Updated August 2026
Garages and garden sheds often contain products designed to kill weeds, control pests, maintain cars, clean patios, preserve wood or start barbecues.
They may be ordinary household products, but that does not make them safe for dogs.
A puppy may chew a container. A scavenging dog may eat rodent bait or bone-meal fertiliser. Another dog may walk through a spill and later lick the product from their paws.
Some substances cause irritation or an upset stomach. Others can damage the kidneys, affect blood clotting, cause seizures or enter the lungs.
The safest approach is to:
- Keep every product in its original labelled container
- Store chemicals inside a secure cupboard
- Clean up spills immediately
- Keep your dog away while products are being used
- Follow the label exactly
- Contact your vet promptly after known or suspected exposure
- Never attempt to make your dog vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs you
This guide covers products commonly stored in UK garages and garden sheds. For poisonous plants, bulbs and berries, read my separate Plants Poisonous to Dogs: Practical UK Garden Guide.
This article provides general safety information and does not replace advice from your veterinary practice.
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What should you do if your dog may have been poisoned?
Do not wait for your dog to become visibly unwell.
Some poisons act quickly. Others may not cause obvious signs for several hours or days.
Take these steps
- Move your dog away from the product.
- Prevent further eating, drinking or licking.
- Check whether your dog is breathing normally and able to stand.
- Contact your vet immediately.
- Keep the product container or take clear photographs of the label.
- Estimate how much may be missing.
- Note when the exposure happened.
- Tell the vet your dog’s approximate weight.
- Follow the veterinary team’s instructions.
Do not
- Make your dog vomit
- Give salt water
- Give hydrogen peroxide
- Give milk
- Give oil
- Offer a large meal
- Give activated charcoal yourself
- Give human medication
- Apply another chemical to the coat
- Wait for symptoms after a known exposure
Animal PoisonLine provides 24-hour specialist poisoning advice for UK pet owners.
Telephone: 01202 509000
Charges apply.
If your dog has collapsed, is having a seizure, cannot breathe normally or is otherwise seriously unwell, contact an emergency veterinary practice immediately.
Why garages and sheds are risky for dogs
A garage or shed may contain a mixture of:
- Car-maintenance fluids
- Rat and mouse poison
- Weed killers
- Insecticides
- Slug and snail products
- Fertilisers
- Lawn treatments
- Patio cleaners
- Paint
- Varnish
- White spirit
- Wood preservatives
- Adhesives
- Batteries
- Petrol
- Diesel
- Paraffin
- Barbecue lighter fluid
- Firelighters
- Mouldy compost
- Sharp tools
Dogs may gain access when:
- A door is left open
- A bottle leaks
- A lid is not replaced
- A bag is torn
- A product is left on the floor during use
- A chemical is poured into an unlabelled container
- A watering can contains diluted product
- Old products have been forgotten at the back of a shelf
- Rodent bait is placed where the dog can reach it
- A spill is covered with sawdust but not removed
- Rainwater collects in a contaminated tray or container
Do not assume that placing a product on a shelf is enough.
Large dogs can reach high surfaces, determined dogs can open lightweight doors, and rodents may knock packets down.
Antifreeze and ethylene glycol
Antifreeze is one of the most serious garage hazards.
Many antifreeze products contain ethylene glycol, which can cause severe kidney damage and may be fatal even after a relatively small exposure.
Ethylene glycol may also be present in products such as:
- Engine coolant
- Radiator fluid
- Some screen washes
- Some brake fluids
- De-icing products
- Fluids used in certain garden water features
Dogs may swallow it by:
- Drinking directly from a container
- Licking a garage-floor spill
- Drinking fluid drained from a radiator
- Licking contaminated paws
- Drinking rainwater from an old container
- Investigating a leaking vehicle
Possible early signs can include:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Wobbliness
- Appearing drunk or poorly coordinated
- Low energy
- Increased drinking
- Increased urination
The dog may appear to improve before serious kidney damage becomes apparent.
Do not treat apparent improvement as recovery.
