Pet Poison Prevention Month: The Top Dangers Lurking In Your Home For Pets

Modern living isn’t without its hazards, and many of those are to be found in and around the average home. Common chemicals, cleaners, some plants and even foods are toxic to dogs and cats, resulting in insurance claims being dominated by ingestion of dangerous items. What that means, says PD Insurance COO Michelle Le Long, is that restricting access to forbidden items in and around the house has a very definite benefit for pups, kitties, and pet owners alike.

“The data we gather from our policyholders is clear: pet poisonings are common, most occur at home due to the inquisitive nature of dogs and cats, and many could be avoided with better awareness of the risk,” she notes.

What’s Pet Poison Prevention Month (and why?)

Pet Poison Prevention Month runs throughout March and has been recognised since around the 2010s. This pet-dedicated poison prevention campaign evolved out of National Poison Prevention Week (a human-focused initiative originating in the 1960s).

While keeping your pets and any household (or other) poisons separated is a year-round priority, the focus steps up in March with a coordinated effort to raise awareness of the risks. “A theme for a month really does help bring the issue to front of mind,” says Le Long. “With the busyness of life, it’s easy to drop one’s guard, so putting a spotlight on the topic helps bring everyone back to basics.”

Can you spot the dangers?

Le Long says hazard identification and risk management are an ongoing campaign for every pet parent. “When it comes to toxic substances in the home, common culprits include things like snail bait, rat poison, antifreeze, household cleaners, chocolate, onion, garlic, and xylitol. These are the substances pet owners need to be most aware of, because even small exposures can be extremely dangerous for dogs and cats.”

However, while awareness of common culprits is essential, she says it’s often the lesser-known household items that catch pet owners off guard. Essential oils, compost, fertiliser, button batteries, certain plants, nicotine products, and even raw bread dough may seem harmless or easily overlooked, but they can quickly become serious, and sometimes life-threatening, if curious pets get into them.

“Pets are naturally curious, especially when they’re young. And the things they’re willing to bite or chew go far beyond your running shoes, often extending to just about anything within their reach.”

Another biggie, adds Le Long, is ‘human’ medication; “People medicine isn’t suitable for pets, and many medications can have severe and even fatal consequences. The lesson here is simple: keep your treatments well away from the pets!”

Poison proofing is essential, says Le Long, but it does demand diligence. She advises keeping a keen eye out for any and all of these hazards and making sure curious canines and frolicking felines can’t poke snouts where they don’t belong.

Know the signs

Should the worst happen, Le Long’s first advice is recognising the signs, followed by swift action. A poisoned pet could suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, bloody stools, or excessive urination; other common issues can include foaming at the mouth, seizures, and loss of coordination. A pet may lose its appetite and drink excessive amounts of water; panting or unusual breathing can also occur.

Through its veterinary-led partner, Healthy Pets NZ, PD Insurance works with experts like Chair Dr Hayley Hunt, who advises, “If you see your pet eating something toxic, seek vet advice immediately. A lot of toxins may not show signs for hours to days after a pet eats them (like rat bait), and if people can get them to the vet in that window before signs start, we can take steps to help minimise the absorption and effects of the toxin.”

Don’t give home remedies (remember, human medicine isn’t suitable for pets!) and don’t try to get the pet to vomit it out, as in some cases with certain toxins, this can worsen the problem.

What the claims data and survey results reveal

As a pet insurance specialist, PD Insurance has long shared insights from the claims it processes and research it conducts, and Le Long says there are valuable insights into the strife caused by eating poisonous items.

Several pet parents have shared alarming stories with PD, including countless dogs ingesting rat poison. On the other hand, cats, who usually exercise greater discretion, have ended up needing vet treatment after eating other animals that have been poisoned. One pet owner reported their puppy eating poison on a walk one day. The poor pup had to go to the vet after hours to have its stomach pumped and was booked in for an overnight stay. Soon after, it ate some polyester and was back at the vet.

It may seem amusing after the fact, but when the situation arises, it is anything but. A pet parent who shares their story with PD says, “One time, both of my dogs needed urgent care after ingesting something they shouldn’t have. It was terrifying. I didn’t know exactly what they’d eaten, but they were clearly unwell and deteriorating fast. I rushed them to the vet, and thankfully, I had pet insurance. It covered most of the emergency treatment, including diagnostics, fluids, and medication. Without that support, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve managed. The financial relief meant I could focus on getting them the care they needed, right when they needed it. They both pulled through, and I was so grateful, not just for their recovery, but for the peace of mind that insurance gave me in that moment.”*

Le Long says that of all the tens of thousands of claims PD Insurance processes, ingestion was the top claim for dogs and fourth most common claim for cats in 2025. “What this tells us is that pets will be pets—as their people, we need to safeguard them. And, that poison proofing your home can save a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth for pets and pet parents alike.”

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