Most people think of their home as their place of security. But how safe are our homes for our pets?
What if I were to tell you that many common household items can pose a very real threat to the health of your pets?
Below are the top 5 most overlooked household hazards for cats and dogs, in no particular order.
1. Thread, string, and dental floss
It’s a fact– cats love string. But did you know that while string can provide your cat with endless exercise and entertainment, it can also be extremely harmful and even lethal if ingested?
You see, ingesting a piece of string can result in a linear foreign body obstruction– a terrible condition that results in the bunching and subsequent destruction of your cat’s intestines from the inside out. Ouch. As you would imagine, this problem is an emergency and requires surgery to treat.
To prevent this problem, always keep a watchful eye on your cats when they are playing with anything with a string-like component. In addition, make sure to flush all used dental floss down the toilet – you’d be surprised what your pets can and will pick out of the trash!
2. Lilies
There are nearly 100 species of the common houseplant known as the lily. While the flowers of the lily are undeniably beautiful, many pet owners don’t realize that this species of plant is highly toxic to cats.
Ingestion of any part of the lily plant can cause severe kidney damage in cats, which can be life threatening. This includes the stem, leaves, flowers and even the pollen. Incredibly, cats can even get sick by drinking the water from the vase!
Lilies seem harmless, but looks can be deceiving. If you have cats in your home, it’s best to avoid this plant altogether.
3. Rat bait
Rodenticides, or rat bait, are designed to eliminate rodents living in and around the home. However, through the same mechanisms that they kill mice and rats, they can also be extremely lethal to your cats and dogs.
While the active ingredients in rodenticides can vary, they all tend to taste very good to pets. The toxins in these products kill by causing uncontrollable bleeding, brain damage, or organ failure. As such, all rat baits should be considered potentially lethal, regardless of their mode of action.
Make sure to keep these substances well away from your cats and dogs, and remember to warn any exterminators you hire that you have pets in the home!
4. Over-the-counter pain relievers
These days, there are countless pain relievers on the market used to treat fevers, pain and inflammation. Tylenol, Advil and Aspirin are just a few that come to mind. However, what many people don’t realize is that these medications are meant for people, not pets. In fact, medications like these can cause serious harm if given to a cat or dog.
Over-the-counter pain medications can cause organ failure in pets, and even result in your pet being unable to utilize the oxygen that they breathe!
So, if ever your pet appears ill or in pain, make sure to have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian right away. And be sure not to give your pet any over-the-counter medications without first consulting your vet.
Related article: Top 7 Signs That Your Pet Is Sick
5. Pennies
Last but not least on the list are pennies. That’s right– pennies.
In the past, pennies were made out of copper. Since 1982, however, they have been made primarily of zinc. This subtle distinction is critically important in how toxic a penny can be if ingested by your pet.
Cat owners are more or less in the clear with this one. But some dogs, especially puppies, are notorious for ingesting coins and other strange foreign objects for reasons unknown. Unfortunately, ingesting a zinc-based penny can result in the destruction of your pet’s red blood cells, which can be life threatening.
And there you have it– The top 5 most overlooked household hazards for cats and dogs.
Make sure to contact your local pet poison control helpline or your closest veterinary hospital right away if you suspect your pet may be suffering from an illness related to any of these little known, everyday dangers.
