- Human Medicines - Over 78,000 calls in 2006 involved human drugs
painkillers, cold meds, antidepressants and diet supplements
acetaminophen 1 extra-strength will kill your cat!
ibuprofen 4 regular-strength will lead to kidney problems in a 10-pound dog
- Insecticides - over 27,000 cases in 2006 involved:
products used to kill fleas and ticks, treat the yard or garden and get rid of other insects
Follow the directions given by your veterinarian! Read the label on the insecticide you choose. Many of the flea and tick control products are species-specific. Don't use the dog's insecticide on the cat!
- Veterinary Medications - over 12,000 cases in 2006 involved:
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm pills, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplementsAlways follow the directions! (Read the warning under number 2 above!)
- Plants - Over 9,300 cases in 2006 involved poisonous plants:
A few poisonous varieties are: lilies, azalea, sago palm, kalanchoe and schefflera. Please read our handout on poisons 1 or 2 sago palm nuts may cause vomiting, diarrhea, siezures or liver failure. Lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.
- Rodenticides - over 8,800 cases in 2006
If you are using rodent poisons around your home, be sure your pet can't reach them. Remember that the rodent may drag the poison out of bait traps and leave it within your pet's reach. Also, keep your pet home! Your neighbor may have "rat bait" or other chemicals out!
- Household Cleaners - about 7,200 cases in 2006 involved:
bleach, detergents and disinfectants
This includes all of those keen bottles and handi-wipes to sterilize your hands after touching doorknobs, etc. If the bottle says "not for human consumption", keep it locked away from your pet! Be sure that all dishwashing soap is rinsed clean from pet dishes, bedding is clean of detergent and sprays that you use to clean kennels and walls are rinsed or wiped away.
- Chocolate - over 4,800 cases in 2006
Chocolate contains caffeine-like substances known as methylxanthines. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, rapid heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.
We've written recently about a 95 lb -always good- dog stealing and eating the chocolate chips. It took 3 days of vomiting, diarrhea and hyperactivity before he finally got it out of his system. (Imagine how you'd feel after downing about 3-4 pots of strong, black coffee.) The moral is: The back of the counter won't stop a dedicated chocolate thief! Even the best behaved dog will steal a desired food so put it in the cupboard!
- Chemical Hazards and Home Improvement Products - 6,200 calls in 2006 involved:
- alcohols, acids, anti-freeze, paint thinner and solvents
- drain cleaners, pool chemicals and petroleum-based products
- expanding glues and insulations, tubes of chalk or "glue"
- water-based paint and petroleum-based paint, hobby paint and artist paint in tubes and bottles
The above products can contain lead, bleach, other heavy metals, solvents, petroleum or alcohol products. These can cause stomach upset, breathing problems, pneumonia, chemical burns or depressed heart rate. I don't know about you, but my eyes burn and I feel like I can hardly breathe when I'm working around a lot of household chemicals. I sure wouldn't want to stick my nose into them like a pet would! Let's keep our pets away while we paint and clean. We really don't want them spilling the paint anyway.
- Physical Hazards - over 3,800 in 2006 involved these:
- pets chew on, eat and otherwise get into the strangest things!
- Pet collars, pin cushions and adhesive tape
- carpets, socks, yarn, electric cords, etc.
- chain saw blades, lawn movers, hedge clippers, paper shredders
If they can reach it and chew on it, they can probably swallow it. Some items pass through, others don't. Some become lodged in the throat, others can block or puncture the intestines.
Live electric cords can burn a dog's mouth so badly that they can't eat for weeks and chain saw blades are so sharp that they can slice a dog nose open even when the saw isn't running
There have been reports of dogs getting their tongue caught in the paper shredder. Turn it to the "off" setting when not using it.
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