Preventing antifreeze poisoning
- Store antifreeze in its original sealed container
- Keep it inside a locked cupboard
- Check containers for leaks
- Clean spills immediately
- Prevent access to drained radiator fluid
- Check vehicles for leaks
- Do not leave open trays underneath a vehicle
- Dispose of unwanted fluid through an appropriate local facility
- Keep empty containers away from pets
- Do not rely solely on a bittering agent
Contact your vet immediately after any suspected exposure.
Read PDSA’s guidance on antifreeze poisoning in dogs
Rat and mouse poison
Rat and mouse poisons are designed to kill animals.
Different products contain different active ingredients and do not all act in the same way.
Some anticoagulant rodenticides interfere with blood clotting. Other rodenticides can affect:
- The nervous system
- The kidneys
- The brain
- Calcium levels
- Other organs
This means you cannot identify the correct treatment simply because the product is described as rat poison.
Possible signs
Depending on the product, signs may include:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Bruising
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding from the gums
- Blood in urine
- Red or black faeces
- Coughing
- Breathing difficulty
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Poor coordination
- Seizures
- Increased drinking or urination
- Collapse
With some anticoagulant products, bleeding may not begin for several days.
Do not wait for visible bleeding.
Safer rodent-control storage
- Never place bait where your dog can reach it
- Use only products authorised for the intended setting
- Follow the instructions precisely
- Keep bait in its original packet
- Retain the outer packaging and active-ingredient information
- Store unused bait in a secure cupboard
- Check bait stations for damage
- Ask a professional pest controller which product has been used
- Keep written details of professionally placed bait
- Remove dead rodents promptly without allowing your dog access
- Prevent dogs scavenging rodents outdoors
A bittering agent or enclosed bait station does not make rodenticide harmless.
If your dog may have eaten bait, contact your vet or Animal PoisonLine immediately.
Take the complete packaging with you where possible.
Read PDSA guidance on rat poisoning in dogs
Read Animal PoisonLine’s rat and mouse poison guidance
Petrol, diesel and other petroleum products
Garages and sheds may contain:
- Petrol
- Diesel
- Paraffin
- Kerosene
- Barbecue lighter fluid
- White spirit
- Turpentine substitute
- Engine oil
- Lubricants
- Degreasers
These products may irritate the mouth, digestive system, skin and eyes.
A particularly serious risk is that liquid or vapour may enter the lungs. This can happen during swallowing or vomiting and may lead to breathing difficulties and lung injury.
For that reason, do not attempt to make your dog vomit after exposure.
Reduce the risk
- Use approved fuel containers
- Keep lids tightly closed
- Do not store fuel in drink bottles
- Keep containers upright
- Store them inside a suitable secure area
- Clean spills promptly
- Keep dogs away during refuelling
- Dispose of oily cloths safely
- Do not leave open drip trays beneath vehicles or machinery
- Do not use petrol or solvent to clean your dog’s coat
Contact your vet immediately if your dog swallows, inhales or becomes coated in a petroleum product.
Paints, varnishes and solvents
Decorating products commonly stored in garages and sheds include:
- Water-based paint
- Oil-based paint
- Varnish
- Wood stain
- Paint stripper
- White spirit
- Brush cleaner
- Mastics
- Sealants
- Adhesives
- Expanding foam
The risk depends on the product and ingredients.
Some products mainly irritate the skin or digestive system. Solvent-based products may produce fumes and can create a risk of lung injury if swallowed and then vomited.
Old paint flakes may also contain substances no longer commonly used in modern household paints.
Safer storage and use
- Keep lids firmly closed
- Store products upright
- Keep brushes and trays away from pets
- Do not leave an open tin on the floor
- Keep dogs away while painting
- Ventilate the area according to the label
- Allow painted surfaces to dry before allowing access
- Dispose of contaminated cloths safely
- Do not use paint thinner or white spirit on a dog’s skin or coat
- Retain labels and safety information
If paint or solvent reaches your dog’s coat, prevent licking and contact your vet for product-specific advice.
Do not apply another chemical in an attempt to remove it.
Wood treatments and preservatives
Wood preservatives, stains and treatments vary widely.
