dvm (13)Unfortunately, pets get into things that they shouldn’t. They eat things that they shouldn’t. Sometimes, your pet will be just fine after eating something, but there are many things that are very toxic to pets.

The following are some of the worst toxins for pets.

Objects that are too big. Somehow dogs and cats can eat things that just amaze us. These things (toys, ribbons, etc) start to make their way through the intestinal tract before getting stuck. Your dog or cat may start having diarrhea that turns into vomiting before you even realize that something in your house is missing. These items need to be surgically removed. Some pets don’t learn and continue to eat things that they shouldn’t.

Rodenticides and insect traps are very harmful to pets. They are designed to kill insects and rodents and work the same way on our pets too. For this reason, it is important to keep your traps and rodenticides out of your pet’s way. It may be easier to hire a company to take care of your insect or rodent problem.

Pain medications can be very harmful to animals. Dog pain medications can kill cats. The same can be said for ours. Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) can be deadly to dogs. It does not matter if they take the brand name or the generic, the effects are the same. Since a dog’s or cat’s liver and stomach can’t handle this medication, if your pet injects some, it is important to call Animal Poison Control right away.

Cats can be really sensitive to many canine products. Certain flea and tick medications, whether they are accidentally used on the cat or the cat licks the wet spot of the medication, can do a lot of harm For this reason, you should always separate your pets when using flea and tick medications.

Many household cleaners can also be harmful if ingested. Please be careful when you are cleaning around your pet and never leave products laying around.

It is really important to pet-proof your house so that your pet can live a long and healthy life. Be sure to keep cleaning products, pain medications, and any other objects that can cause harm away from your pet.

If you have any questions about pet-proofing your house or about other toxins, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (562) 427-2889.