Keeping your pet healthy not only means feeding them a nutritious diet but also keeping them away from foods that could be harmful. Many everyday foods and substances that are perfectly safe for humans can cause sickness or even death in your furry companion. The experienced emergency vets at Animal Health Center in Enterprise, AL, have treated many dogs and cats for exposure to poisonous substances, and they share a list of some of the most little-known hazardous foods and plants that can sicken your pet.

5 Surprising Substances That Are Harmful to Your Pet

1. Hops

As home beer brewing becomes more popular, more people are planting hops in their home gardens. But these fragrant plants can be toxic to both cats and dogs. Symptoms of ingestion include high body temperature, racing heartbeat, vomiting, and fast breathing.

2. Sago Palms 

These trees are popular in landscaping, but ingestion of just a single seed can cause liver failure in your pet, and anything more than that can end in death. The plant’s short and wide stature makes it particularly hazardous because the leaves are well within the reach of your dog. If you have this plant on your property, you should have it removed or fenced off.

3. Flowers

Flowers make a beautiful display both indoors and outdoors, but if you have pets, you need to know which are dangerous for them. The worst culprits are chrysanthemums, amaryllis, azaleas, some lilies (including Easter lilies), and oleander. If you have any of these flowers around your home and your pet has symptoms such as vomiting, tremors, excessive drooling, or weakness, call your emergency vet right away.

4. Raw Bread Dough

Yeast is the ingredient that makes bread rise, and if your pet ingests raw dough, the yeast remains activated inside their stomach, causing abdominal distension and gastrointestinal blockage that may require pet surgery to remove. Make sure you keep any proofing bread out of reach of your dog or cat.

5. Macadamia Nuts

These nuts are delicious for humans but very harmful to dogs. Even just a few can cause muscle weakness, vomiting, and fever, and symptoms may not show up for a few hours. Keep nuts stored in locked cabinets or in sealed containers that can’t be accessed by your pet.

Pets are naturally curious and explore their world by putting things into their mouth. Keep them safe by knowing what substances are harmful and removing the danger before they’re affected. But if your pet has ingested a hazardous food or plant, call the emergency vets at Animal Health Center right away. Their on-call doctors are available 24 hours a day to provide immediate care when you need it. For after-hours emergencies, call (334) 610-1051. You can also speak to a friendly associate during business hours by calling (334) 347-0544 or you can visit their website to find out more about this trusted animal hospital.