Products may contain:
- Solvents
- Fungicides
- Insecticides
- Biocides
- Oils
- Other active ingredients
Do not allow your dog to:
- Lick wet treated wood
- Walk through spilt product
- Chew treated timber
- Enter an area before the product is dry
- Reach used brushes or cloths
- Drink from a container used for treatment
Follow the label’s instructions about:
- Ventilation
- Drying time
- Protective equipment
- Animal access
- Disposal
Older wood, fencing and sheds may also have been treated with products no longer commonly recommended for domestic use.
Do not burn treated timber on a barbecue or domestic fire.
Weed killers
Weed killers contain different active ingredients and formulations.
A product may expose a dog when they:
- Walk through a freshly treated area
- Lick wet paws
- Eat treated grass or weeds
- Drink from a watering can
- Chew the container
- Enter a spill
- Eat concentrated granules
Follow the label exactly.
Do not assume that doubling the concentration makes the product work better.
When using weed killer
- Keep your dog indoors
- Remove bowls and toys from the area
- Mix only the amount needed that day
- Use the correct dilution
- Prevent access for the period stated on the label
- Allow the area to dry where instructed
- Do not leave diluted product in a watering can
- Clean equipment as directed
- Store leftover concentrate securely
Even when a product is described as pet-friendly, your dog should not be allowed to drink it, lick the container or walk through a wet application.
The Health and Safety Executive states that household and garden pesticides must be used according to their labels and stored in their original containers away from children and pets.
Read HSE guidance on using pesticides in gardens and homes
Lawn feed, weed and moss treatments
Combination lawn products may contain:
- Fertiliser
- Weed killer
- Ferrous sulphate or other iron compounds
- Moss-control ingredients
Dogs may be attracted to:
- Granules
- Treated soil
- Damp packaging
- Spills
- Areas where the product was applied too heavily
These products may cause digestive irritation, while significant exposure to iron-containing products can be more serious.
Store the bag securely and follow the instructions about:
- Application rate
- Watering
- Drying
- Keeping pets away
- Disposing of surplus product
Sweep up any product spilt on paths, paving or the shed floor.
Fertilisers, bone meal, blood and fish products
Some fertilisers are relatively low in toxicity when used correctly, but they can still make dogs unwell.
Bone meal, blood meal and fish-based products may smell particularly attractive.
Possible risks include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Eating a large amount
- Swallowing packaging
- Intestinal blockage
- Exposure to additional ingredients
- Access to treated soil
Keep bags:
- Sealed
- Upright
- Off the floor
- Inside a secure cupboard or container
Do not leave a partly used bag open while gardening.
Keep your dog away from newly treated areas for the period specified by the manufacturer.
Contact your vet if your dog eats fertiliser, even when the product is marketed as organic or natural.
Slug and snail products
Slug and snail products may contain different active ingredients.
Metaldehyde slug pellets were withdrawn from outdoor use in Great Britain by the end of March 2022, but old packets may remain in garages and sheds.
Do not assume that an old product is legal, safe or suitable to use.
Products containing other ingredients are not automatically harmless when eaten in quantity.
Check your shed
- Look for old slug-pellet packets
- Keep the original packaging
- Do not use withdrawn products
- Do not transfer pellets to another container
- Store current products securely
- Apply only as directed
- Prevent dogs from eating granules
- Ask your local council how to dispose of old products
Do not pour unwanted pesticide into a drain or burn its packaging.
Contact your vet immediately if your dog may have eaten slug or snail bait.
Insecticides and pest-control products
Garages and sheds may contain products intended to control:
- Ants
- Wasps
- Flies
- Moths
- Fleas
- Beetles
- Plant pests
- Other insects
These include:
- Sprays
- Powders
- Baits
- Foggers
- Concentrates
- Treated strips
- Granules
The ingredients and risks vary.
Do not use a garden, agricultural or household insecticide directly on your dog unless it is a veterinary product specifically intended for that species and used according to veterinary instructions.
Take particular care in homes containing cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds or aquatic animals because species differ in how they respond to chemicals.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and prevent access to treated areas.
