LIVING WITH A GARBAGE HOUND?: YOUR TRASH COULD BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR PET!

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LIVING WITH A GARBAGE HOUND?: YOUR TRASH COULD BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR

PET!

Does your enterprising pooch have a habit of digging out the edibles—

and not-so-edibles—in your garbage can? He may be satisfying his

canine instincts, but the ASPCA would like to inform pet parents that

the everyday items you throw away could be dangerous to your pet.

These include:

 

- medications

- foods harmful to pets, such as chocolate, onions and coffee grounds

- poisonous plant cuttings

- household cleaners

- insecticides

- batteries

- bones, plastic, metal and paper, which can cause choking and other

obstructions

- bacteria in spoiled food

- molds in rotting foods such as cheese, nuts, grains and pasta

 

Here are some practical ways to avoid hazardous encounters with

discarded items:

- Use securely covered wastebaskets that don't tip over easily, and

store them in a cabinet under the sink.

- Take your garbage out right away.

- Properly dispose of potentially toxic materials, such as batteries.

Your local garbage disposal company can offer advice.

 

For more details on the dangers of pets getting into garbage, please

read our latest press release. If you think your pet has ingested a

potentially hazardous item, please contact your veterinarian or local

emergency animal hospital immediately, taking note of any items you

might have thrown away. If you can't reach your veterinarian, please

contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at

(888) 426-4435 (fee will apply).