Protect Your Dog From Poisons - Most Common Household Things That Are Poisonous to Dogs

First off... thanks a million for click entering my blog. Welcome Dog Lovers! I am sure you are amongst those zillions of dog lovers, who're looking for ways to keep their dogs healthy and help them live longer happily. Either you have a dog or planning to have one or just have a cute little pooch! Taking care of your dog is the ultimate motto for you I am sure. That's really nice of you! But here's a terrifying-truth that may jangle your nerves. Wondering? The truth is: Dogs are amongst the most curious animals. Yes... I know you know this very well; and you might think what's so terrifying about it! Read on...

1. Antifreeze: Many people do not realize that common antifreeze kills many dogs and cats each year across the world, although such news are comparatively less in the tropical countries where antifreeze are not very much in use. And it's all due to the pet owners' lack of responsibility, knowledge and sincerity. The smell of Ethylene Glycol appeals dogs and it taste sweet too to them. However this is one of the most toxic components that should be kept out of their reach.
Symptoms of Antifreeze poisoning: Antifreeze toxicity includes signs like stumbling, vomiting, and seizures, sometimes accompanied by high heart rate and mild compulsion. Lethergic tendency accompanied by renal failure may be noticed in worst case.

2. Bleach and Caustic Soda: Substances like Bleach (NaOCl) and Caustic Soda (NaoH) are highly dangerous for pets. Substances like these are commonly kept for household purposes. Keep all such products and products that contain bleach and soda out of the reach of your dogs.

Symptoms of Bleach and Caustic Soda poisoning: Bleach and Caustic Soda toxicity vomiting and abdominal pain. Your dog will also drool.

3. Chocolate: Chocolate contains Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Chocolates - especially the baking chocolate and dark chocolates are more dangerous than others. Theobromine, however, increases urination and badly affects the central nervous system and heart muscle too. Smaller amount of theobromine can be really lethal to a 40 pound adult dog.

Symptoms of Chocolate poisoning: Within the first few hours, the dog will suffer hyperactivity accompanied vomiting and diarrhea. With time passing by, the heart rate will increase, causing Arrhythmia (irregular rhythm of heartbeat), restlessness, muscle twitching and increased urination. There will be excessive panting noticed along with hyperthermia (abnormal rise in body temperature - fever), muscle tremors, leading to seizures then coma and then death.

I've come across people saying: "I give chocolates to my Feder in little amount and he eats up happily. He's still alive". Remember, if you are doing that, you are slow poisoning your dog. Please get your Feder checked by your vet, lest he hasn't yet developed Arrhythmia. Very recently I came across someone who asked me if she could give some chocolates to her Charlie - a 15 months old fawn lab. She mentioned that her chocolates are expensive ones. Remember, more expensive chocolate contains more theobromine, revealing greater chance to be thrown in the danger zone.

The lamb may lie down by the lion, but he's not going to enjoy the sleep for long!

4. Detergents: Detergents are dangerous to dogs; fabric softeners, however, are highly toxic.

Symptoms of detergent poisoning: Detergent toxicity in dogs may show symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, drooling, weakness of muscles. Dogs may feel severe burning sensation in mouth. Ingestion of detergent in little higher quantity may put your dog to coma and may be lethal in worst case.

5. Household Plants: Well, this is an aspect people usually overlook - not because they are careless about it, but because many of them are not actually aware of this. I have seen dog lovers usually love gardens. They love to decorate their terraces and gardens with various flowering plants and crotons. Sometimes they turn up with wrong choice of plants. Some of the common plants are highly toxic to dogs. The list of the common toxic plants includes lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, poinsettias, aloe, creeping fig, weeping fig, Caladium, Calla Lily, Cardinal Flower, Carolina Jessamine, English Ivy and ivy etc. Another most common plant I have specially seen in the urban and sub-urban area is the datura plant. The Datura seedhead if ingested may kill a 45 pound dog within an hour or so. Beetle nuts are dangerous too. Even Eggplant (Foliage), Elderberry (Foliage), Narcissus (Bulbs), Narcissus Jonquilla, Natal Cherry are very dangerous plants seen in the gardens of many pet lovers.

Check out an exhaustive list of the plants that are poisonous for dogs.

Symptoms of herbs poisoning: Symptoms of poisoning due to ingestion of toxic plants and flowers affect the CNS (Central Nervous System) directly. The common symptoms include vomiting, sometimes accompanied with drowsiness. Sometimes dogs may show allergic signs - starting with swelling up of eye lids and then the whole face gradually. Some of these plants may be fatal if ingested.

6. Mouthwash, Contact Lens Cleaner, Denture Cleaner: Mouthwash contains boric acid (H3BO3, sometimes written B(OH)3), which makes it dangerous for pets if ingested. If ingested in a bit larger amount, this can be fatal, especially if your dog is a puppy or a small or toy breed.

Symptoms of H3BO3 poisoning: This includes drooling, vomiting, seizures and coma.

7. Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to pets. Older mothballs used to be made primarily of naphthalene, but these days its different. Modern Mothballs contains para-dichlorobenzene sublimate (1,4-dichlorobenzene), which is dangerous. Ingestion of Mothballs can lead to Hepatic failure.

