POISONS

FOODS

Alcoholic beverages, avocado, chocolate, coffee, fatty foods, macadamia nuts, moldy or spoiled foods, onions or onion powder, raisins or grapes, salt, yeast dough, garlic, products sweetened with xylitol.

MEDICATIONS

Ibuprofen, cold medications, diet pills, antidepressants, anticancer drugs and vitamins. Only give medications approved by your vet.

FLEA CONTROL

Always read labels. When flea-control products are used, problems can result. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors and seizures. Don’t use canine flea control products on cats. The ingredient permethrin can be deadly to cats.

PLANTS AND GARDENS

Toxic to Cats: Adam-and-Eve, African Wonder Tree, Alocasia, Aloe, Amaryllis, Ambrosia Mexicana, American Bittersweet, American Holly, American Mandrake, American Yew, Andromeda Japonica, Angelica Tree, Apple, Apricot, Arrow-Head Vine, Arum, Arum Lily, Asian Lily, Asparagus Fern, Australian Ivy Palm, Australian Ivy Palm, Australian Pine, Autumn Crocus, Azalea, Baby Doll Ti Plant, Baby’s Breath, Barbados Aloe, Barbados Pride (and Pride 2), Bead Tree, Begonia, Bergamot Orange, Bird of Paradise, Bird’s Tongue Flower, Bishop’s Weed, Bitter Root, Black Calla, Black Laurel, Black Nightshade, Bobbins, Boxwood, Branching Ivy, Brazilwood, Bread and Butter Plant, Brunfelsia, Buckeye, Buckwheat, Buddhist Pine, Burning Bush, Buttercup, Caladium, Calamondin Orange, California Ivy, Calla Lily, Cape Jasmine, Cardboard Palm, Cardinal Flower, Carnation, Castor Bean Plant, Ceriman, Chamomile, Chandelier Plant, Charming Dieffenbachia, Cherry, Chinaberry Tree, Chinese Evergreen, Chinese Jade, Christmas Rose, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Climbing Bittersweet, Climbing Lily, Climbing Nightshade, Clivia Lily, Coffee Tree, Coleus, Common Privet, Coontie Palm, Cordatum, Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Cow parsnip, Cowbane, Cuckoo-pint, Cutleaf Philodendron, Cycads, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Dahlia, Daisy, Day Lilies, Deadly Nightshade, Desert Azalea, Desert Rose, Devil’s Backbone, Devils Ivy, Dieffenbachia, Dock, Dog Daisy, Dog Hobble, Dogbane Hemp, Dracaena, Dumbcane, Dwarf Poinciana, Easter Lily, Eastern Star, Elephant Ears, Emerald Feather, English Holly, English Ivy, English Yew, Eucalyptus, European Bittersweet, European Holly, Everlasting Pea, Exotica, False Bittersweet, False Queen Anne’s Lace, Feather Geranium, Fern Palm, Fetter Bush, Fetterbush, Fiddle-Leaf, Fig, Figwort, Fire Lily, Flag, Flamingo Flower, Fleabane, Florida Beauty, Florist’s Calla, Foxglove, Franciscan Rain Tree, Garden Calla, Garden Chamomile, Garden Hyacinth, Gardenia, Garlic, Geranium, Geranium-Leaf Aralia, Giant Dracaena, Giant Dumb Cane, Giant Hogweed, Glacier Ivy, Gladiola, Gloriosa Lily, Gold Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Golden Birds Nest, Golden Pothos, Golden Ragwort, Good Luck Plant, Grapefruit, Grass Palm, Greater Ammi, Green Gold Naphthysis, Ground Apple, Groundsel, Hahn’s Self-Branching English Ivy, Hashish, Hawaiian Ti, Heartleaf Philodendron, Heavenly Bamboo, Hellebore, Hercules’ Club, Hibiscus, Hills of Snow, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Horsehead Philodendron, Horseweed, Hortensia, Hosta, House Pine, Hurricane