Posted by Sue Landsman on Sep.28, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Gemma Ivern

Most everyone knows that chocolate is poison to dogs (thank God I’m not a dog), but there are other lesser known dangers to common household pets that people are not aware of. Pets such as guinea pigs and birds also have potential hazards their owners need to avoid. Listed below are some of the surprising and lesser known hazards about which pet owners should know.

Human Medications

Common human medications can be highly toxic to pets in even small doses. Dogs, we know, will eat anything (except for when you’re actually trying to give them a pill) and cats enjoy knocking things off tables and then eating them. It’s very easy to drop a pill and forget to pick it up, or leave pills lying on the counter. Last year the ASPCA had over 15,000 calls related to pets accidentally ingesting their owners’ medications. Make sure all medications are safely stored in drawers or cabinets, including vitamins and herbal supplements.

Human Food

Avocado contains a compound that can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs. It can also cause severe respiratory distress and heart issues in birds and rodents. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in some animals. Bread, which contains yeast, can harm your pet’s digestive system. At best, the yeast may rise and give your pet gas, and at worst, it can make your pet’s stomach rupture. Onion, garlic, and chives can also cause digestive irritation, though cats are more susceptible than dogs.

Salt, believe it or not, can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to seizures and death in household animals if eaten in large amounts. Don’t leave bags of chips lying out where your pet can eat them. You might feel ill after eating a whole bag, but your pet might die. Many dogs have also died from eating salt-based homemade play dough. This is extremely dangerous.

Guinea pigs cannot tolerate potatoes or raw beans, and will die fairly quickly if given either. Uncooked beans are also very toxic to birds. It is important to realize that dried beans are not cooked, and should not be fed to your animals even though they look like crunchy treats your pet will enjoy. Kids love to feed vegetables to their guinea pigs, but make sure that they don’t feed them anything without checking with you first.

Plants

Plants aren’t just a hazard for cats and children, but also to parrots who might have freedom of flight in the house. Birds are curious animals, and will pick at anything that looks tasty; they also have fragile respiratory systems. Poinsettias are commonly known to be dangerous to cats, but are also deadly to birds and children. The common Pothos can cause mouth and intestinal swelling.

There are also some plants that are highly toxic to birds. Lilies, jasmine, and holly are very dangerous. If you cook for your bird, leave out parsley; it’s a nice seasoning, but it can cause lethal health problems. The internet is a good source for complete lists of plants that are poisonous to animals and children. The ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants includes pictures of many common plants that may be dangerous to your pet, indoors and out.

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Posted under Family.