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
• 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
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.
Alaska Dispatch Publishing