Many of us have experienced at least one heart-stopping moment with our pets. Sometimes we can’t find them and fear that they have fled the house or yard. Other times accidents happen and our beloved furry friend cries out in surprise or pain. But one of the scariest things a pet owner can encounter is when they find an empty container of food or a household product and just knowthat their pet has eaten something they shouldn’t.
The best rule of thumb when your pet eats something outside of their usual kibble/canned food/treats is to call your veterinarian or local emergency center. Most of them time they can tell you over the phone whether or not the ingested item has the potential to be toxic. However, it usually takes a call to poison control to determine just how toxic the item is, based on how much your pet likely ingested.
But who wants to take it that far? Isn’t it just easier to keep an eye on pet toxic products in your home and keep them out of the way? Plymouth Veterinary Hospital to the rescue! Here are the top 10 most common toxins for dogs and cats that the Pet Poison Helpline (Plymouth Veterinary’s primary choice for toxin consultation) comes across from phone calls from both veterinary hospitals and pet owners. Check your pantries, closets, and garages, and make sure these products are pet proof!
Dog Poisons:
- Chocolate – the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Call your veterinarian the second you notice any chocolate go missing in your house.
- Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides) – keep these traps hidden and out of reach to prevent potentially fatal ingestion.
- Vitamins and Minerals (e.g., Vitamin D3, iron, etc.) – these supplements can upset a dog’s internal functions in myriad ways and should never be left out on the counters.
- NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) – only give your pets medications specifically designed for their species and specifically prescribed to them. Human pain relievers can cause a host of problems that require long-term hospitalization, regular blood work rechecks, and IV fluid infusion.
- Cardiac Medications (e.g., calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, etc.) – again, no medications that are not prescribed for your pet. Keep your meds locked safely away from your furry friends (and tiny humans).
- Cold and Allergy Medications (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, etc.) – ditto.
- Antidepressants (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) – these medications are particularly toxic to dogs and can be hard to treat once ingested. Keep them somewhere that requires opposable thumbs to open.
- Xylitol – a sugar substitute found in everything from gum to peanut butter, from toothpaste to chewable vitamins, this toxin can be deadly to your pet even in small doses. Keep purses zipped and out of the way, toothpaste in a medicine cabinet, and please, please, please monitor your peanut butter to make sure Xylitol has not been added (as many people use peanut butter to give appropriately prescribed pet medications).
- Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) – no human medicine. Period.
Caffeine Pills – caffeine can cause tremors, seizures, coma, and death in dogs. Not only should you make sure any caffeine pills are out of the way, but don’t allow your dog to drink from you coffee or pop, and make sure any used coffee grounds are thrown away in a receptacle that is pet-proofed.??????
Cat Poisons:
- Topical spot-on insecticides – we recommend keeping cats indoors anyway, but if your feline friend is allowed to roam out in the grass it is vital to make sure there are no pesticides sprayed in and around your yard. Even a few licks of this poison can cause serious harm to your kitten.
- Household Cleaners – it’s a good rule of thumb to keep these locked away, regardless of whether you have cats, dogs, or children in your home.
- Antidepressants – see above in the “Dog Poisons” section.
- Lilies (and other flowers) – lilies are particularly toxic to cats, but if you are going to keep plants in your house or in your garden be sure to research what is safe, and what is toxic to your pets.
- Insoluble Oxalate Plants (e.g., Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, etc.) – visit the ASPCA website to see what other plants should be kept out of the paws of your pets.
- Human and Veterinary NSAIDs – we’ve been over the human medication aspect, but there are many medications that are prescribed for dogs that are toxic to cats (and vice versa). Again, stick to only giving medications specifically prescribed for your pet.
- Cold and Flu Medication (e.g., Tylenol) – the medicine cabinet is your friend; use it.
- Glow Sticks – the liquid in these fun little tubes is made up of dibutyl phthalate and causes severe drooling and digestive distress if your cat bites into one of these babies. Been to the Electronic Music Festival in Detroit? Leave these babies in the trash at the concert before you head on home.
- ADD/ADHD Medications/Amphetamines – shaking, seizures, restlessness, shock, and coma are all likely outcomes from ingesting these medications. Keep them safe and out of sight.
- Mouse and Rat Poison (rodenticides) – if you have a cat, it can be even harder to find appropriately safe places for poison traps for rodents (cats are so sneaky!). Either keep them in rooms you are certain your cat cannot access, or simply call an exterminator to take care of your rodent problem. And if you see that your cat has been snacking on a dead mouse when you know there is poison about, call your veterinarian immediately.
It is vitally important to remember that, just because you don’t see the side effects of toxic ingestion right away, it doesn’t mean that your pet isn’t having damage done internally every hour you
wait to seek treatment. Some toxic interactions don’t show up for days after ingestion or exposure, and by the time symptoms start it may be too late to save your furry pal. Vigilance is the best defense against situations like this, so keep your eyes open, your toxins out of reach, and call your veterinarian (or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661, with a $49 charge) if you are at all suspicious that Max or Chloe got into something they really shouldn’t have.
Be safe, be aware, and take precautions. Remember that your pets rely on you for their safety and well-being, and the love you share means the world to them. Show the love you have for your pets by keeping them happy and safe.
Happy Tails!
(Curious as to what foods are toxic to your pets? Check out this list by the ASPCA so you know what NOT to feed your furry companions)