Top 10 Dog Toxins - Slideshow
Countdown of the Top 10 Dog Toxins
In 2016, the ASPCA handled over 167,000 calls from people whose pets had ingested something toxic or potentially toxic. They have released a list of the 10 most common items that caused poisonings in pets last year.
Number 10: Lawn and Garden Products
Many lawn and garden products, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are toxic to dogs. Be sure to read the labels on your products, keep your dog off the lawn for the recommended period of time after using them, and keep the products locked up out of reach when they are in storage. Better yet, choose pet-safe products.
Number 9: Plants
While most of the calls to ASPCA involving plants were regarding cats and houseplants, there are plants that are toxic to dogs if they are chewed on or ingested, as well.
Number 8: Rodenticides
These products are meant to kill mice and rats. They also kill dogs when they eat it. There are three types of rodenticide with different modes of action and different treatments, so it's important to know which one your dog may have eaten.
Number 7: Insecticides
Insecticides can be very dangerous if dogs get into them. Make sure you read and follow the labels exactly and, better yet, use pet-friendly products.
Number 6: Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and caffeine. Both of these substances are toxic to the neurologic and cardiac systems of dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Number 5: Household Items
Household items such as paint and cleaners were high on the list of pet poison calls the ASPCA took in 2016. Dogs love to help with household projects. Make sure you protect your dog from these items.
Number 4: Veterinary Medications
Many medications made for dogs are chewable and flavored in such a way as to be appealing to our canine friends. This is meant to make it easier for us to get them to take necessary medications, but it may also entice them to eat an entire bottle and overdose if they find it.
Number 3: Human Foods
There are a variety of human foods that are toxic to dogs, including grapes, raisins, onions, and xylitol (a natural sweetener present in many human products). Dogs love to eat human food, so it's important to know which foods to keep well out of their reach.
Number 2: Human Over-the-Counter Medications
Medications that humans buy over-the-counter, including natural supplements, were extremely high on the list of pet poison calls to the ASPCA in 2016. It is important that you keep all medication out of the reach of your pets and never give your dog any of your medication without checking with your veterinarian first.
Number 1: Human Prescription Medications
The most common pet poison exposure call that the ASPCA took in 2016 concerned human prescription medications. It is imperative that you keep all medications locked up out of reach of your dog.
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