Spring Poisons for Your Pet Part 2: Household & Garage Items

Fertilizers, mulch products, and soil additives

Several fertilizers can be less toxic to your pet, and some that can be fatal. Make sure you are reading about what your fertilizer contains and do some research! Most fertilizers contain only nitrogen, potash, and phosphorous, which are generally non-toxic. Some also may contain insecticides which usually only result in mild gastrointestinal signs. More severe signs often come from a pet eating the fertilizer directly out of the bag, so if you are applying fertilizer, it is best to keep your pet inside until the soil has absorbed the fertilizer.

Watch out for organic fertilizers! Organic fertilizers are the ones to watch out for as they can contain leftover byproducts of the meat-packing or farming industry, which can be harmful to our pets. These “meals” included in organic fertilizers smell great to dogs and may cause your dog to ingest a high amount of the product. If a fertilizer contains blood meal, it may cause vomiting or diarrhea and even lead to severe pancreatitis. Bone meal in your fertilizer can cause a large cement-like bone ball to form as an obstruction in the stomach if ingested. These fertilizers can also contain feather meal or fish meal which can also cause gastrointestinal irritation.

Other fertilizers, such as rose and plant fertilizer, which possibly could contain disulfoton or different types of organophosphates (OP), can kill a 55 lb dog with simply one teaspoon! Some fertilizers may contain Iron which can also be toxic.

Mulch. Most mulch is benign but may still cause a foreign body if your dog ingests them since they usually are made of shredded tree bark. Cocoa bean mulch is the one you should watch out for since the cocoa bean is used to make chocolate, which most of us know is toxic to dogs! This mulch still contains small amounts of theobromine (the chemical that results in chocolate poisoning), which can still cause the signs of chocolate poisoning if ingested in large quantities.

Pesticides & Insecticides

Most are just basic irritants, but those containing organophosphates or carbamates can be life-threatening if consumed in large quantities. Ok, so we have some fun, big words going on here that put you back in science class!! Don’t worry, I won’t get too technical here, if you want to do your own research about what these words mean and how they affect your pets, go to this PetMD article for a more technical breakdown. Usually, repeated or heavy application of these chemicals will be toxic to pets. Some symptoms you should watch out for are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, seizures, muscle tremors, hypersalivation, constricted pupils, increased heart rate, lack of coordination, or respiratory failure.

Garage Hazards

You may be working outside or in the garden, and your pet wanders inside your garage. Think about all the hazardous, poisonous items that are in there for humans!! These items will most likely cause more severe symptoms for your pet since they are physically smaller than you! To remind you of the dangers in store for your pets, I have listed some items below typically kept in the garage. Try to keep these items out of reach of your pet but if they ingest any of the following, DO NOT induce vomiting, and make sure you call a pet poison helpline or emergency vet for assistance!

Antifreeze – It has a sweet smell and taste to pets, so they want to consume a high volume. Hopefully, you are storing this product high up but if you suspect they have been poisoned by antifreeze, a quick reaction time is critical!!!
Petroleum products – Gas, diesel, or other fuels, solvents, lubricants, waxes, and paints are all products that can cause your pet danger! Your pet can easily get exposed to this product through leaks, spills, or even the fumes. It is best to keep your pet inside while using these items.
Battery Acid – I know this seems like common sense to most of you, but as a reminder, also be aware of a battery acid leak. If a pet steps in this, their instinct will be to lick it off, and it is highly corrosive!
Carbon Monoxide – If you are starting your car before you are ready to get in and it’s parked in the garage, please make sure your dog or cat is clear. Pets, because they are much smaller than us, are more sensitive to carbon monoxide poisoning!

Spring Cleaning Products

Most surface cleaning products may result in only minor gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting or diarrhea) in your pet; however, some can cause a more significant threat. The Pet Poison Helpline lists the most corrosive or acidic dangers to your pets and what to do if your pet is exposed. To explore more common household products and how they affect your pet, check out the ASPCA site.