Hidden Dangers that Can Harm Your Pet

Our pets are oftentimes some of the most cherished members of the family. The recent pet food scare has left many owners wondering whether they're doing enough to keep them safe. But, as our Troubleshooter Alexis Wiley discovered, the answer may be no.

The average home is filled with foods and substances that can be toxic to pets. Since many pet owners don't know, they're often the ones unknowingly putting their beloved animals in danger. "

They're part of the family," Cindi Jett, a Shreveport resident, said," they are treated like children." Like children, pets can get into anything. The Jett family learned that the hard way. "I can't lose this dog, nothing can happen to her because she's my daughter's dog," Jett said. But their three year old dog Zoe's life was almost cut short. Zoe turned over a trash can in the master bathroom and discovered a used patch containing a strong pain reliever. While chewing on it, she ingested some of the medication. If Cindi hadn't found her when she did, Zoey would be dead. "She was laying on the kitchen floor, salivating and panting badly," Jett said. I

t's a scenario that plays out time and time again in homes across the Ark-La-Tex; pets ingesting toxins that most of us would consider harmless. Veterinarian Barbara Still says she sees it all too often. "We can even see oral burns and not to mention the side effects of consuming the products," Still said. Most pet owners know chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs. But, what about onions, garlic and coffee? They can damage your pets heart and nervous system. Raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure. Dental floss can rip your pets intestines. "Some of the worst cases we've seen are on the pet's birthday," Still said, " the owner might have given the animal cake or pizza." The best advices is to leave the table food to the people and keep anything questionable out of your pets reach. If your pet does come in contact with a toxin, be sure to get them to a veterinarian within less than 3 hours. That way, your pet will have a higher chance of making a complete recovery.