Our veterinarians often encounter frantic pet owners whose beloved pets have ingested some sort of household toxin. In order to ensure your pet stays safe from poisons, we recommend all pet owners make sure to take the necessary precautions to prevent an animal from having access to anything that might be toxic.

Here are a few things to keep in mind to prevent your pet from ingesting something toxic.Remember, if you feel that your animal has eaten something toxic, it is best to bring it to our emergency vet right away.

‘Normal’ Food That Can Cause a Trip to a Pet Hospital

Surprisingly, some household poisons for pets are regular foods that are just fine for the two-legged human set. Often, people mistakenly feed their pets “people food” without realizing it is actually poisonous for animals. These foods can include chocolate, raisins, grapes, and anything that contains the sweetening chemical xylitol.

Safeguard Medications, Say Emergency Vets

Some of the most common household poisons for pets are human medications. Often, the little plastic shiny bottles are very enticing, and a pet can open them while playing with them. Some pets are attracted to the rattling sound they make, and others just want to get inside and will eat the pills, often with tragic results. Even ingesting a small amount of human medication can require a trip to our pet hospital.

Advice from Our Veterinarian: Know Your Plants and Trees

Plants and trees are often overlooked when puppy or kitty-proofing your home and yard. There are many strains of plants that are poisonous for both humans and pets. One common deadly poisonous plant is oleander, a beautiful flowering hearty and drought-resistant plant, but extremely toxic.

It is crucial to know your plants and trees and make sure that none of them are poisonous to dogs or cats. Make sure that you bring your dog to the veterinarian right away if it exhibits signs of poisoning, such as lethargy or foaming at the mouth.

At Emergency Veterinary Services of St. Charles in St. Charles, Ill, we serve pets and pet owners in Aurora, St. Charles, Geneva, Elgin, Geneva, and Batavia. We are open nights and weekends only, specifically to handle any emergency issue concerning your pet.

What steps have you taken to safeguard your pet against accidental poisonings?