Poisonous Foods - A Safer Kitchen

In the event that your animal swallowed any of the below-listed items, contact an emergency veterinarian, and then contact poison control. The ASPCA maintains an animal poison-control hotline, and their number is (888) 426-4435. A service fee will be charged for the call, but it will be less than if a veterinarian calls them on your behalf.

Below is a list of common, poisonous household materials that pets are at risk of ingesting; controlling your pet's access to these things is important for their safety, particularly when they are still developing. While the list is not exhaustive, it should help take care of many of the most common poisons - if caught early enough, a bill of $350-$600 can be expected, but if attempts to induce vomiting fail, the cost can rise very quickly, so the most important factor in these instances is getting to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Toxic Foods

Many of these poisons stem from human foods, which is a reason why table scraps should never be given to your animals - prepare food for them, and ensure that what they are eating is healthy for them.

Alcohol - this is actually a poison for humans, too, but we're far better equipped to handle it than our companion animals.

Caffeine - coffee, energy drinks, green tea, and caffeinated gums are all toxic if ingested by dogs or cats; extra coffee should be poured out or sealed if you have a counter-surfing dog or an overly-curious cat.

Chocolate - in all forms, for both dogs and cats, chocolate is a very common poison, particularly around the holidays.

Garlic - Whether dried, roasted, or powdered, this spice is not for animals to eat - if a spill happens in the kitchen, be sure to keep your animals away from it.

Grapes and Raisins - These are especially common with children, so ensure that you keep a close watch on your animal if you give your child grapes to eat, in case some end up on the floor.

Macadamia Nuts - Macadamia can be found in cookies, energy bars, and as simple nuts, but all are toxic to animals.

Onions - Commonplace in sauces and meat products as a seasoning, animals should not eat onions, both raw and cooked.

Xylitol - Xylitol is a commonplace ingredient in certain ranges of products like baked goods, peanut butter, powdered drinks, candies, puddings, ketchup, barbecue sauces, and pancake syrups. It is most common in sweet foods, and should be kept away from pets, particularly dogs.

Yeast - It's a bad idea for humans to eat this stuff, too, but this can be a problem if making bread in the kitchen. Keeping your animals away until the area is clean again is the safest option.