National Poison Prevention Week begins Sun., March 20

Spring cleaning and gardening season is upon us. It may be an annual event that involves scrubbing the house from top to bottom or finally getting back around to home maintenance and yard work.

What some don’t realize is that many of the products we use in our cleaning spree can actually be poisonous to pets. With National Poison Prevention Week beginning March 20, Dr. Denise Petryk, on-staff veterinarian at Trupanion, provides insight in to the most common pet poisons and how to keep your four-legged family members out of harm’s way. 

--Household cleaning products: Soaps, bleach, detergents, specialized cleaners and even sponges can harm a pet by irritating the skin or eyes, as well as damaging and blocking the gastrointestinal system. 

--Plants: Tulips, Daffodils, Foxglove and Azaleas are all plants that can cause symptoms such as vomiting, drooling and even kidney damage when ingested by pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats – and popular around Easter time— and can cause kidney problems, while the Sago Palm plant causes health problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and liver failure in dogs.

--Fertilizers: The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and herbicides that supplement plant growth can cause severe symptoms in pets, such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal blockage.

--Yard tools: Rakes, shrub sheers and even shovels can be deadly for curious pets if they’re not stored properly.

--Pest control substances: Rodenticides and other poisons such as slug bait are toxic to all animals, so owners should take special care to keep their pet away.

Trupanion has paid over 8,000 in toxicity claims for a total of over $2.9 million since 2013. With a little bit of planning, you can keep spring-cleaning safe for the entire family.

Information: www.trupanion.com.