Poisons kill pets too

Dogblog note: Here's a press release from Laura Atwood at Anchorage Animal Care and Control in advance of National Poison Prevention Week, March 20-26, 2016:

National Poison Prevention Week:

Poisons Kill Pets Too!

March 20 – 26, 2016

Pet poisoning is very serious so let's test how much we know: Try to rank the Top 10 toxins most commonly ingested by pets as reported by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (answers at end):

• Human foods, such as xylitol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins

• Insecticides

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• Chocolate

• Over-the-counter medications including herbal and natural supplements

• Rodenticides

• Household items such as cleaning products and paint

• Human prescription medications

• Veterinary medications

• Lawn and garden products

• Plants, indoor and outdoor

Pet-proofing the home is the first step to preventing pets from accidentally ingesting a toxin. Plus, know what to do if a pet has ingested a suspected toxin:

1. Call your veterinarian immediately. If it is after-hours, contact an emergency veterinary hospital: Pet Emergency Treatment or Diamond Animal Hospital.

2. You may also call the Pet Poison Hotline at 800.213.6680 (a $49 charge applies) or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 888.426.4435 ($65 fee may apply).

Answers to quiz on Top 10 Toxins:

1. Over-the-counter medications: the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) reported 28,500 cases.

2. Human prescription medications: nearly 16% of cases reported to the APCC

3. Insecticides: 9% of calls to APCC (more than 15,000 cases)

4. Human foods: mostly ingested by dogs; more than 14,600 cases reported to the APCC

5. Household items: 14,000 cases reported to APCC

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6. Veterinary medications: mostly caused by overdosing; 7% of cases reported to the APCC

7. Chocolate: APCC received an average of 30 calls a day regarding chocolate ingested by pets

8. Plants: these calls mostly involved cats and houseplants

9. Rodenticides: APCC received 8,100 call ins 2015

10. Lawn and garden products: these products accounted for 3% of calls to APCC.

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