The inquisitive nature of dogs often means we see them eating lots of varied things and they really don’t care what it is they eat. Remember though that there are numerous toxic things in the home that could prove fatal for your pooch. The following is a list of 4 common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach. Follow these steps and you won’t compromise on dog health care.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It’s the sweet smell of the antifreeze that attracts dogs. Inside antifreeze you’ll find ethylene glycol and this is toxic. The symptoms of ingesting a toxic substance are awful, and your dog will end up with kidney failure. You can prevent this painful death by just making sure the product is kept far out of reach. Of course, if the worse does happen, take your dog to a vet for a health check.

2) Chocolate: Don’t ever let your dog eat chocolate, as it is poisonous to dogs. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death do occur with smaller amounts ingested. The symptoms you need to be aware of with chocolate poisoning are diarrhoea and vomiting. After this, you can even find the dog suffers seizures. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate is bad for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: Something like bleach is highly toxic to your dog. Anything containing bleach should be out of sight and out of mind. Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. However, one important thing to remember is that vomiting should not be induced s this can make the situation worse. Remember that by doing these simple things, your dog health care routine stays in check.

4) Mouthwash: Highly toxic to dogs is an owner’s mouthwash, and this is commonly found in the home. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

It is an owner’s responsibility to make sure dogs don’t get anywhere near to toxic substances. Pet owners do a lot for their pets in terms of feeding and grooming, but a proper dog health care routine isn’t complete without making sure dangerous products are kept away from the pet. As always, if you think your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency clinic.