LIVING WITH A GARBAGE HOUND?
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 the following 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).
