Common Household Items That Are Toxic to Dogs

The household items most likely to poison a dog are human medications and supplements, certain foods such as chocolate, xylitol and grapes, strong cleaners, rodent bait, antifreeze, batteries and concentrated scented products. Nearly all of them sit in a cabinet or bag a determined dog can reach, so the fix is mostly about storage.

This guide groups the main hazards by room and type, with what each one can do and how to keep it out of reach. If your dog has already eaten something, skip ahead to our guide on what to do if your dog eats something toxic.

What poison experts see most

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center publishes a yearly list of the toxins pets are exposed to most. In its 2025 top 10, over-the-counter medications and supplements came first, followed by food and drink and then human prescription medications. Chocolate, veterinary products, plants and fungi, rodenticides, household products, insecticides and recreational drugs completed the list, in that order.

In other words, the usual suspects are not exotic. They are what you keep in the bathroom, the pantry and the garage.

Medications and supplements

Human medicines rank among the most commonly reported causes of pet poisoning, and with some drugs even a small amount can be dangerous.

• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers and possibly kidney failure. Acetaminophen and aspirin are also on the AVMA's list of risks.
• Antidepressants can cause sedation, poor coordination, agitation, tremors and seizures.
• ADHD medications can cause tremors, seizures, a high body temperature and heart problems, even in small amounts.
• Veterinary pain relievers are dangerous in large amounts and can cause severe stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
• Vitamins, iron and weight-loss supplements are on the AVMA's list too.

Never give your dog any medication or supplement unless your vet directs it. Keep dogs from licking skin where you have applied a medicated cream.

Foods and drinks

Plenty of everyday foods are poisonous to dogs. The big ones are chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, coffee and raw yeast dough. Fatty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis.

Xylitol deserves special attention because it appears in sugar-free gum, candy and baked goods, and it can send blood sugar plunging to dangerous levels and may even cause liver failure. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to dogs, and our chocolate page explains why some types are riskier than others. Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure.

Cleaning products, chemicals and pest poisons

Strongly acidic or alkaline cleaners, such as toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and rust removers, are highly corrosive. Glass cleaners, spot removers and most everyday surface cleaners carry much less risk, but caution is still wise. Bleach can cause stomach upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and severe burns if swallowed, and it can irritate the airways if inhaled in a high enough concentration.

Other garage and garden hazards include:

• Antifreeze. Ethylene glycol can be fatal even in small amounts.
• Fertilizers. Organic products with blood meal, bone meal or iron can tempt dogs and, eaten in large amounts, cause pancreatitis or a blockage in the stomach.
• Paint thinners and solvents. They can cause severe irritation or chemical burns.
• Mothballs. They can cause serious illness if swallowed or inhaled, especially those containing naphthalene.
• Rodent poison. Depending on the ingredient, it can cause internal bleeding, brain swelling, kidney failure or severe vomiting. Dogs can also be poisoned by eating a rodent that has eaten bait. Bromethalin has no known antidote.

Keep treated lawns off-limits for as long as the label advises, since dogs can lick chemicals off their paws. Ask your vet before using any insect control product on your dog.

Batteries and small objects

Batteries cause two kinds of harm. Alkaline batteries can leak corrosive contents if punctured, and button or lithium batteries can produce a burn from electrical current when lodged in the esophagus or gut. Do not induce vomiting. Mouth sores may take hours to appear, so get veterinary attention immediately even if your dog seems fine. Drooling, mouth pain and pawing at the mouth are warning signs.

Coins, buttons, small toys, jewelry, nails and screws can also be swallowed, and surgery may be needed to remove them. Chewed electrical cords can cause burns or electrocution, so use cord covers or block access.

Scented products, plants and recreational drugs

Essential oils and liquid potpourri can be poisonous when a dog licks them, gets them on their fur or tastes simmering potpourri. Oils of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, wintergreen and ylang ylang are especially risky. Signs include drooling, pawing at the mouth, burns on the lips or skin, vomiting, wobbliness and tremors.

Cigarettes, vapes, nicotine gum and patches can sicken or kill a dog. Cannabis edibles can cause stumbling, tiredness or agitation, tremors and dribbling urine, and CBD overdoses can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Plants are on the list too. The AVMA names sago palm, azalea, rhododendron, tulip and narcissus bulbs, castor bean, oleander, yew and foxglove among the risks, and warns that cocoa shell mulch can cause signs similar to chocolate poisoning.

How to lock it all away

Store medicines, cleaners and chemicals in closed cabinets or behind childproof latches, in their original containers. Use trash cans with secure lids. Ask guests to keep bags and coats out of reach, and keep toilet lids closed so dogs cannot drink treated water. Our guide to puppy-proofing your home walks through every room, and it works just as well for adult dogs.

Save the numbers for your vet, a 24-hour clinic, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (US; fees may apply). Outside the US, find your local emergency vet.

If your dog gets into something

Call straight away, before signs appear. Have the packaging and your dog's weight ready. Do not try to make your dog vomit; that decision belongs to a vet or poison specialist. Contact a vet immediately if your dog is drooling, vomiting repeatedly, wobbly, very sleepy, having tremors or struggling to breathe.

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy