Toxic Household Hazards for Your Pet

Many of the foods, plants, and products we encounter or use every day can actually be toxic to your pet. To help keep your furry friends safe and healthy, we've put together a list of common household items to keep away from your pet — or avoid altogether.

Cat curious about a household plant

Foods to Avoid

  • Alcohol
  • Avocados
  • Caffeine
  • Cherries
  • Chocolate
  • Pitted fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots
  • Garlic
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Milk
  • Onions and chives
  • Currants
  • Salt and salty snack foods
  • Star fruit
  • Undercooked meat or eggs, bones
  • Xylitol — a sweetener found in chewing gum, mints, toothpaste, and some peanut butters
  • Yeast dough
  • Moldy food
  • Mushrooms
  • Nuts

Household Products

  • Antifreeze
  • Chemicals and fertilizers used on lawns and gardens
  • Chip bags, snack bags, cereal bags, zip-locks (suffocation risk)
  • Cigarettes and tobacco products
  • Cleaning products
  • Cocoa mulch
  • Insect and pest control products (insecticides, baits, traps, poisons)
  • Over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs
  • De-icing salts used to melt snow and ice
  • Hand sanitizer

Hazardous Plants

  • Aloe
  • Azalea
  • Baby's Breath
  • Begonia
  • Carnation
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Daffodil
  • Daisy
  • Geranium
  • Hibiscus
  • Holly
  • Hosta
  • Hydrangea
  • Ivy
  • Lavender
  • Lily
  • Milkweed
  • Mint
  • Mistletoe
  • Morning Glory
  • Peony
  • Philodendron
  • Poinsettia
  • Rhododendron
  • Rhubarb
  • Tulip

This isn't a complete list — if you're unsure whether a plant is safe, check with your veterinarian before bringing it home.

Did Your Pet Just Eat Poison?

Take immediate action if you suspect your pet has come into contact with a household toxin. Contact your veterinarian or local emergency vet, or call one of the pet poison hotlines below:

  • Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435