Don’t Poison Your Pet!

It’s National Poison Prevention Week, which highlights something we should always stay aware of: there are a lot of really unthreatening seeming things that can be super poisonous to our canine companions.

The Pet Poison Helpline has released lists of the top ten poisons for dogs and cats. (Quite different lists, for those who share their lives with both species!)

“Now keep in mind,” they warn, “that some of these listed are very toxic, while some are minimally toxic (like ant baits and silica packs). When in doubt, call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline to make sure there won’t be a problem.”

Here is their list of Top Ten Dog Poisons:

1. Chocolate
2. Insect bait stations
3. Rodenticides (i.e., mouse and rat poison)
4. Fertilizers
5. Xylitol-containing products (i.e., sugar-free gums and candies)
6. Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)
7. Acetaminophen (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
8. Silica gel packs
9. Amphetamines, such as ADD/ADHD drugs
10. Household cleaners

And remember: if you think your pet might have been poisoned, your first call really should be to your vet. I can think of few times when “better safe than sorry” could be more heartily applied!