Protect & Prevent: All About Common Pet Toxins

It may be hard to imagine your sweet pet coming into contact with a potential pet toxin, but this scary situation happens more often than pet owners realize. Although mostly preventable, ingestion of a poisonous substance is the leading cause of pet emergencies in veterinary clinics throughout the country.

It’s true that accidents happen, but in many cases, they can be avoided. Recognizing common pet toxins, and reducing or eliminating your pet’s exposure to them, is critical in keeping your furry loved one safe.

Common Pet Toxins in and Outside the Home

Protecting your pet from an accidental poisoning is as easy as putting any potential pet toxins out of reach. Take a discerning look around your home, garage, and yard, and remove or safely store any of the following common pet toxins:

• People food – Pets can get into big trouble from ingesting people food, such as chocolate, Xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in sugar free gum, baked goods, candy, peanut butter, and more), grapes/raisins, onions/garlic, and macadamia nuts.
• Human medications – Antidepressants, albuterol inhalers, ADHD medications, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are surprisingly enticing to many pets. Keep all medications out of your pet’s reach.
• Antifreeze – Perhaps one of the most dangerous substances your pet may encounter, antifreeze has a sweet odor and taste that pets find irresistible. Clean up any antifreeze spills immediately, keep leftovers sealed and out of reach, and supervise your pet on walks or while outside.
• Household products – Cleaning supplies, paint, glue, and personal care products should not be placed where pets can reach them.
• Plants – Before bringing any potted plants or bouquets into your home, and before planting any outdoors, be sure to check out this comprehensive list of toxic plants.
• Lawn and garden chemicals – Fertilizers, compost, and other garden supplies can be interesting to pets. Be sure to store all outdoor chemicals and additives, and supervise your pet while outdoors.
• Rodenticides/insecticides –  Even if your pet has never disturbed rodenticides or insecticides in the past, that doesn’t mean they may not develop an interest. Be wary of the use of these toxic chemicals.
• Veterinary products – Medications and supplements designed for pets are generally made to taste appealing, which may be why 9.3% of calls to the Animal Poison Control Center in 2016 were due to ingestion of these products.

As always, we are here to answer your questions and address your concerns about common pet toxins. For help, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Advantage Veterinary Center.