Pet owners know that their furry companions will eat the strangest things. Unfortunately, many common household items can be fatal to pets.

Do you have killer plants in your home and yard? Eating azaleas, oleanders, mistletoe, sago palms, Easter lilies, poinsettias or yews - to name just a few - can have deadly consequences for pets.

Never allow your pets access to areas in which gardening products and cleaning agents are being used or stored. Cleaning agents may cause stomach upset, severe burns or death. Rat bait, ant traps, and other gardening products are not good pet snacks. If your lawn is treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides, keep your pets indoors until they have dried completely.

Did you know that some pets love the taste of antifreeze? Don't leave open antifreeze containers or puddles of the stuff around where pets can get at them. Gasoline, oil and other automotive products can also be harmful if ingested.

Many other common household items can be lethal to animals. Mothballs, potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough, fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes, and alcohol are all highly toxic, even in small quantities. Even chocolate can be harmful to pets.

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