Snakes not the only danger to pets

Not all pet poisonings can be blamed on snakes.

If a substance is good for people, that doesn't necessarily mean it's good for pets. If an owner drops it, man's best friend might eat it, so be careful with prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and vitamins.

Mothballs, which are poisonous, might be left in the closet and forgotten by the person who put them there, but a pet might smell them and try to eat them.

Coffee grounds in a kitchen trashcan might seem harmless, but are toxic to pets.

The family laundry that keeps everyone smelling sweet could be dangerous for a hungry dog if he eats the fabric softener sheets or licks up detergent.

Cigarettes don't have to be smoked to cause health problems. Dogs, for some strange reason, will eat them, and the tobacco-filled cylinders are poisonous to them, as are alcoholic drinks.

Batteries left lying around could be used as chew toys by a pet, and they, too, can be killers.

A variety of lilies and other indoor/outdoor plant varieties should also not be ingested by animals.

Lawn fertilizers and insecticides should be dry before a pet comes near them.

Even then, be careful.

Other substances that seem repulsive to humans but which pets might find enticing are antifreeze, rat poison and slug or snail baits.

For many pets, it could be the last "treat" they ever taste.

- Nancy Needham