03/26/2026
Just one more topic for National Pet Poison Prevention month! There are a plethora of items kept in the home that are dangerous for your pets, and sometimes humans too!
Some over-the-counter medications are toxic to dogs and cats. Tylenol, NSAIDS such as Advil, and many cold medicines are considered toxic and should be kept safely in a medicine cabinet to avoid accidental ingestion. Tylenol is especially toxic to dogs, sending them into acute liver and kidney failure. Symptoms to watch for include rapid or laboured breathing, brown, blue, or "muddy" gums, swelling of the extremities, GI issues, jaundice (yellowish tint to the mucous membranes and whites of the eyes), seizures, coma, and death. 💊
Some prescription medications, although safe at the appropriate dosage, can be toxic if ingested in high concentrations. Stimulants, antidepressants, NSAIDS, blood pressure medications, and diabetes medications are all examples of prescriptions that can cause harm to your pet if ingested -especially at high concentrations. Make sure all medications are kept out of reach! 💊
Many cleaning products contain toxic chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, alcohol, phenols, and alkaline agents. Some symptoms of ingestion include vomiting, foaming at the mouth, drooling, difficulty breathing, skin irritation or chemical burns, seizures, coma, and death. Make sure all cleaning products are kept in cupboards, preferably locked, for those sneaky pets that are able to open doors! 🧽🪣
Essential oils are another toxic item commonly found in the home, in the form of wall plugs, diffusers, and scented candles. Exposure can be through ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. Symptoms to watch for include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, muscle tremors, weakness, incoordination, difficulty breathing, and skin irritation. It is best practice to avoid having these in your home, but if you do, please make sure they are kept in well-ventilated areas!
Rodenticides contain anticoagulants and neurotoxins. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting, causing dangerous internal bleeding. The neurotoxins cause tremors, seizures, and paralysis. Pets can also get sick by ingesting rodents that have been poisoned using rodenticides. 🐁🐀
Pesticides usually contain neurotoxic agents, causing muscle spasms, tremors, seizures, and collapse. They also contain chemicals that are irritating to the skin and mucus membranes, causing localized reactions. 🦟🪳🪲🪰🐜
If you think your pet has ingested a toxic household product, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661, and bring the provided instructions to your veterinarian so that treatment and supportive care can begin right away! 🐾