Patio, decking and outdoor-surface cleaners
Patio and outdoor cleaners may contain irritant or corrosive ingredients.
Some include benzalkonium chloride or other disinfecting compounds.
Dogs may be exposed by:
- Walking through the wet product
- Licking their paws
- Drinking from puddles
- Investigating a leaking bottle
- Licking treated decking or paving
Keep pets indoors while the product is used.
Follow all instructions about:
- Dilution
- Rinsing
- Drying
- Ventilation
- Run-off
- Keeping animals away
Do not allow cleaning solution to collect in bowls, plant saucers or low areas accessible to pets.
For wider household cleaning safety, read Cleaning Products and Pets: How to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe.
Batteries
Garages may contain:
- Car batteries
- Tool batteries
- Rechargeable battery packs
- Loose household batteries
- Button batteries
- Damaged lithium batteries
A dog may chew a battery or swallow a smaller one.
Possible risks include:
- Chemical burns
- Mouth injury
- Digestive irritation
- Electrical or heat injury
- Intestinal blockage
- Exposure to leaking battery contents
Store batteries securely and keep damaged batteries away from animals.
Do not leave loose batteries on a workbench or floor.
If your dog chews or swallows a battery, contact your vet immediately.
Do not wait to see whether the battery passes naturally.
Compost and mouldy garden waste
Compost can contain:
- Mouldy food
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Fermenting fruit
- Coffee grounds
- Toxic plant cuttings
- Onion or garlic waste
- Grapes or dried fruit
- Packaging
- Sharp objects
Certain moulds can produce toxins capable of causing tremors or seizures.
A compost heap should be:
- Properly enclosed
- Inaccessible to dogs
- Free from unsuitable waste
- Managed so that dogs cannot dig into it
- Kept away from feeding and play areas
Do not allow your dog to eat mouldy food, grass clippings or compost.
Contact your vet immediately after suspected ingestion.
Barbecue fuel and firelighters
Barbecue products are often stored in the shed between uses.
Potential hazards include:
- Lighter fluid
- Firelighter cubes
- Matches
- Charcoal
- Grease
- Ash
- Food residue
- Skewers
- Corn cobs
- Bones
Lighter fluid and similar petroleum-based products can be particularly dangerous if swallowed or inhaled.
Keep barbecue products in their original containers and store them securely.
Do not leave a dog unattended around a cooling barbecue.
Read BBQ Dangers for Dogs: Summer Garden Safety
Do not overlook physical shed and garage hazards
Not every garage or shed emergency involves poisoning.
Other risks include:
- Nails
- Screws
- Wire
- Fishing hooks
- Saw blades
- Garden shears
- Strimmer line
- Broken glass
- Rat traps
- Plastic bags
- String
- Plant ties
- Heavy items that can fall
- Open vehicle doors
- Power tools
- Electrical cables
- Small parts that can be swallowed
Keep tools stored securely rather than leaning against walls.
Sweep floors regularly and check for dropped screws, nails and sharp fragments.
Secure heavy shelving and close appliances, toolboxes and vehicles.
Why products should remain in their original containers
Never decant a garden or automotive chemical into:
- A drinks bottle
- A jam jar
- An unlabelled spray bottle
- A food container
- A pet-food tub
- An open bucket
The original container provides:
- The product name
- The active ingredients
- Hazard warnings
- First-aid instructions
- Storage information
- Disposal instructions
- Directions for safe use
- Information your vet may need
For plant-protection products, keeping them in the original labelled container is also a legal safety requirement.
If an original container is damaged, contact the manufacturer or your local hazardous-waste service for advice rather than improvising new packaging.
How to store garage and shed products safely
Use a secure cupboard
Choose a cupboard that:
- Closes firmly
- Cannot easily be opened by your dog
- Is protected from weather
- Is suitable for the products
- Is away from food and pet supplies
- Does not become excessively hot
- Is protected from frost where required
A lightweight shelf is not secure storage.
Keep products upright
Check regularly for:
- Cracked bottles
- Damaged lids
- Rusting tins
- Split bags
- Leaking batteries
- Damp labels
- Out-of-date products
- Products no longer authorised for use
Separate incompatible products
Follow label instructions about storage.
