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Household Dangers
 Castor bean leaf
Our pets quickly become a part of our homes, but did you know
that sometimes our homes can put our pets in danger?
Seemingly harmless things in our homes can pose a real threat to animals. Here
is a list of common household items that can pose a danger to your pets:
1. Moth balls
Either naphthalene or para dichlorobenzene, can be used in moth balls, and
both substances are toxic. This chemical tends to change it's state from a
solid to a gas form very quickly. If inhaled it can be fatal, and if ingested
moth balls are extremely harmful. Do not induce vomiting if ingested - rather
drink plenty of water and consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Symptoms
can include: weakness, lethargy, increased heart and respiration rate, pale
mucous membranes, jaundice, vomiting and abdominal pain. Urine may also contain
traces of blood.
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2. Anti-freeze
Most brands of commercial antifreeze consist of 95 percent ethylene glycol, an extremely toxic chemical. Even a few licks of this sweet-tasting liquid can be fatal to a cat or dog. Another source of antifreeze is the decorative "snow globes" glassware. The liquid in the these displays contain 2% antifreeze and are very toxic. Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two stages: 1) ethylene glycol in the antifreeze causes a drunken appearance in the animal within about 30 minutes which may continue for several hours. After passing through stage 1, the animal appears to recover. But within 12 to 36 hours of ingestion, these metabolites have reached such a level that the animal’s kidneys stop functioning, and the animal slips into a coma.
Also note that some popular household cleaners also contain anti-freeze. Check
the contents of the cleaning materials you use to make sure they are safe
for
your pets.
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3. Thread, string, floss
These seemingly innocuous items can be deadly, especially for cats who seem to be drawn to string, any form of thread. Cats can swallow thread in large amounts and it can become tied around their tongues, intestines, and other inner organs leading to major injury and/or death. Keep anything resembling string, floss, wire, thread, rubbebands and twine locked away. If your cat begins vomiting more than usual, has diarrhea, constipation, lethargy or erratic behaviour.
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4. Certain foods
Grapes, onions, chocolate, and chicken bones can all be dangerous for animals
either due to toxins or choking dangers. When cooking make sure to pick up
fallen foods and wipe off counters that animals can reach. Also, be sure your
garbage is tightly sealed and out of paws reach.
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5. Non-stick coatings (When overheated)
This technically falls under poisoning but warrants a special mention because
use of these products is very common. When overheated, the non stick coating
emits fumes that are very toxic to birds when inhaled. This coating is
found on non stick cookware but may also be found on waffle irons, bread machines, irons,
ironing
board covers, curling irons, space heaters, blow dryers and more.
If possible,
switch to a safer type of cookware, and use other products with non-stick
coating as far away from birds as possible. Long-term use of non-stick
products in close proximity to birds may potentially pose a danger as well.
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6. Plants
While there are many benefits to having plants in your home, choosing the
right plant can mean the difference between life and death for your animals.
More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active
or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.
Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions
ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar
vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.
Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic
reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which
are generally
identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.
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Common plants that may produce a toxic reaction in animals
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PLANT
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TOXIC PARTS
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PLANT TYPE
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Aconite
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roots, foliage, seeds
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garden flower
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Apple
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seeds
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cultivated tree
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Arrowgrasses
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leaves
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marsh plants
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Atropa belladonna
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entire plant esp. seeds, roots
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garden herb
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Autumn Crocus
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entire plant
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garden flower
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Azaleas
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entire plant
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cultivated & wild shrub
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Baneberry
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berries, roots
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wildflower
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Bird-of-Paradise
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pods
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garden flower
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Black locust
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entire plant esp. bark, shoots
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tree
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Bloodroot
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entire plant esp. stem, roots
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wildflower, herb
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Box
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entire plant esp. leaves
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ornamental shrub
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Buckeye
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sprouts, nuts, seeds
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tree
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Buttercup
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entire plant esp. leaves
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wildflower, garden herb
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Caladium
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entire plant
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house plant
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Carolina jessamine
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flowers, leaves
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ornamental plant
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Castor bean
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entire plant esp. beans
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house plant
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Chinaberry tree
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berries
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tree
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Chokecherries
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leaves, cherries, pit
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wild shrub
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Christmas berry
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leaves
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shrub
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Christmas Rose
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rootstock, leaves
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garden flower
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Common privet
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leaves, berries
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ornamental shrub
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Corn cockle
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seeds
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wildflower, weed
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Cowbane
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entire plant esp. roots
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wildflower, herb
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Cow cockle
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seeds
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wildflower, weed
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Cowslip
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entire plant esp. leaves, stem
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wildflower, herb
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Daffodil
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leaves
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shrub
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Daphne
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bark, berries, leaves
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ornamental shrub
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Day lily
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entire plant is toxic to cats
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garden & wildflower
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Death Camas
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leaves, stems, seeds, flowers
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field herb
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Delphinium (Larkspur)
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entire plant esp. sprouts
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wildflower
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Dutchman's breeches
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roots, foliage
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wild & garden flower
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Easter lily
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entire plant is toxic to cats
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flowering house plant
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Elderberry
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leaves, bark, roots, buds
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tree
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Elephant's ear
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entire plant
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house plant
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English Ivy
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entire plant esp. leaves, berries
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ornamental vine
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European Bittersweet
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entire plant esp. berries
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vine
