By Richard Johnston

Most new parents make sure their homes are baby safe. They put chemicals in locked cabinets, and move breakable objects to high places. While the same degree of vigilance may not be common among pet owners, the dangers of poisoning among companion animals is very real.

Like young children, pets are curious about the world around them. They are attracted to anything that looks interesting or tastes sweet. Too often, however, they encounter poisons in their discoveries. Many common household items are poisonous to pets including some foods, medications, plants, insecticides and household chemicals. When outdoors pets may be exposed to poisonous plants, garden and lawn care chemicals, automotive fluids and other chemicals.

Dogs and cats, particularly as kittens and puppies, test out the world with their mouths. Dogs like to mouth and chew things. Cats may start to taste something and may be unable to spit a foul tasting item out because of their rough tongues.

In addition to keeping household chemicals and medications in closed containers out of your pets’ reach, there are other precautions to take to help protect companions. Some foods, even those considered perfectly safe for humans, are hazardous to pets. They include onions, and onion powder, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, yeast dough, coffee, tea, salt, macadamia nuts, hops (used in home beer brewing), tomato leaves and stems, potato leaves and stems, rhubarb leaves and avocados (toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats). In addition, spoiled foods thrown away in unsecured trash containers may be hazardous to pets since animals may be attracted to the smell of food, and many are not discriminating about taste.

When people take medications out for use, they can become a danger for pets. Be careful not to drop a pill where a pet can quickly consume it. Do not lay your medications out on a table or countertop for later use. Be especially careful of medications that come in tubes. A dog or cat’s sharp teeth can easily cut through the tube in no time.

Plants are another source of danger to pets. Poisonous houseplants include azalea, oleander, castor bean, sago palm, Easter lily and yew plant. Poisonous outdoor plants include oleander, azalea, rhododendrons and Japanese yew.

Always keep pets away from the lawn and garden when chemicals are in use and keep them away until the area is completely dry. Please do not use garden or lawn care chemicals in the presence of your pet. Remember that antifreeze and windshield washer fluid can be harmful to your pet. Do not allow your pet to drink from puddles on the driveway or in the street.

If despite your most vigilant efforts, your pet comes in contact with a poison, be prepared to act quickly. Before a poisoning emergency happens, ask your family veterinarian what procedures should be followed in an emergency situation. Keep the veterinarian’s number in a convenient location. If you cannot reach your veterinarian, contact the local 24-hour emergency veterinary care facility.

In addition you may want to prepare a pet poisoning kit for emergencies. This would include a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP); a can of soft dog or cat food; a turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe; saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants; artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing, mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid in order to bathe an animal after skin contamination, rubber gloves to prevent you from being exposed while you bathe the animal; forceps to remove stingers; a muzzle to keep the animal from hurting you while it is excited or in pain; and a pet carrier to help carry the animal to your local veterinarian. Always, before any treatment, consult your veterinarian.

(Richard Johnston is the president of the Connecticut Humane Society. The Connecticut Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization with headquarters located at 701 Russell Rd, Newington, CT 06111. 860/594-4502. The Society operates animal shelters in Newington, Bethany, Waterford and Westport.)