After an ER doctor, known on social media as Dr. Joe, exposed a common household product for being extremely toxic to pets, Newsweek asked a veterinarian how many seemingly innocent items we should hide from our animals, and some of these may surprise you.
In a post shared on TikTok in December, under the username @drjoe_md, Dr. Joe Whittington said a commonly used hair-growth item that people often leave in the bathroom is so toxic to our pets that even minimal exposure can be life-threatening.
“There’s one item you might have in your home that is so deadly to pets that just one lick can take their life, and I’ll bet you had no idea,” Whittington says. He is talking about Minoxidil, which, he adds, is especially toxic to cats because their bodies don’t have the ability to metabolize it.
“Just walking across a spill or licking the residue off your skin can cause severe toxicity. so, if you are using minoxidil, lock it up, wash your hands, and clean up spills immediately. because your hair-growth routine shouldn’t come at the expense of your furry friends’ lives.”
@drjoe_md 💀 One lick could be fatal! If you’re using minoxidil for hair growth, it’s time to double-check your safety routine—this stuff is incredibly toxic to pets. Cats and dogs are at serious risk even from the smallest exposure. Protect your furry friends by washing your hands, cleaning spills, and storing it out of reach. Your hair journey doesn’t have to put their lives at risk! 🐾 #petsafety #Minoxidil #petparent #HairCareTips
Whittington told Newsweek that, while dogs are less sensitive to it than cats, this substance is still highly toxic to them; exposure can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, fluid buildup in the lungs, and in severe cases, heart failure.
“Dogs are also at risk if they ingest it directly or absorb it through their skin, though the effects might not be as immediate as in cats. The bottom line: Minoxidil is dangerous for all pets and should always be treated as a household hazard,” Whittington said.
If you use minoxidil, you can safely store it in a cabinet with a latch or a high shelf that pets can’t access, clean up immediately after use, and dispose of tissues in a sealed trash can. You should also wash your hands after applying it, and keep your pets away from the areas in your skin where the product has been applied.
Dr. Nita Vasudevan, veterinary consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that, if your pet comes into contact with this substance, you should seek immediate veterinary attention.
“Inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal is sometimes recommended by veterinarians, but owners should never attempt this without professional advice,” Vasudevan said.
Other common household products that, according to Vasudevan, are highly toxic to pets include bleach, ammonia, and even some “natural” cleaners if ingested or inhaled.
Tea tree oil, eucalyptus, and citrus oils are also harmful, especially to cats. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and antidepressants are other common culprits. Foods like chocolate, xylitol (in sugar-free gum), grapes, and onions are all hazardous, too.
Lilies (toxic to cats), aloe, and sago palms are dangerous. Rodenticides and insecticides are extremely harmful if pets ingest them directly or eat affected pests.
Dr. Joe added that other surprisingly toxic items include salt lamps, which, just by licking them, can cause salt poisoning, leading to vomiting, seizures, or worse.
Dr. Joe
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 883,000 views and more than 50,900 likes on the platform.
One user, Linzinka, commented: “They need to put a warning on the label!”
Allthesinglecatladies posted: “I was debating on purchasing, I will pass now thank you so much for this tip!!”
Lady Cuack added: “I bought it, just before using it I saw a random TikTok comment warning about this … I think about it till this day.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.