One of the keys to a healthy dog or cat is minimizing
his exposure to chemicals and other toxins. That’s
hard to do in today’s world, where our soil, water and air
are mostly all polluted to some degree. Aside from keeping
your companion in a plastic bubble, what can you do
to protect him? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
Indoor toxins range from houseplants and some human
foods to cleaning products and pharmaceuticals. Be sure
to keep all toxic items out of your animal’s reach. Poisonous
houseplants should either be discarded or given away,
or placed in an inaccessible area. Medications should be
kept in locked cabinets and household cleaners replaced
with safer alternatives.
Poisonous plants and flowers
• Amaryllis
• Crocus
• Buttercup
• Calla lily
• Christmas rose
• Chrysanthemum
• Daffodil bulbs
• Easter lily
• Foxglove
• Hyacinth bulbs
• Iris roots
• Jessamine
• Morning glory
• Peony
• Periwinkle
• Primrose
• Tulip bulbs
Protect your companion by replacing poisonous plants with
these non-toxic varieties:
• African violet
• Wandering Jew
• Peperonias
• Jade plant
• Christmas cactus
Foods to avoid
Many people like to treat their animals to a bite or even a whole
meal of the foods they themselves enjoy. But what’s good for
you is not always good for your dog or cat. Don’t feed the following
foods to your companion, and make sure they’re never
left out on counters or tables.
• Grapes and raisins – cause irreversible damage to a dog’s kidneys
• Onions – causes a condition called Heinz body anemia,
which damages red blood cells
• Chocolate – damaging to the dog’s heart, lungs, kidneys and
central nervous system
• Caffeine – causes the same type of damage as chocolate; is
most toxic in the form of pills, coffee, coffee beans and large
amounts of tea
• Macadamia nuts – cause severe illness
• Alcohol and yeast dough – both contain ethanol, which causes
nervous system and respiratory depression
• Fruit pits and seeds – the pits
found in apples, cherries and
plums contain cyanide
Medications
 Any medication can
be poisonous. Make
sure all pills are kept in
a secure cabinet or on
a high shelf a cat can’t
reach. Even medications
prescribed by your veteri-narian can be harmful if you don’t following dosing instructions.
These include:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
• Heartworm preventatives
• De-wormers
• Antibiotics
Never give the following human medications to your dog
or cat:
• Tylenol
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc)
• All prescription drugs
Non-toxic human medications include aspirin, Pepto Bismol,
kaopectate, Imodium AD and Pepcid AC – however,
even these are not meant to be given to a dog or cat on a
regular basis and should be administered according to a
veterinarian’s dosing instructions.
Household cleaning et al
Animals not only get ill by ingesting poisons, but by absorbing
them through their noses or skin. Some of these
toxins include chemical cleaning products, insecticides,
fertilizers and many commercial flea controls.
Toxic household cleaners can be replaced with baking
soda, Borax (sodium borate), lemon, white vinegar and
cornstarch. Corn meal and Epsom salts can be used in
place of lawn and plant fertilizers. Make sure to keep any
rodent poisons away from your animal, and don’t spray
for insects near his favorite hangouts.
Many popular flea products contain ingredients such as
carbaryl and DDVP, which can paralyze your dog’s nerves.
These ingredients can be found in commercial flea powders,
sprays, collars, shampoos and dips. The best way to
naturally protect your dog or cat from fleas is to help him
build a strong healthy immune system. Start by feeding
him a natural diet that doesn’t contain chemical preservatives,
artificial coloring or by-products. Along with a
good diet, be sure to bathe your companion with natural
non-medicated shampoo and groom him regularly.
Beyond your control?
You can’t completely shield your companion from contaminants
found in our air and water, but there are steps
you can take to enhance his safety.
 Air pollution protection
1. Keep your dog or cat inside on bad air days.
2. Use an indoor air filter.
3. Avoid strenuous exercise on really hot days.
4. Don’t use your fireplace on bad air days.
Water contamination protection
1. Invest in a water purifier.
2. Don’t let your animal drink from lakes, streams, creeks
or puddles.
3. Always carry bottled water on hikes.
4. Keep water bowls clean.
You may not be able to keep an eye on your companion
24/7, but you can protect his safety and health by keeping
all potential toxins stored out of reach inside the house
(and your garage!), and reducing his exposure to environmental
toxins in the world at large. |
