Dogs are very curious by nature and love to get into everything. They just love to eat all types of substances. In fact, they are a bit like scavengers and will eat just about anything. The problem is that many household products and food are extremely toxic to your dog. In this article, we'll discuss everyday household substances and food products that can adversely impact or kill your dog.



1. Antifreeze. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycole which is extremely toxic. The really horrible thing about antifreeze is that dogs are especially attracted to its sweet smell and taste and it only takes a very small amount to adversely affect it.

2. Bleach. Bleach is dangerous because it can adversely affect your dog's esophagus and mucous membranes.

3. Bread Yeast. Once ingested, the yeast can expand in your dog's stomach and can cause intestinal problems, including rupture of the intestines. In addition, alcohol fermentation can occur which may lead to alcohol poisoning.

4. Chocolate. Chocolate is dangerous because it contains and alkaloid called theobromine. This alkaloid can't be quickly metabolized by dogs and when dogs eat large amounts of chocolate. Theobromine reaches high levels and can cause diarrhea, a fast heart and breathing rate, excessive urination, and even death.

5. Coffee grounds. In addition to chocolate, you should also keep your dog away from coffee grounds as they contain caffeine which can lead to hyperactive behavior, increased heart rate, tremors and even seizures.

6. Detergents. This includes anionic detergents (laundry detergent, shampoos, and dish soaps) as well as cationic detergents (fabric softeners, sanitizers, etc.) Anionic detergents can cause general illness whereas cationic detergents can cause severe damage to your dog's mucous membranes.

7. Fruit seeds. There are many fruit seeds that are extremely toxic including peach pits and avocados. The ingestion of these typically cause respiratory distress and fluid to accumulate around your dog's heart. In addition, stems and leaves of tomatoes are also hazardous and can cause drooling, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and vomiting.

8. Household plants. There are many toxic household plants including aloe, lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, and poinsettias. In fact, if your dog ingests any of them, they may become seriously ill or may even die.

9. Macadamia nuts. If enough of these are eaten, your dog may experience hind leg weakness, vomiting, drooling or diarrhea, muscle tremors, and depression. Although this isn't typically fatal, they are still quite dangerous.

10. Moth bolls. These insecticides can cause dog seizures, cause your dog's liver to fail, and can wreak havoc in your dog's nervous system as well.

11. Mouthwash. Most mouthwashes contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Therefore, keep it away from your pet.

12. Tylenol. Although it is great for human headaches, it is extremely poisonous for dogs. This is because they don't have the liver enzyme to break down the acetaminophen. In fact, only two regular strength Tylenols will kill your small dog.

13. Watch batteries. These are extremely dangerous and can cause a fatal ulceration in your dog's stomach which may happens within 12 hours.

In conclusion, you must not only be aware of the above mentioned household items, you must do everything that you can in order to keep your dogs away from them. By recognizing these items and putting them away, you can protect your beloved pet from harm.