Plant, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Impala Lily, Indian Apple, Indian Borage, Indian Hemp, Indian Pink, Indian Rubber Plant, Inkberry, Iris, Ivy Arum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Jade Plant, Japanese Show Lily, Japanese Yew, Jerusalem Cherry, Jerusalem Oak, Jonquil, Kaffir Lily, Kalanchoe, Kiss-me-quick, Klamath Weed, Kudu Lily, Lace Fern, Lacy Tree Philodendron, Lady-of-the-night, Lantana, Larkspur, Laurel, Leatherflower, Leek, Lemon, Lenten Rose, Lily, Lily of the Palace, Lily of the Valley, Lily-of-the-Valley bush, Lime, Lobelia, Locust, Lord-and-Ladies, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Maidens Breath, Malanga, Maleberry, Marble Queen, Marijuana, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Mayapple, Mayweed, Meadow Saffron, Medicine Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Milfoil, Milkweed, Mistletoe, Mock Azalea, Mole Bean Plant, Morning Glory, Morning-Noon-and-Night, Moss Rose, Mother of Millions, Mother-in-Law, Mother-in-Law plant, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Mum, Naked Lady, Nandina, Narcissus, Needlepoint Ivy, Nephthytis, Nicotiana, Nightshade, Norfolk Island Pine, Octopus Tree, Oilcloth Flower, Oleander, Onion, Orange, Orange Day Lily, Oregon Holly, Ornamental Pepper, Pacific Yew, Painter’s Pallette, Palm Lily, Panda Plant, Paper White, Paraguayan Jasmine, Peace Lily, Peach, Peacock Flower, Pencil Cactus, Peony, Perennial Pea, Periwinkle, Philodendron Pertusum, Pie Plant, Pieris, Pig Lily, Pigtail Plant, Pinks, Plantain Lily, Plum, Plumosa Fern, Poinciana, Poinsettia, Poison Daisy, Poison Hemlock, Poison Parsnip, Portulaca, Pothos, Prayer Bean, Precatory Bean, Pride-of-India, Primrose, Privet, Purslane, Racemose asparagus, Ragwort, Ranger’s Button, Red Emerald, Red Lily, Red Princess, Red-Marginated Dracaena, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Ribbon Plant, Ridderstjerne, Rock Moss, Roman Chamomile, Rose of China, Rose of Sharon, Rosebay, Rubrum Lily, Running Myrtle, Sabi Star, Sacred Bamboo, Saddle Leaf, Sago Palm, Satin Pothos, Schefflera, Seaside Daisy, Seven Bark, Shamrock Plant, Shatavari, Showy Daisy, Silver Dollar, Silver Jade Plant, Skunk Cabbage, Snake Lilly, Snake Plant, Solomon’s Lily, Sowbread, Spanish Thyme, Spindle Tree, Split-Lead Philodendron, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sprengeri Fern, Spring Parsley, St. John’s Wort, Staggerbush, Starch Root, Stargazer Lily, Starleaf, Stinking Chamomile, Straight-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Superb Lily, Sweet Pea, Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet William, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Tail Flower, Taro, Taro Vine, Texas Umbrella Tree, Ti-Plant, Tiger Lily, Tobacco, Tomato Plant, Tree Philodendron, Tree Tobacco, Tropic Snow, True Aloe, Trumpet Lily, Tulip, Umbrella Leaf, Umbrella Tree, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Vinca, Virgin’s Bower, Wahoo, Wake Robin, Wareneckei Dracaena, Water Flag, Water Hemlock, Water Hyacinth, Wax-Leaf, Weeping Fig, Western Yew, White Heads, Wild Arum, Wild Calla, Wild Carnation, Wild Coffee, Winter Cherry, Winterberry, Wisteria, Wood Lily, Yarrow, Yellow Oleander, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow, Yew, Yew Pine, Yucca.