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False Flax
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seeds
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wild herb
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False hellebore
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roots, leaves, seeds
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ornamental flower
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Fan weed
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seeds
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wildflower, herb
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Field peppergrass
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seeds
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wildflower, herb
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Flax
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seedpods
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wildflower, herb
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Foxglove
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nuts, sprouts
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wild & garden flower
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Holly
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berries
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shrub
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Horsechestnut
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nuts, sprouts
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tree
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Horse nettle
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entire plant esp. berries
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wildflower, herb
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Hyacinth
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bulbs
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wild & house plant
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Iris
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leaves, roots
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wild & garden flower
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Jack-in-the-pulpit
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entire plant esp. roots, leaves
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wildflower
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Jatropha
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seeds
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tree, shrub
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Jerusalem Cherry
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unripe fruit, foliage
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ornamental plant
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Jimsonweed
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entire plant esp. seeds
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field plant
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Laburum
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seeds, pods, flowers
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ornamental plant
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Lantana
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foliage
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house plant
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Larkspur
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young plants
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wildflower
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Laurels
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leaves
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shrub
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Lily of the valley
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leaves, flowers
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garden & wildflower
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Lupines
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seeds, pods
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shrub
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Manchineel Tree
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sap, fruit
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tree
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Matrimony vine
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leaves, shoots
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ornamental vine
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Mayapple
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unripe fruit, roots, foliage
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wildflower
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Milk vetch
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entire plant
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wildflower
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Mistletoe
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berries
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house plant
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Monkshood
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entire plant esp. roots, seeds
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wildflower
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Moonseed
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fruit, roots
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vine
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Morning glory
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seeds, roots
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wildflower
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Mountain mahogany
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leaves
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shrub
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Mustards
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seeds
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wildflower
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Narcissus
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bulbs
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garden flower
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Nicotiana
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leaves
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garden flower
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Nightshade
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leaves, berries
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wildflower, vine
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Oaks
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shoots, leaves
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tree
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Oleander
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leaves
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ornamental shrub
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Philodendrons
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entire plant
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house plant
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Pokeweed
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roots, seeds, berries
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field plant
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Poinsettia
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leaves, stem, flowers
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house plant
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Poison hemlock
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leaves, stem, fruit
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field plant
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Potato
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shoots, sprouts
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garden plant
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Rattle box
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entire plant
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wildflower
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Rhododendron
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leaves
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ornamental shrub
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Rhubarb
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leaves
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garden plant
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Rosary pea
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seeds
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house plant
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Sago palm
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entire plant esp seeds
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ornamental plant
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Skunk cabbage
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entire plant esp roots, leaves
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marsh plant
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Smartweeds
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sap
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wildflower
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Snow-on-the-mountain
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sap
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field plant
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Sorghum
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leaves
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grass
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Star of Bethlehem
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entire plant
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wildflower
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Velvet grass
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leaves
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grass
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Wild black cherry
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leaves, pits
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tree
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Wild radish
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seeds
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wildflower
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Wisteria
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pods, seeds
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ornamental plant
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Woody aster
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entire plant
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wildflower
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Yellow Jessamine
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entire plant
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ornamental vine
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Yellow oleander
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entire plant esp. leaves
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garden plant
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Yellow pine flax
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entire plant esp. seedpods
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wildflower
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Yew
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bark, leaves, seeds
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ornamental tree
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