Pet Poison Prevention Week – Keep Your Pet Safe!

March 21, 2024 by ZimmVet Staff

By Katie Meneses

Set outside, a black and white boarder collie sits in a grey wheelbarrow with green handles and a red rimmed tire. In front of the wheelbarrow is a blue watering can with a yellow spout. To the right of the dog is freshly planted flowers in different varieties.

This year, Pet Poison Prevention Week Runs from March 17th to March 23rd. To help you learn more, we have listed some common hazards that come around every year in the springtime. From gardening materials to plants, there are many things to be aware of!

Fertilizers

As things warm up, people will start prepping their gardens with various fertilizers. Most only cause mild symptoms, like upset stomachs, but there are some that are toxic and can be fatal if ingested by a pet. Here are a few!

  • Blood Meal – A great organic fertilizer, blood meal can be very upsetting for your pets stomach. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in more severe cases, pancreatitis!
  • Rose and Plant Fertilizers – many plant fertilizers contain a compound known as disulfoton, or other organophosphates. One teaspoon of this chemical can be fatal to a 55lb dog! Symptoms from ingesting this compound include drooling, urination, defecation, seizures, difficulty breathing, hyperthermia, and more.
  • Iron – Iron is a common additive to fertilizers. Iron can lead to toxicity in your pets! Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, shock, elevated heart rate, panting, and tremors.

Common Poisonous Plants

There are hundreds of poisonous plants out there, both inside and outside of the home. With more than 700+ plants out there that are a threat, it can be important to be aware of some of the common ones.

  1. Autumn Crocus
  2. Azalea
  3. Aloe
  4. Hyacinth
  5. Lilies
  6. Oleander
  7. Bird of Paradise flowers
  8. Daffodils
  9. Sago Palm
  10. Tulips
A list of plants that are toxic and are not toxic to pets, provided by the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. Toxic plants include Lilies, Sago Palm, Azaleas, English Ivy, Poinsettia, Daffodils, Holly, Peonies, and Elephant Ears. Non-toxic plants include Orchids, Spider Plants, Petunias, African Violets, Swedish Ivy, Achira, Sunflowers, Autumn Olive, Blue Echeveria, and Boston Fern. A picture of each plant is provided under their name in the list.

Household Cleaners

With warmer weather comes spring cleaning! As you start opening up your home and deep cleaning, it can be important to protect your pets from possible hazards caused by common cleaners at your home. Some products lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation. More severe cases may show skin burns/lesions in their mouth, face, or body. It’s important to keep household cleaners out of their reach.

  • Drain Cleaner
  • Concentrated dishwashing chemicals
  • Lime-removal products
  • Oven cleaners
  • Grill cleaners
  • Concentrated toilet cleaners
  • Bleach

This list is just a small collection of common hazards to watch out for with the warmer weather. For more information on toxins and poisons that can harm your pet, visit the Pet Poison Hotline. You can also learn about toxins in some of our other blog posts! Check out our blog on Lily Toxicity.

Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

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Posted in: For The Dogs | Pet Emergencies & First Aid | Pet Safety | Pet Toxins | Puppies & Kittens | The Cat's Meow | You & Your Pet | ZimmVet News & Events