Do not place products together where a leak could create a dangerous mixture.
Keep a simple inventory
You do not need a complicated spreadsheet.
A basic list can record:
- Product name
- Purpose
- Storage location
- Date purchased
- Whether it remains authorised
- Disposal instructions
This is especially helpful when inherited products or old chemicals remain in a shed.
Lock the building where possible
A locked garage or shed helps protect:
- Pets
- Children
- Wildlife
- Visitors
- Tradespeople
It also reduces the chance of a door blowing open.
How to use garden products around your dog
Before using a product:
- Read the complete label.
- Check that it is authorised for the intended use.
- Remove your dog from the area.
- Remove toys, bowls and bedding.
- Measure the product correctly.
- Mix only what you need.
- Close the container immediately.
- Keep buckets and watering cans beside you.
- Prevent access for the stated period.
- Clean and store equipment as directed.
Do not allow your dog to supervise while you mix chemicals.
A moment spent answering the phone or opening a gate may be enough for a curious dog to reach a container.
Disposing of old products
Do not keep an unsafe or withdrawn chemical merely because there is some left.
Check the label and ask your local council about hazardous-waste disposal.
Do not:
- Pour pesticides down a drain
- Pour fuel onto soil
- Empty chemicals into a gutter
- Burn pesticide packaging
- Place leaking containers loose in household waste
- Mix several unwanted products
- Give an unlabelled product to someone else
- Transfer it to an ordinary bottle
The Health and Safety Executive recommends asking your local council about disposing of amateur garden pesticides in their original containers.
Signs of possible poisoning
Possible signs vary greatly according to the product.
They may include:
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Pale gums
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Wobbliness
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Unusual drinking or urination
- Breathing difficulty
- Coughing
- Skin irritation
- Red or painful eyes
- Collapse
Some dogs appear normal initially.
Contact your vet after known or suspected exposure rather than waiting for this list of symptoms to develop.
What information will your vet need?
Be prepared to provide:
- Your dog’s age
- Breed or type
- Approximate weight
- Existing medical conditions
- The product name
- The active ingredient
- Product concentration
- How the exposure happened
- The amount that may be missing
- When it happened
- Whether your dog has vomited
- Current symptoms
- Any first aid already attempted
Take:
- The packaging
- The container
- Clear photographs of the label
- A secure sample where advised
- Photographs of the spill or damaged packet
Do not delay contacting the vet while trying to calculate an exact dose.
An estimate is still useful.
A ten-minute garage and shed safety check
Walk through the area without your dog and check:
- Are all chemicals in their original containers?
- Are lids secure?
- Are any bottles leaking?
- Can your dog open the cupboard?
- Are bags stored off the floor?
- Are antifreeze and fuels locked away?
- Is rodent bait inaccessible?
- Are old slug pellets still present?
- Are pesticides still authorised?
- Are watering cans empty?
- Are paint trays clean and stored?
- Are batteries secure?
- Are sharp tools put away?
- Is compost enclosed?
- Can the door blow open?
- Are emergency veterinary details easy to find?
Repeat the check seasonally and whenever you buy a new product.
Related dog-safety guides
These guides cover other common poisoning and outdoor-safety risks.
Poisoning and emergency preparation
Dog Poisoning: What Owners Need to Know
Learn the immediate steps to take after a suspected poisoning and what information your vet will need.
Dog First Aid Guide for Owners
Prepare for common emergencies and understand when veterinary care should not be delayed.
Cleaning Products and Pets: How to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe
Reduce risks from bleach, detergents, capsules, floor cleaners and other products used inside the home.
Garden and outdoor hazards
Plants Poisonous to Dogs: Practical UK Garden Guide
Identify common UK plants, bulbs, berries and garden materials that may cause poisoning or injury.
Learn about toxic plants, discarded substances and seasonal hazards that dogs may encounter away from home.
Keep dogs away from hot equipment, lighter fluid, skewers, bones, corn cobs and discarded barbecue food.
Rock Salt and Grit: Winter Paw Safety
Understand the risks of winter de-icing products and why paws should be checked after walks.
