The Top 10 Pet Poisons You Need to Know About

Hi, fellow pet parents! It’s National Animal Poison Prevention Week, so we’ve been looking at the most common pet toxins on the ASPCA website in order to share them with you. Did you know that their Animal Poison Control Center receives around 450,000 calls about pet poisoning a year, and they list the top ten poisons they’ve encountered in pets? No surprise, the top three poisons include over-the-counter medications/supplements/vitamins, human food, and human prescription medications. Learn more about the top ten pet poisons to pet-proof your home and prevent pet poisoning. 

Pet poison: over-the-counter meds, supplements, and vitamins

Please don’t give pets Ibuprofen and Naproxen, a.k.a. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Pets and humans metabolize drugs differently. This means what’s harmless to us can cause gastro issues for pets or even kidney failures. Always talk to your veterinarian before giving human meds to pets. Please do your best to take your medication away from your pets in case you drop a pill or two and don’t notice. Please make sure you’re also careful with cold medicines and iron supplements.

Joint and muscle rubs can be deadly depending on their ingredients. For example, some muscle rubs “contain salicylates that can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. Other muscle soothing agents contain menthol and capsaicin, which can further irritate the GI tract,” according to VCA Animal Hospital. 

Here are some more ingredients found in lotions/creams that can cause serious, even life-threatening, symptoms. All it takes is some licking to cause massive issues. Make sure you wear gloves or wash your hands after application:

• baclofen
• flurbiprofen
• diclofenac
• ketamine
• lidocaine
• dibucaine
• 5-fluorouracil
• calcipotriene

Minoxidil is extremely dangerous for cats and dogs. Yes, your hair growth liquid can cause lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, and more. Please be sure to put it away safely and keep your pets away from your head

Pet poison: human food and drinks

We’ve written about common toxic foods and drinks in many blog posts. The main culprits are onions, garlic, raisins, Xylitol (watch out for it in peanut butter!), raw dough, and alcohol. Avoid excessive grease consumption, as well, as it can cause pancreatitis. 

Pet poison: human prescription medication

Please keep your prescription medication locked away and take it when your pets are not around. The ASPCA mentioned medications for ADHD that contain amphetamines can be harmful or deadly if enough is ingested. Here are more harmful medications that you must monitor closely in a pet household:

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines
• Blood pressure medications
• Skin products containing fluorouracil
• Sleep aids

Pet poison: Chocolate

Chocolate gets its own paragraph because it seems to be eaten more frequently. Dogs have a nose for brownies and chocolate bars, so please place the chocolate out of reach. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. When your pets eat it, their heart rate and blood pressure increase. They can also experience tremors and seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis from the fat and sugar in chocolate.

Pet poison: veterinary products

Keep the calming chews away from your pets! These kinds of chews, in particular, can wreak havoc on your pets. According to the ASPCA, if eaten in excess, they can create changes in sodium levels in the blood, which can truly harm your pets, leading to tremors, seizures, or even death. 

Pet poison: plants and fungi

So many household plants are harmful or even lethal for your pets. First, keep cats and dogs away from all kinds of lilies. Cats are especially vulnerable to lilies, even the pollen, and can die if they ingest it. Sago palms are very popular; ingesting just one to two seeds can be fatal. Many of us have clusia in our backyards. Don’t let your pets chew on the leaves as they can cause stomach upset. However, the fruit is the most toxic part and causes vomiting. Here are more plants that are toxic to pets: 

• Cyclamen: salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Following large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death
• Monstera deliciosa: Cutleaf philodendron: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. 
• Oleander: can cause death to pets and people
• Philodendrons are toxic for cats and dogs if consumed, causing mouth swelling and vomiting.
• Aloe vera: Mild-to-moderate toxicity level for dogs and cats. If eaten by your pet, it could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.
• Snake plants: It could cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested.
• Ficus: Contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing if consumed.
• Desert rose: vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heartbeat, death
• Hosta: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.
• Dieffenbachia/dumb cane: Oral irritation, intense burning, and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
• Yesterday, today, tomorrow: tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy, incoordination, coughing

Keep pets away from all fungi unless directed by your veterinarian in their administration. 

Pet poison: Rodenticides

Please be mindful of rodenticides. They can cause seizures, kidney issues, and even death. It’s very important to keep your pets away from them (and ensure your cats stay indoors to avoid eating them in other backyards). The type of rodenticide will determine how your veterinarian will treat the poisoning, so make sure to have that information on hand. Learn more about what to do if your pet ingests rodenticides here. 

Pet poison: Household products

Keep your cleaning materials locked away, and make sure they are pet-safe. Cats are very sensitive to essential oils, so please use them with caution or under the guidance of your veterinarian. Birds’ lungs are very sensitive to Teflon, self-cleaning ovens, and aerosol sprays, which can all cause death. The ASPCA has a post dedicated to household hazards for birds that is worth reading if you have birds. Dogs are very curious and get into all kinds of trouble. so it’s always best to store their treats and food away from household cleaning products to avoid them coming into contact with any potentially harmful products. 

Pet poison: Insecticides

All of Miami sprays its backyard for ticks and mosquitoes. Please ensure the insecticide spray has dried completely before letting your pets out on your grass. The same goes for indoor applications. Please be careful to avoid your pets walking on the insecticide and licking their paws. Keep your insecticides locked away and keep the label handy in case of ingestion. Your veterinarian will need to know the type of insecticide in order to help your pet.  

Pet poison: Recreational drugs

Please keep your marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms away from your pets. Cannabis can cause many symptoms, such as lack of coordination and even seizures if enough is ingested. This is entirely preventable. Read this article to learn about the symptoms of marijuana intoxication in pets. You can also read about hallucinogenic mushroom toxicosis in animals in this article.  

What to Do If Your Pet is Poisoned

If you suspect poisoning, take immediate action! Call Your Vet OR:

• ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: (888) 426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

Be proactive! Share this post with fellow pet parents & help prevent accidental poisoning. Let’s keep our pets safe together!