National Poison Prevention Week
Yesterday was the start of Poison Prevention Week which runs from March 18th to the 24th. This week creates awareness on the dangers that everyday products can have on your pet. Awareness needs to be created so that pet owners can fully understand and prevent poisoning emergencies.
Below are a list of the most popular toxic items that have affected pets.
Essential oils have gained popularity and sadly, many people are not educated on their appropriate use. If you are going to use essential oils in your daily life, find a reliable source or more importantly, contact your pets veterinarian. It’s important to be educated on how to use these to ensure your pets safety. Read more about essential oils here.
Fertilizers and other gardening-related products accounted for 2.6% of poison control calls the center received in 2017. If at all possible chose natural, organic products. For instance, if you want to eliminate weeds, you can pour scalding water on them. Another option is Neem pesticide. What is neem oil? It can safely be used on food, leaves no dangerous residue in the soil and effectively reduces or kills pests, as well as prevents powdery mildew on plants.
Plants remained in ninth place with 5.4% (10,725) of APCC’s cases. Throughout 2017, landscaping plants, houseplants and bouquets were all sources of potential problems for pets. Some pets love to chew on leaves so please look up plants and flowers that are not toxic. For a list of poisonous plants please click here.
Rodenticide exposures made up 6.3% of cases in 2017, an increase when compared to last year. These are usually formulated as baits, which are designed to attract animals. Flavorings may include fish oil, molasses or peanut butter. These flavoring can attract other animals such as dogs and cats and can be fatal. Please use other more humane means of eliminating rodents.
Although Insecticide exposure cases has continued to decrease from 2016, with only 6.7% of cases (13,307) related to these items. They can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Another option is using Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous earth kills all bugs. It has been reported to be the most effective solution when fighting pests like fleas, ants and bed bugs.
Household items dropped one spot from last year comprising 8.6% of cases in 2017. Household items include paint, glue, cleaning products and laundry detergent, among others.
Chocolate toxicity made up 8.8% (17,540) of APCC cases. While chocolate is a food it’s very toxic for pets. Dog are very resourceful and they will sniff it out. The amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Veterinary products made up 8.9% of cases seen. Flavored and chewable medications make it easier for our pets to take a pill, but this also means they may eat the entire bottle if they find access to them—leading to a potential overdose and complications.
Human food comes in at number three with 10.9% of cases (21,648) in 2017. Pets cannot safely ingest all of the same food items humans can. Grapes and raisins, onions just to name a few can be dangerous to your pet. Another popular ingredient that is being used a sugar replacement is Xylitol. Many pets have died ingesting this. Please click here to read my blog post about it.
Over-the-counter medications made up 17.4% of APCC cases in 2017. These include vitamins, pain medications, herbal supplements and probiotic. Most exposures are accidental, as with all drugs keep them above your pets reach.
Human prescription medications. According to the ASPCA, prescription medications topped the list! Last year, 17.5% (34,888) of animal poison control cases were attributed to prescription meds.
Remember! Just as you do with your children, products should always be kept out of reach and behind locked cabinets. This is the only way to ensure that your pet does not come in contact with them.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
To view a complete poison list you can click on the Pet Poison Helpline
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