander, azalea, and rhododendron.
In some instances, it’s only parts of the plant you have to worry about, such as Japanese yews (the berries aren’t toxic but the rest of the plant definitely is). Choose dog-safe plants for landscaping or even consider fencing to keep your dog away from poisonous plants.
Lawn and garden products dangerous to dogs
Chemicals you generally keep in the garage or shed, such as the products you might use to treat your lawn and garden, can prove to be dangerous for your dog. Here is a list of things in the garden that are extremely bad for dogs: fertilizer, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, insect repellent, motor oil, mulch, rodenticide, snail and slug bait, weed killer, windshield wiper fluid.
How to keep your dog safe
It’s advised to make a habit out of checking the label before using chemicals inside or outside your home to fully determine whether it’s safe for pets or not. If there isn’t any warning on the label, you should look for potentially harmful ingredients such as carbamates, disulfoton, organophosphates, as well as pyrethrins.
In case your pet ingests them, these chemicals might provoke vomiting and diarrhea, and in certain cases, seizures and death. So you have to make sure your dog is safe indoors, especially when using any lawn or garden products. Moreover, you should store them far away from your dog’s reach, or at least attempt to secure the cabinet.
Medications and toiletries
Medications, personal care products, and cosmetics are full of ingredients that are extremely harmful to your dog. Here’s a wide list of things that could be deemed as poisonous to dogs:
- Acne treatment
- ADHD medication
- allergy medicine
- anticoagulants
- beta blockers
- birth control
- body wash and soap
- cosmetics
- creams, lotions, ointments
- deodorant and antiperspirant
- flea and tick preventives
- hair products
- hand sanitizer
- nail polish and remover
- pain relievers
- petroleum jelly
- products with THC
- shampoo and conditioners
- sunscreen
- thyroid hormones
- toothpaste with xylitol
Human medications for your dog
As some human medications are known to be extra safe for dogs, dosage still makes quite a difference. Anti-anxiety medications, antihistamines, as well as allergy medications are some of the first examples. They might be much safer for dogs at a lower dose, but too much could definitely harm the pup.
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