Symptoms of Moth Balls poisoning: Symptoms of mothball poisoning usually start with drooling, vomiting and then seizures.

8. Seeds of Fruits: The peach pits and seeds of some fruits are toxic to dogs and other pets. Believe me, sometimes back I was also amongst those millions of people who are unaware of the fact that the the kernel inside a peach pit contains cyanide. Some other fruits - especially the fruits of rose family - like almonds, apples, apricots, cherries, crabapples, peaches and plums contains a substance called 'Cyanogenetic Glycosides' in their seeds. On ingestion, the substances 'Cyanogenetic Glycosides', releases 'hydrogen cyanide gas' through an enzymatic reaction, which is lethal for pets.

Symptoms of pits/seeds poisoning: Drooling, vomiting, and lethargy are the common symptoms of pits/seeds poisoning (peach pits poisoning).

9. Soft Drinks: It was March 1st 2006, when researchers revealed that traces of a carcinogenic compound (Benzene) was found in soft drinks at 8 times the permitted level in drinking water. As per the the Food Standards Agency, tests on 230 soft drinks on sale in the markets of Britain and France identified this compound at high level. Besides, soft drinks are charged with carbonic acid carrying lead, which is again harmful to pets.

Symptoms of Soft Drinks Poisoning: No such symptoms are shown. Its like slow poisoning your dog.

10. Grapes, Resins or Sultanas: I have seen people feeding their dogs, thinking that these are high protein yielding stuff. Dogs are different animals - not human beings. Toxins in grapes, raisins or sultanas may leave your dog with the danger of renal failure. However, its to be remembered that the toxic dose for dogs are:
Grapes: Aprox 30grams per kilogram of body weight
Raisins (Sultana): Ranging between 10 - 30 grams per kilogram of body weight
However, toxicity depends on the age and breed too.

Symptoms of Grapes, Resins or Sultanas poisoning: Symptoms of Grapes, Resins or Sultanas toxicity are generally not shown immediately after consuming those. it takes a day or two to show the symptoms depending on how much of these stuff have been ingested. The signs of toxicity include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of balance, weakness accompanied by disorientation at times. Inappetance may be noticed too.

11. Tylenol: Tylenol is highly dangerous for pets. While 50 mg per Kilogram of body weight may be toxic for cats, dogs may be toxic with 150 milligrams per kilogram body weight. For puppies and toy breeds little amount of ingestion may be fatal.

Symptoms of Tylenol poisoning: Common signs of Tylenol poisoning are drooling, lethargy, anorexia, abdominal pain, depression and weakness. A little heavy ingestion of tylenol may show more sign. Gums may start showing pale or blue color, urine may turn red or brown, swelling of face and front legs may be noticed accompanied by itchiness and vomiting. The dog may also undergo coma and even death in worst case.

12. Watch Batteries and Other Alkaline Batteries: Watch batteries are highly dangerous for pets. If ingested, a single battery can create fatal stomach ulcer within 12 hours.

Symptoms of battery poisoning: The common symptoms of battery poisoning includes drooling, vomiting, lack of appetite, and lethargy.

13. Toxic Gases: Besides ingesting poisonous substances, dogs are commonly poisoned with toxins present in the air. The most common toxins inhaled by pets are carbon monoxide and smoke from fires and faulty furnaces. The most common way how pets get poisoned with toxic gases like Co is smoking before them in a room. A responsible pet owner never smokes before their pet. Carbon Monoxide combines with the blood more readily than oxygen and displaces Oxygen from hemoglobin. This in turn promotes the circulation of de-oxygenated blood, leading to asphyxia - unconsciousness and death in worst case.

Symptoms of Toxic gas poisoning: Common symptoms of toxic gas poisoning are vomiting, breathlessness, weakness, dizziness, lethargy and disorientation. Problems actually start with headache and lethargy, which usually the pet owners can't understand before the condition gets aggravated to serious stage.

14. Artificial Sweeteners: Many people know this, but an incredibly a huge number of dog owners don't! Next time you use something that contains the artificial sweeteners, don't forget to keep it out of the reach of your dog. The Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has warranted a caution against the artificial sweetener "Xylitol", which is commonly found in most of the sugar-free stuff. "Xylitol" is highly dangerous to dogs and can even cause death. It's advisable to keep any types of artificial sweeteners out of your dog's reach. Some products like gum, toothpaste, gum drops, hard candy, multivitamins, cough syrups and mouthwashes contain artificial sweeteners.


Symptoms of sweetener poisoning: The dog that have ingested sweetener or any product containing Xylitol will experience a sudden fall in blood sugar level. The dog will experience lack of coordination, depression and seizures. Symptoms may be noticed within half an hour to one hour after ingestion of the product.

Dog lovers are requested not to smoke when your pet is around you. Make sure that you won't smoke nor you let your friends smoke in your pet's room or when he/she is with you. Pets exposed to cigarette smokes are slowly poisoned and develops pulmonary ailment in early age. Avoid walking your dog down a heavy traffic road.

Well, I've tried putting almost all the points that could be introduced. I hope this article will help you to be more responsible to your pets. Just check out what Chris Alderson has to say about Protecting Your Pet From Poisons.