by Cynthia Wall

Created on: August 27, 2008

We came home to find our dog had eaten a pound of chocolates. Off to the Veterinary ER to have her stomach pumped. Was it necessary? Who knows? But we weren't taking any chances with our beloved pet. A friend's dog died from eating grapes; another from some unknown item in a garbage pile he discovered in a field. One dog came to us as a stray after visiting the all the neighbors' garbage pails. He was a nice dog after we paid hundreds of dollars to cure his Salmon Poisoning from eating the castoffs from a fishing trip.

The list of things that are toxic to cats or dogs or to both is so long as to make you want to put them in a plastic bubble. Corrosives, antifreeze, bleach, citrus oils, ethylene glycol, Gorilla Glue, kerosene, gasoline, moth balls, phenol, and pine oils all make the list.

Plant toxins are even more numerous. Here are just a few: Aloe Vera, Amaryllis, Begonia, Boston ivy, Calla Lily, Crocus, Daffodil, Delphinium. Easter lily, Foxglove, Hemlock, hyacinth, Lily of the Valley, Lupine, Mistletoe, Nightshade the list is huge. Most animals are not going to eat enough of any one of these plants to harm them, but if you have a kitten or puppy who will try anything, caution is better than catastrophe.

In the food category, chocolate, caffeine, mushrooms, onions, grapes, raisins, Macadamia nuts, and garlic are all no no's. We all know the tragic story of pets that died from eating pet food imported from China with toxins in it and the many dogs that contracted Salmonella from eating contaminated dog chews. Buy pet food from proven reliable sources only. Check the list of ingredients and be wary of unknown substances.

Household and farm pesticides can also prove deadly: Rodenticide causes rodents who eat the stuff to bleed to death. If your pet eats the dead rodent or the poison itself, he may suffer a similar fate. Arsenic, Borate, Pyrethrins, and Deet can also poison.

So what should you do?

1. Look at the world from your pet's eye view. It's very similar to toddler-proofing a house except that most toddlers can't jump up on the kitchen counter and investigate ant poison. Any toxic chemical to an animal or child must be kept out of reach. Be aware that some things taste good like the sweetness of antifreeze. While it wouldn't occur to you to lap the green stuff up off the garage floor, your dog or cat would think it was a treat. Not only must you keep poison substances locked up, you must dispose of them responsibly. That doesn't mean flushing them down toilets

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