12 Aug Do You Know The Top 10 Poisons For Dogs & Cats? (Glow Sticks? Who Knew!)

In our last post, Adding A New Pet To Your Family?, we explored what’s required to make sure your new puppy or kitten is properly vaccinated and protected from parasites like ticks, fleas, and heartworms. Another important aspect of adding a new pet to your home is to make sure poisonous foods or materials aren’t accessible to a curious puppy or kitten.

Veterinarians treat many pets each year that are poisoned by common household items. And usually, the pet owners weren’t aware the items were dangerous to pets, so it’s important to know what to watch out for. Certain plants, food, medications, and solvents or cleaners are toxic to dogs and cats. Consider these top 10 poisons that are most frequently called into the Pet Poison Helpline:

Top 10 Poisons For Dogs

1. Chocolate
2. Rat and mouse poisons
3. Vitamins & minerals (vitamin D3, iron, etc)
4. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, naproxen, etc)
5. Cardiac medications
6. Allergy and cold medications
7. Antidepressants
8. Xylitol (an ingredient in some peanut butters & sugar free gum)
9. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
10. Caffeine pills

Top 10 Poisons For Cats

1. Topical insecticides (including some flea medications meant to be applied to dogs)
2. Household cleaners
3. Antidepressants
4. Lilies
5. Insoluble Oxalate Plants (e.g., Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, etc.)
6. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, naproxen, etc, for both human and veterinary needs)
7. Cold and flu medications (Tylenol)
8. Glow sticks (the liquid inside contains the chemical dibutyl phthalate which can result in profuse drooling, gagging, and retching)
9. ADD/ADHD medications/amphetamines
10. Rat and mouse poisons

Ingesting toxic substances may cause your pet gastrointestinal distress, internal bleeding, or kidney or liver failure. Signs of poisoning may include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling or excessive salivating
• Lack of appetite
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Pale gums, or yellowish discolored gums
• Racing heart rate
• Weakness or lethargy
• Excessive thirst or urination, or lack of thirst or urination
• Black-tarry stool

If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, call your vet immediately. And for more information on how to poison proof your home for pets, visit Pet Poison Helpline or ASPCA Animal Poison Control.

By operating limited hours for non-surgical care, the PetWellClinic is able to offer substantially discounted prices for puppy and kitten packages, as well as wellness exams, preventative products, and treatment of minor conditions. Think of us as a “minute clinic” for your pet—no appointment necessary, with quick in and out service. You can save even more time by pre-registering and pre-paying online for our walk-in hours.

PetWellClinic is open during evening hours and on weekends. We are located in Farragut at 10549 Kingston Pike, near West Hills at 7329 Kingston Pike and at 228 S. Calderwood Street in Alcoa. Learn more about how the PetWellClinic can exceed your expectations for affordable, top quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.