For Your Pets

Our fur-babies are a part of our families. The foods and drinks that are safe for human consumption are not always safe for our pets. There are also many substances that are unsafe for animals. Follow the tips below to keep your fur-babies safe.

Food and Drink

Keep these items out of sight and reach of pets:

• Chocolate, coffee and caffeine
• Stems, leaves, peels and seeds of citrus fruits
• Coconut and coconut oil
• Grapes and raisins
• Walnuts, almonds, pecans and especially macadamia nuts
• Onions, chives and garlic
• Raw meat, bones and eggs
• Milk and dairy
• Salt and salty foods
• Items containing xylitol, such as gum, breath fresheners, baked goods, candy and toothpaste
• Items containing sorbitol, a sweetener used in many products, especially sugar-free foods
• Yeast dough
• Avocadoes – rabbits, donkeys, horses, sheep, goats and especially birds

Other Products

Always use cleaning products as recommended to avoid pet poisonings. Keep these items out of sight and reach of pets:

• Household cleaners
• Fabric and carpet fresheners
• Fabric softener/freshener sheets and laundry detergents, especially pod packets
• Dish detergents, especially pod packets
• Plant oils (essential oils) including air fresheners and potpourri Vinegar
• Moth Balls
• Adhesives, especially Guerilla Glue products
• Batteries, especially button batteries and items containing them
• Nicotine products including patches and e-cigarette devices and liquids

Medicine

Never assume that human medicines are okay to give to your pets. Keep all medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, ointments and lotions out of sight and reach of pets. Medicines of particular concern include the following:

• Amphetamines, such as Adderall and Ritalin
• Aspirin (NASIDs) and products containing aspirin
• Ibuprofen (NASIDs) and products containing ibuprofen
• Anti-diarrhea medicines, such as Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate
• Nasal decongestants and other products containing pseudoephedrine
• Body washes and soaps
• Petroleum jelly

Additional Tips

• Never apply tea tree oil to your pet's fur coat or skin until first consulting a veterinarian
• Never apply topical creams or ointments on your pets unless recommended by a veterinarian
• Never use any insect repellant on your pets as many contain DEET; ask your veterinarian for a safer alternative
• Never assume what is safe for one species is safe for another; for example, it is not safe to use canine flea and tick treatments on cats
• Avoid over heating Teflon cookware around birds as the fumes emitted are very dangerous and may lead to death
• For more information about pet poisonings, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control web site