Top 10 Dog and Cat Household Poisons

This past summer one of my cats died after eating the leaves of my lily plant. At that time I didn't realize this common household plant was poisonous to cats. According to the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), household products were often the cause of the 140,000 cases of pet poisoning they handled in 2008.

Below is the Animal Poison Control Center's list of top 10 poisonous products for cats and dogs in 2008:

1. Human Medications
The problem with medications is that people need to have their medication located in a convenient place so they remember to take them every day. But having medications out in the open puts your pet at risk. The most common pet poisoning involved cold medications, painkillers, antidepressants and vitamins. More than 50,000 calls to the APCC in 2008 were the result of poisoning from human medications.

2. Insecticides including Flea and Tick products
With the large number of flea and tick products available, it is easy for people to misuse these insecticides. Make sure you read the directions carefully and ask your veterinarian which product to use on your pet.

3. People Food
In 2008, more than 15,000 calls to the APCC were pet poisonings caused by human food. Foods to avoid include raisins, grapes, certain citrus fruits, avocados, onions (often found in baby food), chocolate (especially bitter chocolate such as baking squares), Macadamia nuts, rising bread dough and sugar-free gum containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol.

4. Rat and Mouse Poison
With pet food sitting out in the open, it's only a matter of time before pet owners are dealing with a mouse problem. Over 8,000 calls were made to the Animal Poison Control Center because of rat or mouse poisoning in 2008. Many rat and mouse poisons contain ingredients that will attract your pet to the trap. Pets can also become sick if they have eaten a rodent that has ingested a poison.

5. Veterinary Medications
I remember trying read a prescription for a foster dog I was taking care of. The wording of the prescription was very difficult to understand. I wasn't the only one who had trouble understanding their pet's prescription. More than 8,000 cases of pet poisoning due to veterinary medications were called into the APCC in 2008.

6. Household Plants
As I mentioned earlier, my lily plant caused my cat's kidneys to shut down which resulted in her death. Other poisonous plants include azalea, rhododendron, kalanchoe, schefflera and sago palm.

7. Chemical Hazards
In 2008, the cases of chemical poisonings rose to 5,500 cases. The most common hazards include paint thinners, drain cleaners, ethylene glycol antifreeze, and pool and spa chemicals.

8. Household Cleaners
If you have ever become overcome by the strong smell of cleaners in the cleaner isle at the grocery store, you can appreciate how strong your household cleaning products smell to your pet. The ASPCA received more than 3,200 calls in 2008 regarding poisonings caused by household cleaners such as bleach, disinfectants and detergents.

9. Heavy Metals
Be careful if you are remodeling an older home and have pets around. Lead from paint chips, dust from remodeling and linoleum can be very dangerous to your pet. Other dangerous heavy metals include zinc and mercury.

10. Lawn Fertilizer
Certain types of lawn fertilizer can be poisonous to both dogs and cats. Be aware that dogs can be exposed to multiple types of fertilizer if they are allowed to walk on other people's yards during their daily walks.

If you are concerned that your pet has ingested something poisonous, call the Animal Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. Make sure you know your pet's breed, age, sex and have the suspected product's label if available. There may be a $60 consultation charge to talk with a toxicologist.

If your pet is in a life-threatening situation, take them immediately to an emergency veterinarian.

Source:
Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2008, www.aspca.org