March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month

As professional pet sitters, we know all too well the importance of pet safety and informing everyone on the dangers of everyday items that can be poisonous to pets.There are obvious things that you may already know such as chocolates, however there are also things that I’m sure will surprise you. Here are the top 10 poisons for cats and dogs:

Dogs:

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

Cats:

1. Lilies
2. Canine pyrethroid insecticides (topical flea and tick medicine designed for dogs but erroneously placed on cats)
3. Household cleaners
4. Rodenticides
5. Paints and varnishes
6. Veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Rimadyl®, Deramaxx®)
7. Glow sticks/glow jewelry
8. Amphetamines (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
9. Acetaminophen (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
10. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)

If you are worried that your pet has been exposed to any of  these items you can call the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680,  your veterinarian or 24-hour emergency animal hospital for assistance. It’s best if you have the accurate time that this happened.  Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/ That is a terrific website for all pet owners! They have very detailed information such as the top food poisons, plant poisons, as well as medication poisons. Also, they tell you how to ‘poison proof’ your home, how to be prepared for the seasons and holidays, as well as a very detailed A-Z list of every pet poison that will finally put you at ease! We recommend printing out the list and really take a full day to make sure that your house is 100% poison free for your pet. It may sound silly, but some of the most basic medications and household plants can be affecting your sweet pooch right now and you may not even know it. It’s worth it to take that day and make sure your pet is safe!

If you know an important item that is poisonous to pets, please feel free to list it in a comment below!