Protecting your Pets from Poisons
There are a lot of items in everyday life that are dangerous for your pets. You may not even realize that the cleaners or plants you have can make your dog or cat sick. This blog covers the most common pet poisons as well as some common misconceptions about pet poisons.
If you Think your Pet has Ingested a Poison
If your pet eats something poisonous call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 800-213-6680. If you think your pet has been poisoned here is a link to Pet Poison Helpline’s Emergency Instructions
Common Pet Poisons
These lists are the most common items that poison dogs and cats; they are based on Pet Poison Helpline’s call volume.
Dogs
- Chocolate
- Mouse and rat poisons
- Vitamin and mineral supplements (D3, iron, etc.)
- NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
- Cardiac medications (beta-blockers, etc.)
- Cold and allergy medications (pseudoephedrine, etc.)
- Antidepressants (SSRIs, etc.)
- Xylitol and other sweeteners
- Pain killers (Tylenol, etc.)
- Caffeine Pills
Cats
- Topical spot-on insecticides
- Household cleaners
- Antidepressants
- Lilies
- Insoluble oxalate plants – calla lilies, arrowhead, peace lily, philodendron, umbrella plant, and other plants in the Araceae family, (a more in depth list of plants that are poison to cats and dogs can be found here)
- Human and veterinary NSAIDS – (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
- Cold and flu medications – (Tylenol, etc.)
- Glow sticks
- ADD/ADHD medications and amphetamines
- Mouse and rat poisons
If your pet will eat anything it’s especially important to make sure that you keep your medications and supplements out of reach. Here are some other common poisons listed on the ASPCA website:
- Household items – cleaning products and fire logs
- People food – grapes, garlic/onions, raisins, avocado, coffee, salt, alcohol
- Veterinary medications
- Plants – American holly, aloe, apricot, and others
- Lawn and garden products – fertilizers with bone meal and other animal products
- Antifreeze
Common Misconceptions
Here are a few items that you may think are safe for your pet but you should keep them away from:
- Milk – milk isn’t poisonous for cats but it isn’t healthy for them either. Cats don’t digest milk well and it can cause vomiting and diarrhea
- Toilet water – in general toilet water isn’t dangerous for your pets. There is a risk that your pet can catch a bacterial infection from stagnant toilet water. Your pet might also experience stomach pain after drinking the water from a recently cleaned toilet bowl
- Flea and tick medications – not all flea and tick medications are suitable for both cats and dogs. Flea and tick treatments containing permethrin can be deadly to cats
Looking for More?
Here are the sources used to write this blog:
- Pet Poison Helpline – Top 10 Pet Poisons
- ASPCA – Animal Poison Control FAQ
- ASPCA – Pet Care, Poison Safe Home
- ASPCA – Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
- ASPCA – Top Toxins of 2013
- Pet Poison Helpline – Poison List
- https://dogproductsguide.com/197-foods-dogs-cant-eat-the-ultimate-list/
Let’s be Social
Have a question or something to add? Let us know on Facebook