Don’t get me wrong, dogs are sweet, loyal, and very entertaining. However, the little rascals can be pretty devious and sneaky, especially when you’re out of the house! Sometimes, when my rottweiler-chow mix is upset that I’m leaving or maybe I haven’t given her as much attention one day as she’d like, she will go to work as soon as I’m out of the door! She gets into my bathroom garbage can, chews up all the toilet paper, plastics, and waste that is in there, and sometimes leaves it out in the living room for me to find later. She will also get into our kitchen recycling, which is just in a grocery brown paper bag, and dig out all the papers and boxes, chewing and shredding them up as well. It’s not that I get upset that she makes a little mess, (because I convince myself sometimes that she is just really bored), but I’m actually worried that there will be something in the trash cans that can be toxic to her.
That is why I was curious as to what products, household items, and food really are toxic to dogs. I always hear about some things being toxic, but then I’ll hear from somewhere else that it’s just a myth. I really encourage you, if you have dogs or any free-roaming pets, to look up lists of toxic items. I came across a few that I was surprised about, especially all the flowers, and I am much more aware of my dogs’ surroundings now.
Some toxic foods and their poisonous ingredients include (but not limited to!):
Other items that can be fatally and easily overlooked are indoor and outdoor plants. Caladium, chrysanthemum, weeping fig, and aloe vera are just some of the poisonous plants commonly found indoors. Outside plants to avoid are daffodils, ivy, morning glory, oak, foxglove, rhododendrum, wisteria, and many more. If you are unsure, look it up! This is when “it’s better to be safe then sorry” comes into play.
Dogs love their freedom and they should be granted a little leeway once in a while considering, after all, they are supposed to be considered your best friend! Give them the opportunity to have free range, indoors or out, but make sure you’re on top of their safety first.