Dog Care | Cat Care | Spay & Neuter Information

Protecting Your Pet From Common Dangers

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards
- Insect control products, including flea and tick remedies may be toxic. Never combine different flea treatments, or use a dog flea treatment for a cat or vice versa. Be aware that there have been recalls of Hartz and other flea treatments found in supermarkets because of injury and death of pets. Flea treatment from your vet is safer. Always consult your vet before applying flea products to very young, elderly, pregnant or sick animals.

- Animal toxin: toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
- Blue-green algae in ponds
- Citronella candles
- Cocoa mulch
- Compost piles and fertilizers
- Flea products
- Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
- Swimming pool treatment supplies
- Fly baits containing methomyl
- Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Cold Weather Hazards
- Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that attracts animals but is deadly even in small quantities; one teaspoon can kill a seven-pound cat. Look for antifreeze with propylene glycol, which is safe if ingested in small amounts.
- Ice melting products are paw irritants that can be poisonous if licked off. Paws should be washed and dried as soon as the animal comes in from the snow. Or you can use doggie boots with Velcro straps to protect your dog’s feet
- Rat and mouse bait
- Liquid potpourri

Holiday Hazards
- Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which can upset the stomach.
- Electrical cords
- Ribbons or tinsel can cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens
- Batteries
- Glass ornaments

Common Household Hazards
-Human medications such as pain killers, including aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, anti-depressants, vitamins, and diet pills can all be toxic to animals.

-Leftovers such as chicken bones easily shatter and can choke a cat or dog. Human food can give dogs pancreatitis.

-Poisonous household plants include marijuana, sago palm, tulips and narcissis, cyclamen, yew, azalea, geraniums, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), lilies, oleander, castor bean, mistletoe, and philodendron.

-Rawhide doggie chews may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can infect pets and humans who come in contact with the chews. They can pose a choking hazard as well.

-String, yarn, rubber bands, and even dental floss are easy to swallow and can cause intestinal blockages or strangulation. Children may put a rubber band or tie a string around a paw that cuts off circulation.

-Collars that are too tight can become imbedded into the skin of pets. There should be room for two fingers to slip easily under the collar.

-Toys with removable parts—like squeaky toys or stuffed animals with plastic eyes—can pose a choking hazard to animals. Take the same precautions with pets as you would with a small child.

-Fabric softener sheets
-Mothballs
-Pennies due to high concentration of zinc
-Fumes from nonstick cooking surfaces and self-cleaning ovens can be deadly to birds.
-Soft wood shavings like cedar and pine emit fumes that may be harmful to hamsters and gerbils.
-Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats
-The following substances are considered non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset
- Water-based paints
- Toilet bowl water
- Silica gel
- Poinsettia
- Cat litter
- Glue traps

- Glow jewelry- If you believe that your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary service immediately. Signs of poisoning include listlessness, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, lack of coordination, and fever.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center operates a hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-426-4435 for a fee of $45 per case. If you call, be prepared to provide the following information: the poison your animal was exposed to, the amount and how long ago; the species, breed, age, sex, and weight of your pet; and the symptoms the animal is displaying. You'll also be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, and credit card information.

(information compiled from the web sites of the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the USA)

Cabarrus Emergency Veterinary Clinic
1317 S. Cannon Blvd.
Kannapolis, NC
704 932-1182
Please call ahead if possible
Hours: Weekdays: 5:30 pm to 8 am
Weekends: 12 noon Sat to 8 am Monday
Holidays: 24-hour service