Toxic to Dogs: Adam-and-Eve, African Wonder Tree, Alocasia, Aloe, Amaryllis, Ambrosia Mexicana, American Bittersweet, American Holly, American Mandrake, American Yew, Andromeda Japonica, Angelica Tree, Apple, Apricot, Arrow-Head Vine, Arum, Arum Lily, Asian Lily, Asparagus Fern, Australian Ivy Palm, Australian Nut, Australian Pine, Autumn Crocus, Azalea, Baby Doll Ti Plant, Baby’s Breath, Barbados Aloe, Barbados Lily, Barbados Pride (and Pride 2), Bead Tree, Begonia, Bergamot Orange, Bird of Paradise, Bird of Paradise flower, Bird’s Tongue Flower, Bishop’s Weed, Bitter Root, Black Calla, Black Laurel, Black Nightshade, Black Walnut, Bobbins, Boxwood, Branching Ivy, Brazilwood, Bread and Butter Plant, Brunfelsia, Buckeye, Buckwheat, Buddhist Pine, Burning Bush, Buttercup, Caladium, Calamondin Orange, California Ivy, Calla Lily, Cape Jasmine, Cardboard Palm, Cardinal Flower, Carnation, Castor Bean Plant, Ceriman, Chamomile, Chandelier Plant, Charming Dieffenbachia, Cherry, Chinaberry Tree, Chinese Evergreen, Chinese Jade, Christmas Rose, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Climbing Bittersweet, Climbing Lily, Climbing Nightshade, Clivia Lily, Coffee Tree, Coleus, Common Privet, Coontie Palm, Cordatum, Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Cow parsnip, Cowbane, Cuckoo-pint, Cutleaf Philodendron, Cycads, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Dahlia, Daisy, Deadly Nightshade, Desert Azalea, Desert Rose, Devil’s Backbone, Devils Ivy, Dieffenbachia, Dock, Dog Daisy, Dog Hobble, Dogbane Hemp, Dracaena, Dumbcane, Dwarf Poinciana, Eastern Rose, Eastern Star, Elephant Ears, Emerald Feather, English Holly, English Ivy, English Yew, Eucalyptus, European Bittersweet, European Holly, Everlasting Pea, Exotica, False Bittersweet, False Queen Anne’s Lace, Feather Geranium, Fern Palm, Fetter Bush, Fetterbush, Fiddle-Leaf, Fig, Figwort, Fire Lily, Flag, Flamingo Flower, Fleabane, Florida Beauty, Florist’s Calla, Foxglove, Franciscan Rain Tree, Garden Calla, Garden Chamomile, Garden Hyacinth, Gardenia, Garlic, Geranium, Geranium-Leaf Aralia, Giant Dracaena, Giant Dumb Cane, Giant Hogweed, Glacier Ivy, Gladiola, Gloriosa Lily, Gold Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Golden Birds Nest, Golden Pothos, Golden Ragwort, Good Luck Plant, Grapefruit, Grass Palm, Greater Ammi, Green Gold Naphthysis, Ground Apple, Groundsel, Hahn’s Self-Branching English Ivy, Hashish, Hawaiian Ti, Heartleaf Philodendron, Heavenly Bamboo, Hellebore, Hercules’ Club, Hibiscus, Hills of Snow, Holly, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Horsehead Philodendron, Horseweed, Hortensia, Hosta, House Pine, Hurricane Plant, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Impala Lily, Indian Apple, Indian Borage, Indian Hemp, Indian Pink, Indian Rubber Plant, Inkberry, Iris, Ivy Arum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Jade Plant, Japanese Yew, Jerusalem Cherry, Jerusalem Oak, Jonquil, Kaffir Lily, Kalanchoe, Kiss-me-quick, Klamath Weed, Kudu Lily, Lace Fern, Lacy Tree Philodendron, Lady-of-the-night, Lantana, Larkspur, Laurel, Leatherflower, Leek, Lemon, Lenten Rose, Lily of the Palace, Lily of the Valley, Lily-of-the-Valley bush, Lime, Lobelia, Locust, Lord-and-Ladies, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Maidens Breath, Malanga, Maleberry, Marble Queen, Marijuana, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Mayapple, Mayweed, Meadow Saffron, Medicine Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Milfoil, Milkweed, Mistletoe (American), Mock Azalea, Mole Bean Plant, Morning Glory, Morning-Noon-and-Night, Moss Rose, Mother of Millions, Mother-in-Law, Mother-in-Law plant, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Mum, Naked Lady, Nandina, Narcissus, Needlepoint Ivy, Nephthytis, Nicotiana, Nightshade, Norfolk Island Pine, Octopus Tree, Oilcloth Flower, Oleander, Onion, Orange, Oregon Holly, Ornamental Pepper, Pacific Yew, Painter’s Pallette, Palm Lily, Panda Plant, Paper White, Paraguayan Jasmine, Peace Lily, Peach, Peacock Flower, Pencil Cactus, Peony, Perennial Pea, Periwinkle, Philodendron Pertusum, Pie Plant, Pieris, Pig Lily, Pigtail Plant, Pinks, Plantain Lily, Plum, Plumosa Fern, Poinciana, Poinsettia, Poison Daisy, Poison Hemlock, Poison Parsnip, Portulaca, Pothos, Prayer Bean, Precatory Bean, Pride-of-India, Primrose, Privet, Purslane, Queensland Nut, Racemose asparagus, Ragwort, Ranger’s Button, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Red-Marginated Dracaena, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Ribbon Plant, Ridderstjerne, Rock Moss, Roman Chamomile, Rose of China, Rose of Sharon, Rosebay, Running Myrtle, Sabi Star, Sacred Bamboo, Saddle Leaf, Sago Palm, Satin Pothos, Schefflera, Seaside Daisy, Seven Bark, Shamrock Plant, Shatavari, Showy Daisy, Silver Dollar, Silver Jade Plant, Skunk Cabbage, Snake Lilly, Snake Plant, Solomon’s Lily, Sowbread, Spanish Thyme, Spindle Tree, Split-Lead Philodendron, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sprengeri Fern, Spring Parsley, St. John’s Wort, Staggerbush, Starch Root, Starleaf, Stinking Chamomile, Straight-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Superb Lily, Sweet Pea, Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet William, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Tail Flower, Taro, Taro Vine, Texas Umbrella Tree, Ti-Plant, Tiger Lily, Tobacco, Tomato Plant, Tree Philodendron, Tree Tobacco, Tropic Snow, True Aloe, Trumpet Lily, Tulip, Umbrella Leaf, Umbrella Tree, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Vinca, Virgin’s Bower, Wahoo, Wake Robin, Wareneckei Dracaena, Water Flag, Water Hemlock, Water Hyacinth, Wax-Leaf, Weeping Fig, Western Yew, White Heads, Wild Arum, Wild Calla, Wild Carnation, Wild Coffee, Winter Cherry, Winterberry, Wisteria, Yarrow, Yellow Oleander, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow, Yew, Yew Pine, Yucca.

