In honor of National Poison Prevention Week , the ASPCA is not only offering important tips on making your home poison-free for pets, we’re inviting you to a live chat with our pet poison prevention experts.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO POISON-PROOF YOUR HOME?
Ready to do a little
homework,
pet parents? National Poison Prevention Week is almost
here─March
16 to March 22─and
because our pets depend on us to keep them safe, we think it’s the
perfect time to review the harmful substances your furry explorers
may encounter at home. Here are just a few ways to ensure that your
household is pet poison-proof:
- Keep prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold and flu preparations and antidepressants behind tightly closed cabinet doors.
- Make sure chocolate, coffee and other potentially dangerous foods are kept out of pets' reach.
- When using products to eliminate fleas, ticks and other pests, follow directions exactly. Be sure the item you’re using has been formulated specifically for your pet, and check with your veterinarian before using it.
- Many common household plants such as lilies, azaleas and kalanchoe can cause surprisingly severe, even life-threatening effects in pets. Please check our complete lists of toxic and nontoxic plants.
- Take care to use cleaning products that have been proven safe for use around pets. If you do use bleaches, detergents or disinfectants, keep your pets away from the cleaned areas until the product has dried thoroughly, and be sure to store the products in a secure place.
P.S.: Got questions about dangerous household items? Why not ask our ASPCA experts directly!? Join our live Ask the APCC chat on Thursday, March 20, from noon to 2:00 P.M. in the ASPCA Online Community. Dana Farbman, CVT, Senior Manager, Professional Communications, and Dr. Eric Dunayer, Veterinary Toxicologist, will be ready to answer your toughest questions about pet poison control.
