Companion Animals

Companion Animal Poison Safety

Household toxins cause thousands of companion animal poisoning deaths annually that prevention measures can largely eliminate.

Key Facts

Grapes, raisins, and chocolate are common causes of dog poisoning
Lilies are acutely lethal to cats causing rapid kidney failure
Many human medications including paracetamol are toxic to cats
Antifreeze is highly palatable to pets but causes fatal kidney failure

Welfare Considerations

Companion animals poisoned by household toxins suffer from the specific toxidrome of the ingested substance, ranging from rapid kidney or liver failure to neurological collapse. Many toxic exposures are preventable through awareness and storage practices. Early decontamination within hours of ingestion can prevent severe illness. Owner awareness and prompt veterinary contact are the most important preventive and response factors.

What You Can Do

Know which foods and plants are toxic to your pets
Store toxic substances including medications securely away from pets
Know your emergency vet contacts and the poison helpline number
Remove toxic plants including lilies from homes with cats