The household items most likely to harm a dog or cat fall into a few groups: human medicines and supplements, certain foods (chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, and products sweetened with xylitol), cleaning and corrosive products, antifreeze, pest and garden baits, garage chemicals, and, for cats, lilies. Whether an item causes harm depends on the species, the active ingredient, the amount, and how the pet was exposed.
Use this list to decide what to store out of reach, not to decide whether an exposure is harmless. Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine describes its own small-animal toxin list as non-exhaustive, and no published list covers every substance, dose, or animal.
How often pets are exposed
ASPCA Poison Control’s 2025 call data, summarized in a report published March 15, 2026, reflects more than 376,000 exposure cases involving pets during 2025. Over-the-counter medications and supplements were the largest category, at 16.9% of those exposures. These figures come from calls to one poison-control service. They are not a count of every poisoning in the United States and do not give a rate for the pet population.
Human medicines and supplements
Human medicines are the most common hazard in ASPCA’s data. Store them in closed cabinets rather than on counters, nightstands, or in bags left on the floor.
- Pain relievers, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Cold and flu medicines
- Vitamins and supplements
- Topical medicines
- Prescription drugs, including medicines prescribed to people in the home
A product that is safe for people is not thereby safe for pets. Acetaminophen shows why: Cornell lists it as contraindicated in cats and toxic to dogs and cats. Do not give a pet any human medication unless a veterinarian has directed the dose.
Foods and pantry items
These foods are hazards for particular pets:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Onion, garlic, and related alliums
- Macadamia nuts
- Alcohol
- Xylitol, a sugar substitute found in some sugar-free gums, baked goods, and other products
The animal, the amount, and the full ingredient list all matter, so avoid relying on a “small amount is fine” rule. Cornell lists xylitol as potentially toxic to dogs. Check the ingredient panel of any sugar-free product before sharing it.
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Cleaning and laundry products
- Concentrated bleach
- Drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet-bowl cleaners
- Acids and alkalis
- Detergents and fabric softeners
- Dryer sheets
- Liquid potpourri
Risk varies widely across this group. Concentrated and corrosive products can cause serious tissue injury, and the outcome depends on concentration, formulation, and how the pet was exposed. ASPCA notes that many household cleaners are safe around dogs and cats when used as their labels direct. Keep pets away from treated surfaces and fumes until the label says the area is safe. Swallowed dryer sheets can also create a physical blockage, separate from any chemical effect.
Pest-control, garden, and ice-melt products
- Rodenticides
- Insecticides
- Slug and snail bait
- Fertilizers
- Ice-melt products
The active ingredient determines what the product does, so a generic name such as “rat poison” or “slug pellets” is not enough. Read the active ingredient on the package and keep the package so it can be identified later.
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Garage and workshop products
- Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol
- Windshield-washer fluid and solvents
- Paints
- Expanding polyurethane glue
Some of these products are a poisoning risk when swallowed. Others act differently. Cornell notes that some substances can be absorbed through the skin, and expanding glue can cause obstruction rather than classic poisoning. Wipe up spills promptly and keep containers sealed.
Plants and household objects
- Lilies in the genera Lilium and Hemerocallis. Cornell lists them as highly toxic to cats, with all parts of the plant and the water from a vase included.
- Button batteries, which can cause a serious obstruction and internal injury if swallowed
- Mothballs
- Zinc-containing U.S. pennies minted after 1982
- Liquid potpourri (also listed under cleaning products)
Identify plants by species, since many look similar. Cornell describes lily toxicity as especially urgent for cats.
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How species and exposure route change the risk
Do not assume that a toxin affects every pet the same way. The table below uses the species-specific statements in the sources reviewed. “Not stated” means the source did not address that species, so it is not a finding that the item is safe.
| Item | Cats | Dogs | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lilies (Lilium, Hemerocallis) | Highly toxic, including all parts and vase water (Cornell) | Not stated (Cornell) | Not stated |
| Acetaminophen | Contraindicated (Cornell) | Toxic (Cornell) | Not stated |
| Xylitol | Not stated (Cornell) | Potentially toxic (Cornell) | Not stated |
| Cleaning product fumes | Many are safe when used as directed (ASPCA) | Many are safe when used as directed (ASPCA) | Particularly sensitive to fumes (ASPCA) |
Route of exposure matters as well. Swallowing, breathing in, and skin contact can each carry different risks from the same product. A product that is mild on skin may still be dangerous if licked off a paw, and a product that is harmless when diluted may be corrosive when concentrated.
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What to do if your pet may have been exposed
- Remove the pet from the source and take away any remaining product, plant material, or packaging. Protect yourself from residue on skin or clothing.
- Call a veterinarian or an animal poison-control service right away. ASPCA Poison Control lists (888) 426-4435 in the United States. Pet Poison Helpline lists (855) 764-7661. Phone numbers and fees change, so check each service’s website and save the number before an emergency.
- Have the information ready: the product packaging or a clear photo of its label, the active ingredient, the estimated amount and time of exposure, the pet’s species, weight, and age, and any symptoms you have seen.
- Do not induce vomiting or try a home remedy unless a veterinary professional or poison-control specialist tells you to. Pet Poison Helpline advises: “Do NOT induce vomiting without consulting a vet or Pet Poison Helpline®.”
- Seek veterinary care even if the pet seems normal. ASPCA’s September 17, 2026 guidance on corrosive household products says: “If you suspect your pet has chewed, licked or ingested a corrosive product, seek veterinary care immediately, even if your pet appears normal, as clinical effects can be delayed.”
Prevention
- Lock medicines, cleaners, pest products, and automotive fluids in cabinets your pet cannot open. A lockable storage cabinet or container is one practical way to do this; this article does not recommend a specific model.
- Keep products in their original containers so the ingredients and warnings stay readable.
- Follow label directions for cleaners, ventilate the room, and keep pets out of treated areas until they are dry or the label allows access.
- Keep birds away from cleaning fumes, and do not rely on a product being safe for dogs and cats when a bird shares the home.
- Keep lilies out of any home with cats, and do not leave cut lily stems in vases where a cat can drink the water.
- Check floor level for dryer sheets, batteries, mothballs, loose pennies, and small ingestible objects, since they are easy for pets to find.
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