Common Household Items Harmful to Dogs
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A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker
Every house has more than a few common items that should be avoided by its canine inhabitants to keep them safe. Some are obvious items, like cleaning supplies, but some aren’t. Here’s a handy room-by-room list of things to keep away from your dog.
Kitchen:
- Coffee grounds
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Onion
- Chicken bones
- Rhubarb
Bathroom:
- All human medications are extremely toxic to dogs
- Bar soap (“natural” soaps are often appealing because of their food-like smell)
- Shampoo (again, many smell appetizing, which is probably why you bought it!)
- Creams, lotions, ointments
- Flavored (and unflavored) dental floss
- Toothpaste
Bedroom:
- Children’s toys with small parts
- Play Dough
- Some crayons, pens, etc.
- Sleep aides
- Beauty products kept at bedside
Living Room:
- Household plants including: Azalea, Devil’s Ivy, many types of ferns, Philodendron, Dracaena, Aloe Vera
- Seasonal plants including: many types of lily, poinsettia, Christmas rose, mistletoe
- Remote controls and gaming devices
- Electrical chords
Outdoors:
- Lawn maintenance chemicals
- Insecticides
- Many fertilizers and plant foods
- Antifreeze (which has a sweet taste to animals)
When in doubt, or if your dog has ingested something questionable, call the ASPCA poison control hotline at (888) 426-4435, which is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, or call your vet immediately.
Keeping these common household items away from your dog could save their life, and can be as easy as “child-proofing” your home. A good rule of thumb is if it’s toxic to kids, it’s probably toxic to dogs. Then add on the lesser-known items to the list, and make sure that they are kept way out of reach from your curious or scent-driven pooch!