Explore the complete collection
Visit the Finchley Dog Walker Guides Hub
Find practical guidance covering dog health, walking safety, enrichment, rescue dogs, puppies, senior pets and seasonal care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous garage product for dogs?
Many products can cause serious poisoning, but antifreeze containing ethylene glycol is a particular emergency because a small exposure can cause severe kidney damage.
Contact your vet immediately after any suspected contact.
What should I do if my dog licks antifreeze?
Move your dog away and contact your vet immediately.
Do not wait for symptoms and do not try to make your dog vomit.
Take the product container or a clear photograph of its label.
My dog ate rat poison but seems normal. Should I wait?
No.
Some rodenticides cause delayed signs, including internal bleeding.
Contact your vet or Animal PoisonLine immediately and provide the exact product details.
Is every rat poison treated with vitamin K?
No.
Vitamin K is used for certain anticoagulant rodenticides, but not every rat or mouse poison acts in the same way.
The correct treatment depends on the active ingredient.
Are fertilisers safe for dogs?
Not automatically.
Some mainly cause digestive upset, while other ingredients or large quantities can produce more serious problems.
Bone meal and animal-derived fertilisers may also be particularly attractive to dogs.
Are organic garden products safe for pets?
Organic or natural does not mean safe to eat.
Use the product according to its label and prevent access during application and storage.
Can my dog go onto a lawn after weed killer is used?
Follow the exact product instructions.
Keep your dog away for the period stated on the label and until the area meets the manufacturer’s requirements for re-entry.
Are metaldehyde slug pellets still legal?
Outdoor use of metaldehyde slug pellets was withdrawn in Great Britain by the end of March 2022.
Old packets may remain in sheds. Do not use them and ask your local council about safe disposal.
Are modern slug pellets safe for dogs?
No slug-control product should be treated as suitable for dogs to eat.
Different products contain different ingredients. Store and use them exactly as directed and contact your vet after suspected ingestion.
What if my dog drinks from a watering can?
Contact your vet if the watering can contained or may have contained fertiliser, weed killer, pesticide or another garden product.
Keep the product packaging available.
Can I make my dog vomit after swallowing petrol or white spirit?
No.
Attempting to induce vomiting may allow the liquid to enter the lungs.
Contact your vet immediately.
Should I wash paint or oil from my dog’s coat?
Prevent licking and contact your vet for advice about the exact substance.
Do not apply white spirit, petrol, paint thinner or another solvent to your dog.
Can I keep pesticides in an ordinary spray bottle?
No.
Keep plant-protection products in their original labelled containers. An ordinary bottle may be mistaken for something harmless and will not provide the essential product and emergency information.
What should I do with old garden chemicals?
Keep them in their original containers and ask your local council about its household hazardous-waste service.
Do not pour them down drains, burn them or mix them.
Can eating compost poison a dog?
Yes.
Compost may contain mould toxins, toxic food waste, harmful plants and objects capable of causing a blockage.
Keep compost securely enclosed and contact your vet after suspected ingestion.
Should I call my vet even when my dog has no symptoms?
Yes, following a known or suspected exposure to a potentially harmful product.
Early treatment may improve the outcome, and some signs are delayed.
Make the garage and shed boring for your dog
The safest garage or garden shed is one your dog cannot explore.
Keep doors closed, products labelled, chemicals locked away and floors free from spills.
Do not wait for a poisoning incident before checking what has accumulated on the shelves.
Ten minutes spent securing old antifreeze, rodent bait, fertiliser and decorating products could prevent a serious emergency.
Explore the Dog First Aid Guide
Read the complete Dog Poisoning Guide
Contact Del about calm, personalised pet care in Finchley
Important information
This guide provides general poisoning-prevention and pet-safety information.
It does not diagnose poisoning, identify a safe dose or replace advice from a veterinary professional or animal-poisoning specialist.
Different products with similar purposes may contain completely different active ingredients.
Do not give your dog human medication, induce vomiting or attempt home treatment after suspected chemical exposure.
Contact your veterinary practice or emergency veterinary provider promptly and follow its instructions.
