Center for Environmental Oncology

Household Dangers to Your Pets

Many products in your home can be toxic to your pets, like pesticides for example. Pesticide gas or vapor can linger in the air and be inhaled, which is especially dangerous to birds¹. The effects of these chemicals can range from mild skin irritation to damage to the nervous system, and possibly even cancer². The chart below lists other household dangers to your pets:

PRODUCTS	PROBLEMS	SAFER ALTERNATIVES
Antifreeze (especially if it contains ethylene glycol)	Can be fatal if consumed, even in small quantities¹	Store antifreeze and other products such as fertilizers, icemelting products, and gasoline out of the reach of pets, and children as well¹.
Mothballs	Can cause serious health problems if ingested or by inhaling the fumes. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, found in mothballs, may be reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen.	Always keep mothballs out of reach of children. Use cedar balls or lavender sachets to ward off moths, and to freshen your home as well!
Pesticides	Insecticides, weedkillers, and rat/mouse bait and pesticides are all potentially harmful to pets¹.	Don't spray or store cleaning or pesticide products near animals or their food or water dishes³. Make sure pets can't reach bait products while they are in use In the event of a spill or pesticide application, keep animals out of area! Use integrated pest management (IPM) to rid your home of pests, instead. Our MyEnvironmentalHealth site has more on Safe Pest Control.
Flea collars, flea and tick dips, sprays, powders, foggers, and bombs	May contain carbamate and organophosphate pesticides (OPs), which are associated with an increased incidence of poisonings in pets⁴. OPs contain chemicals that disturb mammals' brains and nervous systems and may cause cancer².	Stop using OP-based products. The 7 OPs you want to avoid are: chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion⁵ Spray pet daily with 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and mix garlic tablets in with pet's food to repel pests Vacuum thoroughly and regularly. Seal vacuum bags with tape before disposal Groom pets regularly with a flea comb, dipping comb frequently in hot soapy water For pet's bedding: choose pads and pillows with removable, washable covers made of natural fibers, such as cotton

Sources:

American Veterinary Medical Association. What you should know about household hazards to pets [Internet]; c2005 [cited 2008 Jan 18].
Davis JR, Brownson RC, Garcia R, Bentz BJ, Turner A. Family pesticide use and childhood brain cancer. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 1993 Jan;24(1):87-92.
US Environmental Protection Agency. Read the Label First: Protect Your Pets [Internet]; c2007 [cited 2008 1/18/2008].
Purdue Pesticide Programs. Pesticides and Wildlife, PPP-30 [Internet]. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service; c2001 [cited 2008 1/18/2008].
Beech J. Pet products registered for seven organophosphates, US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs; 2000.

This flyer originally appeared as the reverse of Hidden Pesticides in Your Home: How to Protect Your Children. For information on how to get this and all other CEO-UPCI materials in hard-copy, see our materials page.