Poisonous Items

Below is a general list of poisonous foods and plants, toxic household items, and other dangerous items for your pet. If your pet has ingested a toxin, please call the Pet Poison Hotline at (800) 213-6680.

Food

• Alcoholic beverages
• Onions and onion powder
• Avocado
• Raisins and grapes
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Salt
• Coffee (all forms)
• Yeast dough
• Fatty foods
• Garlic
• Macadamia nuts
• Products sweetened with Xylitol (several gum products, certain brands of peanut butter)
• Moldy or spoiled foods

Household items

• Detergents
• Fabric softener sheets
• Mothballs
• Household cleaners / disinfectants
• Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)    
• Liquid potpourri
• Medications
• Over-the-counter pain medications (Advil/ ibuprofen, Tylenol/ acetaminophen)
• Prescription medications
• Cold & flu medications
• Diet pills
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants

Poisonous Plants for Dogs & Cats*

• Azalea
• Cycads
• Branching Ivy
• Daffodil
• Castor Bean
• Ferns
• Hyacinth  
• Iris
• Lillies (all Lillium species)
• Morning Glory
• Oleander
• Poinsettias
• Tulips
• Yucca

*please note, this list is not all inclusive. For a complete list, visit Pet Poison Helpline.

Holiday Hazards

• Sparklers / Fireworks
• Easter grass
• Holiday plants such as lilies, mistletoe, and holly (for a complete list see Poisonous Plants)
• Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
• Electrical cords
• Batteries
• Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
• Glass ornaments

Outdoor & Cold Weather

• Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes, and scorpions
• Swimming-pool treatment supplies
• Blue-green algae in ponds
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde
• Citronella candles
• Antifreeze
• Cocoa mulch
• Ice Melting Products
• Fertilizers and compost piles
• Rat and mouse bait
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Fly baits containing methomyl

Non-Toxic Substances

The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:

• Water-based paints
• Poinsettia
• Toilet bowl water
• Cat litter
• Silica gel
• Glow jewelry

If your pet ingests a toxin, please call Pet Poison Helpline and contact us.

PET POISON HOTLINE: (800) 213-6680 or visit online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com