Pets love us 365 days a year.

Let’s keep every one of them safe.

Pet Poison Hazards Calendar by the ASPCA –  Animal Poison Control Center

Jan/Feb – So many reasons to celebrate, so many ways for pets to find trouble.

Hazard High Points: New Year’s, Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day

Jan 1 – Alcohol

Alcoholic Beverages may attract your pets, but don’t let them imbibe. In Pets, alcohol can cause drunkenness, vomiting, low blood pressure, coma and death.

Jan 6 – Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in gums, candy and baked goods. It can cause low blood sugar, seizures and liver failure in dogs.

Feb 14 – Chocolate

Depending on the type and amount ingested, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, panting, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures – and even death in severe cases.

Feb 19 – Avocado

Avocado can cause mild stomach upset in dogs and cats, but can be deadly to birds.

Feb 26 – Hand Warmers

Many hand warmers contain iron. If ingested, it can cause vomiting and possibly stomach ulcers.

Mar/Apr – Early spring brings budding flowers and a growing number of risks.

Hazard High points: Yard Work, Easter, Flowers, Cold & Allergy Season

Mar 8 – Spring bulb plants

What’s beautiful in your yard, can create an ugly situation for pets. Consumption of leaves and flowers may only cause vomiting, but ingestion of the plant bulbs can be fatal.

Mar 10 – Fertilizers

Many dogs find the taste of fertilizers quite tasty, particularly the organic ones. Always carefully read and follow label directions, especially any warnings regarding pets.

Apr 16 – Lilies

Members of the true lily family (Lilium, Hemerocallis) are very poisonous to cats. They can cause vomiting, kidney failure and death. Easter lilies, day lilies, tiger lilies and Asian lilies are the most frequent cause of toxicity for feline family members.

Apr 29 – Human meds

Always keep human medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, away from pets. Items such as cold medications, vitamins, antidepressants, cardiac medications, ibuprofen and acetaminophen can poison your pet.

May/June – The school year ends, but keep being a student of pet poison risks.

Hazard High Points: Flea & other Parasite Products, Yard Supplies, Plants

May 5 – Pet meds

Keep all pet medications away from your pets. Those in chewable form are easy to give, but that makes it even more tempting for your pet to ingest the entire bottle if given access.

May 14 – Herbicides

Read and follow all label directions when using these substances in your yard. Some herbicides will only cause mild stomach upset, while others can be deadly.

June 3 – Insecticides

Whether used on the lawn, in the house or on the pet, always read and follow label directions. Incorrect use can seriously harm your pet.

June 19 – Sago palm

Sago, or Cycad, palms are very poisonous to pets and can cause liver failure and death. Potted sago palms are now sold as house plants in stores nationwide – so the risk is no longer limited to warm climates.

July/Aug – The god ol’ summertime can bring big ol’ risks for pets.

Hazard High Points: Picnics, 4th of July, Sun Protection

July 4 – Fireworks

Fireworks , both used and unused, can cause problems if ingested by your pet. It’s best to keep your furry friend away from the festivities.

July 20 – Grapes/raisins

This surprises many pet parents. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in some dogs, so keep them out of reach from your pet.

July 27 – Glo-stick

Glo-sticks and glo-jewelry are not poisonous, but the bitter-tasting liquid inside can cause your pets to drool uncontrollably.

Aug 12 – Sunscreen

Pets can get sunburned, but human sunscreens contain aspirin-like compounds that can cause vomiting and stomach ulcers. Do not use human products directly on your pet. Look for sunscreens formulated specifically for pets.

Aug 25 – Plants with insoluble calcium oxalate

Many common houseplants such as elephant ear, philodendron, Devil’s ivy and dumbcane contain insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause drooling, vomiting and, rarely, difficulty breathing.

Sept/Oct – Fall is in the air, but it’s no time to breathe easy.

Hazard High Points: Halloween, Small Indoor Visitors, Car Maintenance, Mushrooms Pop Up

Sept 3 – Antifreeze

Ethylene glycol, the ingredient that puts the “anti” in freeze, is very poisonous to pets. It can cause drunkenness, vomiting, kidney failure, seizures and death.

Sept 13 – Rodenticides

When cool temperatures move in, rodents move inside. Mouse and rat poisons can adversely affect your pets. Depending on the type, they can cause internal bleeding, seizures or kidney failure.

Sept 23 – Mushrooms

The mushrooms you buy in the grocery store are not considered toxic for pets, but the wild varieties growing in your yard may kill them. Remove any mushrooms to remove the risk.

Oct 31 – Chocolate

Halloween is prime time for chocolate poisoning in pets. Too much chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, high heart rate, tremors, seizures and death.

Nov/Dec – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, as long as you avoid toxic folly.

Hazard High Points: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Cold Weather Products

Nov 6 – Ice melts

Ice melts used on the sidewalk and driveway can be corrosive to your pet’s paws and tongue. Always use a pet-safe product- as indicated on the label.

Dec 11 – Holiday plants

The toxic potential of poinsettia has become highly exaggerated. This plant is relatively harmless, causing only minor symptoms like stomach upset. However mistletoe and holly can be toxic to pets if ingested.

Dec 25 – Christmas tree water

It may contain fertilizer and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.

• Ribbons and tinsel

These pretty adornments can become lodged in the intestines, cut up the digestive tract, and cause intestinal obstruction. This occurs most often in Kittens!

• Batteries

Batteries if punctured can cause burns in the mouth and digestive tract.

Dec 31 – People food

Another reminder that people eats and treats can harm pets. Chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol, onion/garlic/chives, macadamia nuts, and yeast dough are just a few. A complete list is available at www.aspca.org/apcc

 

This poison calendar was made into a brochure by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. I thought it was very useful so I am sharing the information with you.

 

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center – 888-426-4435

Pictures from Google Images