National Animal Poison Prevention Week | March 16-22

Published on April 1, 2025

National Animal Poison Prevention Week educates pet owners on potential poisons for animals, how to recognize signs of poisoning, and what actions to take if poisoning occurs.

Toxic household items for pets

Medication
Household cleaners
Batteries
Laundray detergents
Garbage
Some plants

Secure toxic items and garbage from curious pets. Consider pet-safe plants to enhance your home naturally while keeping it safe for your furry friends.

Recommended chemical-free cleaner: Thieves Household Cleaner is a concentrated solution that gives you a deep clean when scrubbing, degreasing, spot cleaning, dusting, and more—all without harsh chemicals.

Safe houseplants:

Spider Plant- Helps to purify the air
Cat grass- Tasty treat for your feline friend? That is if you like grass 😹
Palms- So many different palms to choose from, from table size to a shade slinging giant!
Money Tree- Known for bringing good luck and air-purifying

Avoid aloe, philodendron, ivy, lilly, sago palm, snake plant, and hyacinth.

Foods that are toxic for pets

Coffee
Grapes
Xylitol & sorbitol (artifical sweetners)
Macadamia nuts
Chocolate
Avocado pits & skins
Onions
Bread dough

Some foods, like chocolate, grapes, onions, and certain nuts, can harm pets. Always keep these items out of reach to ensure a safe environment for your pets. Being mindful and taking preventative measures helps create a safe space for them.

From personal experience: A few years ago, our lab, Remi, ingested gum containing xylitol, causing alarming symptoms like foaming at the mouth and seizures. Fortunately, she fully recovered, but we monitored her liver levels due to potential damage risks.

Keep products containing xylitol out of reach and pay close attention to "sugar-free" labels, as they often include xylitol as an artificial sweetener.

Environmental toxins

Pestisides
Treated lands
Antifreeze
Rodent poison
Artifical fertilizer

Pets face environmental hazards such as pesticides, rodent poison, treated lands, artificial fertilizers, and antifreeze. To ensure safety, it's crucial to be aware of their surroundings and use natural, environmentally safe alternatives when possible.

Have you ever considered using catch and release traps? Catch and release traps are safer for both pets and rodents, preventing poisoning in your pet while also saving the rodents' lives. -All while keeping your home rodent free

Signs & symptoms of poisoning

Vomiting & diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Trembling
Excessive drooling
Fever- above 103°F for dogs or cats
Disorientation
Seizures
Rapid heart rate
Bleeding from the mouth, nose, or rectum

If you think your pet may have ingested something toxic, be sure to watch them very closely and call poison control immediately. the timing that symptoms occur can differ depending on what toxin was ingested and how much of it was ingested.

What to do if your pet is poisoned

If your pet is poisoned, immediately call your vet or poison control. Treatment varies by size and breed. If advised by a vet, you can induce vomiting, give activated charcoal, and provide supportive care at home.

Only give your pet medication if it is prescribed by a veterinarian.

Supportive care for pets involves keeping them hydrated, comfortable, and monitored. If advised by a vet, hydrogen peroxide can induce vomiting to remove poison, while activated charcoal binds toxins in the digestive system to prevent poison from entering the bloodstream.

Poisoning prevention

Use natural/ environmentally friendly cleaners and detergents
Be aware of potential poisons in and around your home
Have pet safe plants
Keep medication and toxins put away and out of reach
Always know what your pet is ingesting

There are many ways to prevent poisoning. you should know what things are toxic to your pet, Always keep your pet away from dangers, and use environmentally friendly alternatives like eco-friendly house cleaners, pet safe plants, and catch and release rodent traps.

Accidents can happen, making it crucial to be prepared and know the appropriate steps to follow in case of an incident. Remember, knowledge is empowering.