WEED KILLER/INSECTICIDE

Follow label instructions and do not allow pets access until the recommended amount of time listed by the manufacturer. Store lawn and garden products in areas inaccessible to animals.

CHEMICALS

Paint, oil, gasoline, other dangerous chemicals: Store in areas inaccessible to animals.

GARBAGE

Secure your garbage cans.

WEATHER HAZARDS

Animal toxins (toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions); blue-green algae in ponds; citronella candles; cocoa mulch; compost piles fertilizers; flea products; outdoor plants and plant bulbs; swimming-pool treatment supplies; antifreeze; liquid potpourri; ice melting products; rat and mouse bait.

HOLIDAY HAZARDS

Christmas tree water that may contain fertilizers and/or bacteria; electrical cords; ribbons or tinsel; batteries; glass ornaments; Easter lilies.

COMMON HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS

Fabric softener sheets, mothballs, post-1982 pennies (high concentrations of zinc).

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT POISONING

Take a minute to collect items you believe have been ingested. If you take your pet to the vet, take this with you. If your pet has vomited, collect that in a sealable bag and bring that with you as well. Sometimes there are delayed reactions to toxins.

If it is during office hours or if your vet has after-hour services, contact them. If they do not, you can call several pet poison hotlines. The ASPCA has one. The fee is $65.00. Their number is: (888) 426-4435

There is a free 24-hour poison control hotline with Kansas State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for pet owners and veterinarians. They can be reached at (785) 532-5679. The service has been available since 1969.

CREATE AN EMERGENCY KIT BEFORE A CRISIS

A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
A turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
Saline eye solution
Artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
Forceps (to remove stingers)
A muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
A can of your pet’s favorite wet food
A pet carrier