Poison proof your home

The following advice can help you prevent your pet from being poisoned.
Please also refer to the common poisons section of the website for information on specific common hazards.

Medicines

Storage of medicines

• Keep medicines in locked cabinets which are out of reach of your pet, until they are required for use.
• Put any medicines away straight after use.
• Keep all handbags out of reach of your pet. They may contain medicines or other items that could be harmful.
• Get rid of medicines when you no longer need them by taking them to a community pharmacy or chemist shop.
• When visiting another home with your pet, bear in mind that their home may not be as ‘pet-proof’ as yours.

Using medicines safely

• Never put medicines out ‘ready’ before taking them as this may result in serious poisoning if they are eaten by your pet.
• Do not give human medication to your pet.. Some human medicines can be poisonous to some animals.
• When administering prescribed medication to your pet always measure doses - don't guess.
• Always read the information provided with any veterinary medicine carefully, and ensure that the correct product is being used for your pet.
• If a pet has been treated with a dermal medication (e.g. a spot on flea treatment), keep any other pets away to prevent cross contamination.

Garden and household products 

Storage of Household and Garden Products

• Keep products in secure storage cupboards, out of reach of pets.
• Return to safe storage immediately after use.
• Store cleaning and DIY products in separate areas to food/ pet food.
• Keep products in original containers. Never put them into unlabeled food or beverage containers.
• Do not keep household cleaners in places easily accessible to pets such as under the kitchen sink, in low cupboards, on the floor by the toilet, or on a low shelf in the kitchen or garage.
• Keep cosmetics out of reach and out of sight,
• Keep alcohol out of reach.
• Keep ashtrays clean and out of reach.
• Keep the garden shed and garage locked. Keep DIY materials like paint strippers, cleaners, oil for the car or antifreeze out of sight and high up or locked away.

Using Household and Garden Chemicals safely

• Hold on to a product while you are working with it. If you put it down, leave it where you can see it all the time.
• Remember to put any product out of the way if you are called away to the phone, or take your pet with you. A pet can quickly grab an open bottle and swallow the liquid, or spill it onto the skin or into the eyes.
• When you are decorating or doing some DIY task keep pets out of the room if possible.
• Put chemicals away as soon as you have finished using them.
• Child resistant closures are used for the more hazardous chemicals. Keep the products in their origional packaging and in a cupboard where pets cannot reach them.

General advice

• Never lock your pet in any confined space (e.g. garden shed, car, kitchen etc).
• Don't turn your back on your pet when any medicine or household product is within reach. If the phone or doorbell rings, take your pet with you.
• Never allow pets into areas that have recently been treated with chemicals (e.g. floor cleaners, weed killers, fertilizers etc).