Pets and Household Dangers

Dangers
Many common household items can pose a threat to animal companions. Even some items specifically meant for pets could cause health problems. To protect your pet, simply use common sense and take the same precautions you would with a child. Although rodent poisons and insecticides are the most common sources of companion animal poisoning, there are less common but potentially toxic agents which should be avoided if at all possible.

For more about common household dangers click here.

Poisons
Family pets (and all animals) risk all kinds of poisoning from all kinds of places. Snakes can poison; some plants can poison; and hundreds of poisonous materials are used around the home by people every day — things like pesticides, weed killers, lawn sprays, acids, fertilizers, paints . . . the list is endless. Here's what you can do if your pet is poisoned: Keep the animal warm and quite Try to determine what the poison was, when it was ingested, and the amount swallowed Immediately call your veterinarian or your nearest poison control center 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435) .

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center

If you decide to take the pet to your veterinarian, bring the container (or the label) with you. Most of the time poisoning is accidental. Keep poisonous materials out of reach, know what your pet is doing at all times, and keep emergency telephone numbers handy.