March 16 to March 22 is National Poison Prevention Week. The ASPCA website has several suggestions for pet parents to ensure that their homes are pet poison-proof. Here are a few:

• Keep prescription and over-the-counter drugs behind tightly closed cabinet doors.

• Make sure chocolate, coffee and other potentially dangerous foods are kept out of pets’ reach.

• Many common household plants such as lilies, azaleas and kalanchoe can cause surprisingly severe, even life-threatening effects in pets. Please check the ASPCA’s complete lists of toxic and nontoxic plants.

• Only use cleaning products that have been proven safe for use around pets. If you do use bleaches, detergents or disinfectants, keep your pets away from the cleaned areas until the product has dried thoroughly, and be sure to store the products in a secure place.

Click here for a more complete list of toxic foods and other hazards to avoid.