What is xylitol? Xylitol is a sugar substitute and is found in numerous products. It is popular in people with diabetes or on low-carbohydrate diets. It has antibacterial properties and [...]

Overview Chemicals, products and drugs used to deal with the cold weather may be harmful to pets. Ingestion of antifreeze, for example, can be fatal. In addition, Christmas may be [...]

Overview Summer is a time for being outdoors and at this time of year pets may encounter wildlife such as adders and jellyfish. Bees and wasps are also active in [...]

Overview As the weather gets warmer in the spring plants and fungi begin appearing and adders emerge from hibernation. Garden lawns may be treated with fertilizers and moss killers to [...]

What are anticoagulant rodenticides? Anticoagulant rodenticides are a group of compounds used for the control of rodent pests (rats and mice). They act by blocking a critical step in the [...]

General advice If you have a pet, particularly a new puppy or kitten, look around your home and garden and think about what might interest an inquisitive animal. Potential hazards [...]

Overview There are many potential hazards in the home and garden, and dogs are inquisitive, particularly puppies -they will eat anything. This leaflet describes some of the common substances that [...]

Overview Cats are at particular risk from some medicines and household products. This is due to several factors: • they lack certain enzymes which means they cannot eliminate some substances [...]

Overview There are many different types of plants found in the home and garden. Some plants contain toxic compounds that have adverse effects on various body organs (e.g. the heart, [...]

Overview Pets share our home and garden and so are at risk of exposure to a variety of garden products and substances. This leaflet describes some of the common garden [...]

What is permethrin? Permethrin is an insecticide used in household and veterinary products to control insect pests. Cats are very sensitive to permethrin as they are unable to metabolize or [...]

What is paracetamol? Paracetamol is a commonly available painkiller. It is used in dogs but in overdose can have toxic effects on the blood and liver. Paracetamol is available in [...]

What is paracetamol? Paracetamol is a commonly available painkiller. It is very safe in humans but cats are very sensitive to paracetamol as they are unable to metabolise it safely, [...]

What is metaldehyde? Metaldehyde is used to control garden snails and slugs, and is the active ingredient in many products. It is available in small bluegreen pellets for scattering around [...]

What are lilies? Lilies, that is, Lilium (true lily) and Hemerocallis (day lily) species, are poisonous to cats and cause kidney failure. Other flowers and plants that are also called [...]